Vozes do palco: carreiras e trajetórias de artistas do teatro paulistano narradas por meio da história de vida

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the trajectories of theatre artists, with particular emphasis on the processes involved in the construction of artistic careers. Careers are understood as central themes in people’s lives (Mayrhofer et al., 2023), situated at the intersection of societal history and an individual’s biography (Grandjean, 1981; Gunz et al., 2019). Accordingly, this study assumes that careers are not merely products but can also be interpreted as processes marked by critical events (Baruch; Sullivan, 2022), which shape individuals’ experiences across time and space. A systematic literature review revealed that organizational studies have devoted insufficient attention to work associated with creativity (Soares; Saraiva, 2019; Bendassolli et al., 2009). From a social perspective, the study is justified by the fundamental role of theatre in fostering cultural development and preserving social memory. Considering that careers can be understood as processes embedded in specific contexts and that the concept of career is permeated by social, economic, and political dimensions (Gunz; Mayrhofer; Tolbert, 2011), the following general objective was established: to understand how the career trajectories of theatre artists in the city of São Paulo unfold, analyzing the meanings they attribute to their professional experiences and the objective and subjective factors that influence their decisions and challenges across different socio-historical contexts. To achieve this objective, the following specific objectives were established: to analyze the sociohistorical and legal context of theatre artists’ careers, situating the careers of the interviewees within the contexts in which they work; to characterize theatre artists’ occupation, with particular attention to the professional experiences of the research participants; and to examine the participants’ life trajectories in relation to their objective and subjective dimensions, identifying the occurrence of critical events. Regarding the methodological procedures, this study adopted the life history method, given its potential to facilitate the reconstruction of the past through reflection, imagination, and language (Barros; Lopes, 2014). The main findings revealed that the participants develop their professional trajectories within a context characterized by informality, the need for selfmanagement, and significant dependence on funding mechanisms provided through public calls for proposals. Furthermore, these careers are shaped by continuous and intensive learning processes involving character development and in-depth artistic research. The findings also highlight the essentially collective nature of these trajectories (Barley, 1989), which are structured through networks of cooperation (Becker, 2010). Finally, theatre artists mobilize the political dimension of their careers (Gunz; Mayrhofer; Tolbert, 2011) as a strategy to claim rights and reaffirm identities that extend beyond the individual sphere, thereby assuming a collective dimension as well.