Observador Reports on the First-Ever Staging of The Duke of Parma
A new article by Portuguese newspaper Observador highlights plans for the first stage production of Pessoa’s recently published English-language tragedy and discusses its growing international reception.
Portuguese daily Observador has published an article on the forthcoming first-ever staging of The Duke of Parma, a Shakespearean-inspired tragedy by Fernando Pessoa that remained unpublished until earlier this year. The production is scheduled to take place in Parma, Italy, in February 2027 as part of the city’s European Youth Capital programme.
The article outlines the origins of the project, which is being developed by researchers at the University of Parma and will be based on the recently released digital edition of the play. It also explains the literary significance of The Duke of Parma, one of Pessoa’s longest and least-known dramatic works in English, and describes how the adaptation aims to remain faithful to the author’s manuscripts while making the text suitable for performance.
In addition, Observador reports on the latest issue of Pessoa Plural, which includes a special section dedicated to the play, featuring studies on its themes, Shakespearean influences, and the scholarly work that led to its transcription and publication.
