World · Latin America · 6 hrs ago
Marco Nanini faces protests after Libras interpreters leave Porto Alegre play
At a performance of Samuel Beckett’s play Fim de Partida in Porto Alegre, spectators say Marco Nanini asked the Libras interpreters to leave.
Libras is Brazilian Sign Language, which lets deaf audience members follow the performance.
The show resumed with the interpreters offstage, and deaf audience members left, followed by other spectators in protest.
The production company said it had failed to check the technical conditions needed for the session and apologized to the people affected.
The theater foundation said it tried to find a way to keep the sign-language interpretation but could not resolve the problem, so the performance continued without Libras.
Nanini had not commented on the incident at the time of the reports.
Spectators said Marco Nanini stopped a performance of Fim de Partida in Porto Alegre and called for Libras interpreters to leave the stage.
The interpreters were absent when the play resumed, and deaf audience members and some hearing spectators left.
The incident took place on Sunday, October 18, at the Teatro Simões Lopes Neto.
The production company said it had failed to check the technical conditions needed for the Libras interpretation.
The foundation responsible for the venue said it tried to find an accessibility solution but could not do so at the time.
- Who
- Actor Marco Nanini, Libras interpreters and audience members, including deaf spectators.
- What
- Spectators said Nanini stopped the play and demanded that the interpreters leave. The performance resumed without Libras interpretation.
- When
- Sunday, October 18, 2026. The incident occurred about 10 minutes after the performance began, according to GZH.
- Where
- Teatro Simões Lopes Neto, at the Multipalco complex in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Why
- Spectators said a spotlight and the interpreter’s shadow were disrupting Nanini’s performance. The production company cited a technical compatibility problem.
Deaf audience members
Production company and foundation
Responsibility
Deaf audience members
Lucas Bourscheid said Nanini told the interpreters to leave and called the incident disrespectful to the deaf community.
Production company and foundation
The production company said it had failed to check the technical conditions needed for Libras interpretation; the foundation described a technical lighting issue and said it tried to find an alternative.
Accessibility
Deaf audience members
Bourscheid said that if the interpreters were told to leave, deaf spectators also had to leave.
Production company and foundation
The foundation said it could not find a solution that met all needs at the time, so the play resumed without Libras interpretation.
Spectators said Nanini stopped the play over a spotlight and the interpreter’s shadow.
The interpreters left the stage, and the play resumed without Libras interpretation.
Deaf audience members and some hearing spectators left; the remaining audience booed and called for respect.
- Play
- Fim de Partida
- Venue
- Teatro Simões Lopes Neto, Multipalco, Porto Alegre
- Date
- Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Production company
- Pequena Central de Produções Artísticas
- Accessibility service
- Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) interpretation
3 sources
What people are saying
There was a lack of empathy, a lack of respect for the deaf community, and this is unacceptable.
It wasn't the production, it was Marco Nanini who said to remove the interpretation.
If they told the interpreters to leave, it meant we deaf people had to leave too.