In a message to the country, António Costa announced that the São Bento Palace will open its doors to the Portuguese, not physically, but online. Through the work “Now that we cannot be together”, the Portuguese will be able to celebrate April 25 from home.

“Usually, on the 25th of April, we open these doors so that they can visit the official residence, its gardens”, António Costa started by announcing. “This year is, as we know, special.A year in which we have to be together (as a community, in spirit) but apart (physically)        to be able to face and overcome this pandemic so that we can be together again as we always have been, celebrating in the streets, in the gardens, what is the 25 of April, always “, added the Prime Minister

Not being able to be here physically, we want to let them be here via this online route. So we are going to remember what the other 25 of April  were like, where we were able to have our doors open and this house full”, he added.

António Costa invited the artistic directors of the National Theaters of São Carlos, São João and D. Maria II, and also of the National Ballet Company, to think, therefore, of an innovative celebration proposal for online platforms in which the Portuguese can watch from home.

The four curators invited the Portuguese theater company Hotel Europa and thus was born “Now that we cannot be together”, a work that António Costa calls “unique”. “A dance and music play that will celebrate the 25 of April differently today,” added the prime minister.

The work, filmed mostly in the gardens of the prime minister’s official residence, recalls the day when democracy was established through the testimonies of people who fought the dictatorship.

“And what I want to invite you here for is to make this visit online today, but one day, I hope next year, if not the following year, you will come here, physically, personally”, concluded António Costa.