At the end of November, Évora welcomed the Irish company MACNAS, on their first visit to the city to start preparing the opening and closing ceremonies of Évora_27, which will be interconnected.

As planned in the bid book, these two moments, spaced out over time, will function as a single performance, divided into two parts (opening and closing) and involving, as usual in MACNAS' creations, professional and amateur artists based in the Alentejo and communities from all over the region.

For this to happen, MACNAS, whose collective and transformative productions often make use of puppets - a strong bond with the Alentejo – began by exploring different parts of the city (the open stage for the ceremonies), both inside and outside its wall, before going to the forest. The group's stay in Évora also included working sessions with the Évora_27 Team and the cultural association Do Imaginário, which will be the local project leader.

MACNAS, founded in Galway, Ireland, in 1986, is an award-winning internationally acclaimed performance group,  recognised for its immersive and spectacular creations, engaging with artists, audiences and communities.  It has a multidisciplinary production that includes parades, theatre shows, installations, film and performance arts.