Entre palcos e arraiás: a essência literária de Ariano Suassuna no teatro junino do Grupo Cultural Junina Lumiar da Lua

Abstract

This article analyzes the adaptation process of “Auto da Compadecida”, by Ariano Suassuna, within the context of junina theater, focusing on the performance “Num sei, só sei que foi assim” (2018), staged by the Grupo Cultural “Junina Lumiar da Lua” from Santa Luz – PI. The main objective is to understand how popular theatrical language and the aesthetics of junina quadrilhas interact with Suassuna’s dramatic literature, promoting a re-signification of the original work through scenic, musical, and ritual elements typical of junina theater. The theoretical framework is based on authors such as Linda Hutcheon (2011) on literary adaptation; Rangel (2009) on the specifics of popular theater; and scholars of Northeastern culture and the Armorial Movement, including Suassuna (1989) and Cascudo (2001). The qualitative methodology relies on bibliographic research and comparative analysis between excerpts of the original text and its junina staging. Results indicate that the adaptation preserves the essence of the work by incorporating elements such as rural weddings, regional dialects, popular archetypes, and traditional Northeastern music, while updating the plot with references to local culture and contemporary contexts. The study concludes that junina theater functions as a space of cultural resistance and collective creation, where tradition and innovation intertwine, allowing Suassuna’s work to achieve new forms of expression and permanence in the cultural memory of Northeastern Brazil.