Actress and Grupo Galpão founder Teuda Bara died on Thursday (25) at 84 in her hometown of Belo Horizonte. The announcement was made by the theater group on social media, without disclosing the cause of death. Celebrities paid tribute to the artist known for her versatility and comic flair.
Teuda Bara, born Teuda Magalhães Fernandes in Belo Horizonte, built a career devoted to popular theater and cultural resistance. Daughter of a firefighter major trombonist and a singer nurse, she began in theater at 30 in the UFMG Academic Directory's theater-journal, dropping out of social sciences to embrace the hippie movement and crafts.
In 1982, she co-founded Grupo Galpão alongside Fernando Linares, Antonio Edson, Eduardo Moreira, and Wanda Fernandes. The collective redefined Brazilian theater by blending circus, music, and classical dramaturgy in shows like 'A Rua da Amargura' and 'Um Molière Imaginário', bringing art to public squares. Bara refused an invitation to be a Chacrinha dancer in the 1970s, considering herself 'too communist', an episode detailed in her biography 'Teuda Bara - Too Communist to Be a Dancer', published eight years ago.
Active until the end, she performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas from 2004 to 2007 but returned to Brazil seeking the vitality of street theater. Her last show was on December 13, 2025, in 'Doida', alongside son Admar Fernandes. During the pandemic, she staged the virtual 'Queria Teatro' with him. Other works include the film 'O Palhaço', the soap opera 'Meu Pedacinho de Chão', and Paulo Gustavo's series 'A Vila', plus plays 'Nós'.
Grupo Galpão described her passing as 'an immeasurable loss' and praised the 'rarest light' she spread. Actor and cousin Antonio Grassi mourned: 'Teuda started in theater with me, in the play Viva Olégario, in Belo Horizonte — one of her first works. From there, she built a luminous trajectory, marked by scenic intelligence, courage, and an absolutely unique presence.' Débora Lamm wrote: 'Our little Teudinha!! The longing already overflows.' Tributes also came from Kiko Mascarenhas, Matheus Nachtergaele, Chico César, Débora Falabella, Debora Bloch, Alexandre Nero, Mel Lisboa, Patrícia Pillar, and Samuel Rosa.
Bara leaves two sons, André and Admar. Her wake is at Palácio das Artes in Belo Horizonte, starting at 10 a.m. on Friday (26).
