SO-SEE-A-TI | Ricardo Runa

SOCIETY — a complex network of human interactions guided by values, norms, and institutions that shape collective life. Digital interactions dominate our daily routines, and social media promises to eliminate the barriers of distance. Paradoxically, it has never been so easy to feel alone.

In a society that values productivity, appearance, and competition, many people commonly isolate themselves emotionally, even when surrounded by others. The pressure to meet high standards creates an invisible barrier, where showing vulnerability or the need for companionship seems like a sign of weakness. Thus, loneliness settles in — not through the absence of company, but through the absence of genuine connection.

Loneliness is a silent burden, revealed in empty gazes, meaningless conversations, and the mechanical routine that masks the feeling of emptiness. It is as if there is a disconnection between the individual and the rest of the world, an abyss where a person screams but no one hears.

The teenager who feels they don't belong, the adult living between commitments with no time for themselves, or the elderly person who no longer finds the place they once occupied — each faces loneliness in their own way, trying to fill the void with work, hobbies, or even superficial interactions, which rarely solve the problem.

Loneliness, however, is not a sentence; it can be an invitation to deeper reflection on our relationships, our choices, and what truly matters. When we recognise that being alone does not have to be a synonym for loneliness, we discover the possibility of connecting authentically — beginning with ourselves.

And perhaps, in this journey, we may remember that although we feel alone at certain moments, the human experience is, at its core, shared. By acknowledging this, we find the potential to transform loneliness into something less painful — and more human.

Credits:

Choreography / Scenography / Lighting Design / Sound Design / Costumes — Ricardo Runa

Performers — Alessia Vogelzang, Alessia Scorcia, Belize Schroeder, Chiara di Giulio, Daniil Kliuchnikov, Milena Fosco, Nathan Keenoo, Rocio Palmero.

Music — Dis Fig, Thanos Ana, Travis Lake, Max Richter, Christophe Filippi, Son Lux, Ron Morelli.

Sponsors: Covilhã City Council, Twintex, Covilhã e Canhoso Parish Union

Support: University of Beira Interior, Paulo Runa House, Miguel Gigante, Paço 100 Pressa.

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