Maíra Labanca celebrates her return to the stage with an original play about memories and self-discovery
- Matheus Hooks/ Editor-In-Chief
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
After a decade devoted to music, the Minas Gerais-born actress and playwright returns to the stage with “As Portas Só Abrem por Dentro” (“Doors Only Open from the Inside”), which premieres in Rio under the direction of Ciça Castello and with an original score by André Abujamra.
After ten years away from theater — a period in which she dedicated herself intensely to music, releasing an original album, appearing on Billboard highlights, and amassing millions of streams on Spotify and YouTube — actress and playwright Maíra Labanca now marks her return to the stage with “As Portas Só Abrem por Dentro.” The play is directed by Ciça Castello, making her debut in the role, with an original soundtrack by André Abujamra and production by Diga Sim Produções.
Trained at the legendary Grupo Galpão, where she starred in Chekhov classics and delved into works by Brecht and Ionesco, Maíra built her artistic foundation on political, existential, and language-driven theater. This solid background and restless gaze now surface in an original work that navigates memory, humor, and reflection.
During the pandemic, the artist reignited her acting career. She returned to studying theater and film, took courses in Brazil and Madrid, participated in short films, worked on independent productions in Spain, and joined the cast of the feature film “Faixa Preta” (HBO Max).
In partnership with actress Luana Camaleão, who also shares the stage, Maíra builds a dramaturgy marked by sharp humor, existential questioning, and emotional delicacy.
“This play is based on real events. It’s about childhood — that ground we walk on for a lifetime. I believe, in some way, everything we are is born there. Childhood is that invisible thread that guides us into adulthood and never lets us stop,” says Maíra Labanca.
“As Portas Só Abrem por Dentro” thus marks Maíra’s reunion with her first artistic home: the theater — the place where it all began and where, once again, she reinvents herself.
