The festival, entitled "Gender to the Center", will feature a play, talks and music and painting workshops, in which topics such as gender or sexual orientation will be addressed, with sessions designed for schools, families and the community in general, said the association on 29 June, in a press note sent to Lusa News Agency, stressing that the project is supported by the Cultural Action Support Program of the Regional Directorate for Culture of the Center.

The festival, which will take place from 5 to 7 November to in Coimbra, and from 19 to 21 November in Penela, will have several sessions of the play "Frida e Chavela - A story of humanity", a show supported by the University of Coimbra.

In the play, Frida Kahlo is interpreted by the painter Élia Ramalho and Chavela Vargas by the Pensão Flor e Macadame singer, Vânia Couto, in a show with painting and live music, around the two women "irreverent and free in a world where they have never been accepted", explained the association.

According to Vânia Couto, talking about the two women is talking about issues such as female emancipation or sexual orientation (Chavela Vargas was a homosexual).

"We already had a show at Catrapum that talked about some issues of gender equality and we were always positively received by the children", told the Lusa agency the artist.

At the end of each session to present the play, a conversation is held with the audience. The idea is to demystify prejudices, clarify doubts and discuss ideas with the youngest, and will have "the participation of LGBTQIA+ guests to give their personal testimony", as well as the presence of two psychologists and associations working on these themes.

Throughout the festival, the public is also challenged to participate in painting and intervention music workshops on the themes.

The painting works will be exhibited and the result of the musical workshop will close the festival.

The Escola da Noite, the Penela Chamber, the Casa Qui, the Jazz Ao Centro Clube and the Existencias association are some of the festival's partners.

Vânia Couto stressed that she wants the festival to be extended over time, but also that it can "reach other places".