THEATRICAL PRODUCTION

 

BILLDOG, by Joe Bone, directed by Guilherme Leme Garcia and Gustavo Rodrigues, premiered in 2012.

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A stylish production with bold language, the show blends comedy and drama. BILLDOG (originally Bane) is performed by a single actor (Gustavo Rodrigues), who plays 38 characters, accompanied by a live musician (Tauã de Lorena).

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The play participated in the Avignon Festival in 2014 through CENA BRASIL INTERNACIONAL, a platform that promotes the internationalization of Brazilian theatre with high-level curation. It was also part of the “Tréteaux du Maroni” Festival (2016) in French Guiana.

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Set in a Noir and Cult film atmosphere, BILLDOG follows Bill, a mercenary who makes his living committing crimes on the streets of London while trying to escape a mysterious gangster. The action is filled with humor and suspense, taking the audience on an electrifying journey that satirizes iconic films that shaped cinema history.

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After its premiere at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009, BILLDOG quickly became a London hit. In the following years, Joe Bone — the actor and writer of the original English version — returned as a special guest and was acclaimed in 2011, ranking first on the list of the top 100 shows among more than 2,100 productions.

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In Brazil, the play received the FITA Award for Best Actor. It has been performed in over 60 theaters, with more than 400 presentations, and continues to tour the country.

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Credits

Writer & Creator: Joe Bone
Directors: Joe Bone and Guilherme Leme
Adaptation & Translation: Gustavo Rodrigues
Cast: Gustavo Rodrigues (Actor) and Tauã de Lorena (Musician)
Original Score & Assistant Director: Ben Roe
Costume Design: Paulo Barbosa
Visual Design: Marcus Clausen
Production Director: Monique Franco
 

Awards 

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Brazil

FITA 2012 – Best Actor – Troféu Ítalo Rossi

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International

WINNER – Fringe Review Outstanding Theatre Award 2009
WINNER – ThreeWeeks Editors’ Award 2010
WINNER – Fringe Guru Editor’s Choice Award 2010
WINNER – Argus Angel 2011
WINNER – Mervyn Stutters Spirit of the Fringe Award 2011
WINNER – Jersey People’s Choice Award 2011
NOMINATED – Best Solo Performance, The Stage (2009)
NOMINATED – Best Male Performance, Off West End Awards (2011)
NOMINATED – Most Promising New Playwright, Off West End Awards (2011)
NOMINATED – Best Actor, Brighton Fringe Awards (2011)
NOMINATED – Best Play, London Fringe Awards (2011)

REVIEWS

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“A Gem of Humor” (headline)

“Billdog is a small gem, amusing the audience with its humor and capturing them with its imaginative plot and excellent performance. It comes as no surprise that the show has won numerous awards.”
Barbara Heliodora – O Globo

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“Guaranteed Fun!!!” (Veja Rio recommends)

Rafael Teixeira – Veja Rio Magazine

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“Billdog is a surprising production and, to some extent, innovative in its dramaturgy and staging. A single actor on an empty stage allows us to see and experience numerous characters and extraordinary situations. And here shines the performance of Gustavo Rodrigues who, with his versatility and undeniable talent, moves us, captivates us, and enchants us.”
Ferreira Gullar – Poet

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BILLDOG 2

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“Billdog 2 – The Monster Inside Him” premiered on January 3, 2020, at Theater 3 of the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) in Rio de Janeiro.

Following the public and critical success of “Billdog” (2012), actor Gustavo Rodrigues returns to the stage as the hitman Billdog — protagonist of a trilogy (“Bane,” in the original) written by British actor and playwright Joe Bone, a sensation in London. The production is directed by Gustavo Rodrigues and Joe Bone, with supervision by Guilherme Leme Garcia.

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