Paulo Eduardo Carvalho, IATC Director of Seminars for New Critics, Dies at 45

Paulo Eduardo Carvalho

July 7, 1964 – 20th May 20, 2010

Born in Oporto on 7th July 1964, Paulo Eduardo Carvalho graduated from the Faculty of Letters, University of Oporto, in 1984, with a degree in Modern Languages and Literature (Portuguese and English Studies); taking the Translation Course in Modern Languages and Literature at the same university, in 1990. He then went on to complete a Master’s degree in English Studies at the Faculty of Letters, University of Lisbon, in 1993, with A História no Território da Imaginação: A Irlanda de Brian Friel e Field Day [History in the Territory of the Imagination: The Ireland of Brian Friel and Field Day].

2007 saw Paulo receive his PhD in English Studies from the Faculty of Letters, University of Oporto, for Identidades Reescritas: Figurações da Irlanda no Teatro Português [Rewritten Identities: Representations of Ireland in Portuguese Theatre]. This study, remarkable for its documental, theoretical and critical consistency, was subsequently published by Edições Afrontamento in 2009.

In addition to taking intensive courses abroad (most frequently in England, Ireland and Italy), Paulo was an outstanding presence in a host of international events organised by the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC-AICT), the English Society for the Study of English (ESSE) and the International Federation for Theatre Research (FIRT-IFTR). He also presented papers at Trinity College (1999), the Dublin Theatre Festival (2003), a number of IATC-AICT congresses, and at various European universities to which he was invited.

He was responsible for cultural activities in various major institutions in Oporto, such as Teatro Nacional São João and Rivoli Teatro Municipal; in addition to collaborating with the Serralves Foundation, ESMAE (the School of Music and Performing Arts) and the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, among others.

A keynote speaker at numerous conferences and colloquiums (in Portugal and abroad), Paulo always brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to debates on the theatre, literature, cinema, music and the fine arts, working with various institutions in the organisation of colloquiums, publications, courses and exhibitions, among countless other activities.

He was a tireless member of the Institute for Comparative Literature Margarida Losa at the University of Oporto; the Centre for Theatre Studies at the University of Lisbon and the Department of English and American Studies at the University of Oporto; making a vital contribution to colloquiums, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and various publications.

He joined the Board of the Portuguese Association of Theatre Critics in 2004, representing it on the IATC-AICT Executive Committee, and was currently the International Association’s Director of Seminars for New Critics.

In 2004, Paulo co-founded the magazine Sinais de Cena (produced by the Portuguese Association of Theatre Critics together with the University of Lisbon Centre for Theatre Studies), immediately joining the Editorial Board and regularly contributing articles, reviews and translations. He was also part of the team involved in producing the Cadernos de Literatura Comparada at the Institute for Comparative Literature Margarida Losa at the University of Oporto.

In the theatre, he was a founder member of the Oporto company, Assédio, did dramaturgical work with various directors and translated over forty plays by such diverse authors as Brian Friel, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Martin Crimp, Martin McDonagh, Marina Carr, Athol Fugard, Caryl Churchill, Wallace Shawn, Frank McGuinness and Thomas Kilroy, among others.

A man of vast learning, blessed with boundless energy and a rare artistic sensibility, Paulo Eduardo Carvalho was a major figure in both Portuguese theatre and Portuguese theatre studies. He established a remarkable level of academic rigor in dealing with the theatre, which was reflected by what he wrote in the field of the essay and critical analysis, clearly shown in his book on the Portuguese director, Ricardo Pais, Ricardo Pais: Actos e Variedades [Ricardo Pais: Acts and Variety] (Oporto: Campo das Letras, 2006).

He lived generously and lovingly, always available to anyone needing his advice and priceless help.

Paulo left us on 20th May. During a warm afternoon, he was tragically taken by the sea; and all who knew him are left with a huge, immeasurable sense of loss.

It is with an immense sorrow that I have to announce the tragic death of our colleague and member of the executive committee of IATC representing Portugal, Paulo Eduardo Carvalho. Dr Carvalho was also director of the seminars for new critics of IATC. Pleased read the obituary below, and pass the word to all who may have known him. On behalf of the IATC, I express my deepest condolences to his family, to his numerous friends and to his colleagues.