Abstract: For the past 14 years I have collaborated as a theatre director toward the formation, development, and survival of two different group theatres in Brasília, Brazil. Both groups are composed of a relatively fixed set of members collaborating experimentally over a long period of time and whose administration, aesthetic dynamics, and content are defined by the group rather than any single person and/or function. Throughout this process I have become increasingly aware of the local challenges that affect the working conditions, sustainability, and aesthetic results of group theatres as well as other independent theatre artists. In particular, I have seen how the spaces in which we rehearse and perform impact on our overall artistic development and sustainability. Ultimately, without a viable space to rehearse and/or perform, theatre-making—whether it be group theatre and experimental or otherwise—is at risk.
