Castro (play)
Castro is a Portuguese tragedy play written by Portuguese poet António Ferreira. It is considered the first classical tragedy composed in Portuguese.
Background
Castro is the first tragedy play written entirely in Portuguese. It was authored by António Ferreira, a poet and dramatist that's widely regarded as one of the founding figures of Portuguese Renaissance literature. Composed around 1556 in Portugal's Coimbra, the play was left unpublished by Ferreira, who later shifted to a legal career in Lisbon. It was later published posthumously after his death.The play was first presented in Ferreira's hometown of Lisbon, Portugal in 1598. It was printed by Pedro Craesbeeck who was a Portuguese printer and bookseller. The tragedy was first translated into English by Thomas Moore Musgrave in London in 1825, marking a significant step in introducing the Portuguese literature to English-speaking audiences.
The story of Inez de Castro was often adapted by Portuguese poets. Ferreira's theme for the play is reportedly based on a passage of the latin poem The Lusiadas by Luís de Camões.
Roles
The main characters in the play included Inês de Castro with her nurse, Infante Don Pedro with his secretary, King Alphonso with three merciless counselors, and a messenger.| Role |
| Castro |
| Ama |
| Choro das mocas de Coimbra |
| Infante D. Pedro |
| Secretario jeu |
| El Rey D. Afonso IIII |
| Pêro Coelho |
| Diogo Lopes Pacheco |
| Messageiro |