One Woman Show from Brazil

Divas on the Divan, A Thrilling Comedy!

Imagine a Diva...lying on a divan...revealing secrets that have never been told. A smashing hit since its opening night in 2001, Divas on the Divan, considered one of the most innovative, bold, dramatic and literary works in the past few years, started its career in small theatres in São Paulo state. From there, it went on to attract audiences and fans throughout the country.

Jornal Diário de São Paulo (2002) wrote that Divas on the Divan went unblemished through the crisis and was among the greatest hits of the season”. According to psychiatrist and author, Roberto Shiniashiki, “The comedy and novel Divas on the Divan equal one year of therapy!” To Christiane Camps, PhD in Clinical Psychology at USP, “The success of Divas on the Divan lies in the fact that it presents the contemporary human universe, with its dreams, frustrations and uncertainties, and it involves the reader in a plot that blends in with our own lives.” The text, written and played by Chris Linnares, is based on her personal experience and her research on self-esteem and its influence on quality of life. With great humor and emotion, the play tells the story of a woman who carries around her low self-esteem and a list of personal frustrations. In her search to transform her life and fulfill her true dreams, she looks for help on a therapist’s couch. On stage, the famous psychoanalyst’s divan turns into a great set that invites the audience to relive with the character the most striking facts that have influenced her life. The book, on the other hand, explores habits that the character developed to find fulfillment, so the reader has the opportunity to use these habits in his or her own life. For the first time, theatre, literature and psychology get together to contribute to a better life. That’s why companies like Tam, Sistema Positivo de Ensino, Pão de Açúcar, Unimed, among others chose Divas on the Divan to motivate their teams. According to Lucília Diniz, light consultant of the Pão de Açúcar Group, “Divas on the Divan talks about day-to-day scenes with great humor that helps us reflect.” The play also echoed in the academic field. Unicamp Drama students selected the play as a theme for their study on “Spectacular Western Theatre Forms”. "We chose Divas on the Divan because the comedy focuses on our fears and wounds, teaching in an amusing way how we can overcome our limitations and dare realize our true dreams,” said the student Ana Carolina Monzon. Divas on the Divan is a comedy inspired on real facts lived by people who dared fulfill their true dreams and express their own truth. These are stories of people who got tired of settling for less and dared live more!