«The essence of theatre is the meeting. The man who performs an act of self-revelation establishes, so to speak, contact with himself, The theatre is also a meeting between people who create.» (Grotowsky)
The network for creating and producing shows is based on the following principles:
- imagining and expressing involves a vast process of communication, contributing to which are various tastes and experiences in artistic and other fields. Intimately involved in real life we reflect on the idea and create a fabric of significant relationships to be developed.   Thus although designed for children and young people, the show may be looked at from countless captivating angles, including the adult. Text, direction, stage setting and wardrobe, musical creativity, everything contributes and transforms the show being created: the principle of Creation through Cooperation. During the stage practical resolution of the proposal it is the actors who will shape thins and bear the enormous responsibility of guiding the initial proposal: the principle of the Actor as the Core of Theatrical Creativity.
In 1976 a group of young adults linked by the common thread of Art and Education decided to start a different project designed particularly for children and young people. In 1979 Teatro Papa-Léguas was granted the legal status of Cultural Action Cooperative. The group consolidated its objectives, expanded its horizons and finally established three general guidelines based on a clearly social and non-profit making foundation:
- research into, creation, and production of theatre and other shows.
- organisation and dissemination of theatre and workshops,  and the production of pedagogical texts, studies and other work.
- permanent socio-educational action in the headquarters and decentralised cultural events.
In 1990 the cooperative was granted the status of Public Utility by the Portuguese government.
O Teatro Papa-Léguas work within a sphere that has social level: Art and Education and the new relationships arising from shared action. We are in favour of artistic initiatives and free education. In more than thirty years our public performances in shows and the arts Workshop has led to long dialogues paving the way to the future. The members are currently: professionals from the world of theatre, music and plastic arts, psychologists, teachers, and cultural organisers. And we are now a Cultural Association.
 
ARTS WORKSHOP
«To construct a new project (...) you need to start from new relationships between Man and Man, between Man and Nature, and between Man and Future. To appeal to the creativity of each one to respect his independence, in search of individual happiness.»  
                                                                                                (Joel de Rosnay)
THE PROJECT ARTS WORKSHOP began in October 1983. In 2009 it was named: UTEMA (Thematic Unity for Art-Education). The challenge we faced was to create a permanent space and energy linked to individual and collective Expression and Creativity, and this challenge continues to stimulate extensive cultural action, particularly for the children, but also for young people and adults. Countless publicity campaigns have been run to make our action freely accessible to anyone who is interested. These campaigns include the Free Workshops - open, fluid spaces for experimentation geared to publicising and making the community aware of Expression (a useful means of self-knowledge and cooperation with others, its full reflection being found in leisure and artistic forms).We also have Workshops for Teachers, Educators and Cultural staff.
About us...
: ::Teatro e Educação Artística desde 1976:: :
Teatro Papa-Léguas- 2017
Telefones: (+351) 21 714 1823