Marco Nanini booed in Porto Alegre after accessibility dispute

Actor Marco Nanini was booed and insulted by the audience during a performance of the play ‘Fim de Partida’ at the Teatro Simões Lopes Neto in Porto Alegre on Sunday, October 18. The incident occurred approximately ten minutes into the show when Nanini reportedly requested an interruption, claiming that the lighting on the Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) interpreter was casting shadows that obstructed his vision.

Following the interruption, technical teams and producers attempted to resolve the lighting issue, but the session eventually resumed without the sign language interpretation. This decision led to protests from the audience, including deaf spectators who left the theater in solidarity with hearing attendees. Videos circulating on social media show spectators shouting insults at the actor.

The production company, Pequena Central de Produções Artísticas, which includes Nanini as a partner, issued a statement acknowledging a failure to verify the technical requirements for accessibility beforehand. The company apologized to the deaf community and the interpreter, taking full responsibility for the lack of accessibility during the performance. The Fundação Theatro São Pedro also expressed regret regarding the situation.