Joana Pupo has a degree in Philosophy (FCSH/UNL, 2007) and a master in Theatre/Movement (E.S.T.C, 2012). She started her training as an actress at Teatro dos Estudantes (Universidade de Coimbra, TEUC) and completed a theater training at Estudio Nancy-Tunon (Barcelona, 2002). In 2005, she was selected for the Nouvelle École des Maîtres with Carlo Cecchi and invited as assistant translator, in 2006 and 2008, for Pippo Delbono and Enrique Diaz, respectively. She follows Suzuki and Viewpoints training with Anne Bogart's SITI Company, since 2010.
In 2019, she was in Japan with SCOT (Suzuki Company of Toga) and, in 2017, created the Lisbon Extended Ensemble, with European artists who follow Viewpoints and Suzuki methods in artistic practices and pedagogy. She joined, in 2022, the Mary Overlie Legacy Project, conducted by Wendell Beavers.
As a performer and creator, she has worked with Rogério de Carvalho, José Neves, Artistas Unidos, Inestética, Marionet, Propositário Azul, Teatro de Montemuro, Sonoscopia / Henrique Fernandes, Vagar / Márcia Lança, Marina Nabais Dança, Companhia da Esquina / Jorge Ribeiro, Casa da Esquina / Ricardo Correia, Ritual de Domingo / Sónia Barbosa and Nicho / Graeme Pullyen. She has also worked in Italy, with Teatro Stabile delle Marche, and in Spain with the companies Voa Dora and Teatro de Cerca, among others.
Joana Pupo directed and performed the solo A FUGA DE WANG-FÔ (2006-10) and directed the GRUPO READY MADE (2011), featuring 16 artists from various backgrounds. Staged with Catarina Santana, for T.E.U.C., the play VOSCH-VUSCH, UM BOSQUE EM MARCHA (from Macbeth), which received an Honorable Mention at FATAL'12, NOS INVERTEBRATES (Teatro da Comuna, 2016) and ANTÍGONA OU A TERRÍVEL INOCÊNCIA (Teatro do Bairro, 2018). In 2020, she created with Pepa Macua and Catarina Sobral the company Mente de Cão (Dog's Mind), and premiered the play _A GRAVIDADE DE UM PÁSSARO (THE GRAVITY OF A BIRD). She is currently staging UMA PEÇA FELIZ E DIRECTA SOBRE A TRISTEZA, for Companhia Caótica.
She has a vast experience in the pedagogical field. She teaches Movement in the Professional Performing Arts Course of I.D.S./A Barraca (since 2010), taught Improvisation for 8 years at ESTAL's Performing Arts Course and instructed for 10 years several courses at EVOÉ - Escola de Atores. Develops several workshops in partnership with other artists, and also collaborates in pedagogical projects with Ana Mira, São Castro and António Cabrita.
