Lobo-Guará Productions

Why Lobo-Guará?

Lobo‑Guará Productions was born from a childhood moment that never left me. When I was a young girl in Brazil, I found a schoolbook about the lobo‑guará - the maned wolf. I was instantly captivated by this strange, elegant creature: shy but resilient, solitary yet deeply symbolic, moving through the world with a quiet kind of magic. As I grew up, the lobo‑guará became more than an animal I admired; it became a metaphor for the artists, outsiders, dreamers, and storytellers who navigate life with sensitivity and strength. Creating this company felt like returning to that first spark of wonder.

Today, Lobo‑Guará Productions exists to champion stories that walk between worlds - just like the animal that inspired its name. As a Brazilian‑Canadian artist, I build work that blends cultures, genres, and emotional truths. My company is a home for theatre, writing, and multidisciplinary projects that celebrate vulnerability, imagination, and the power of personal narrative. Whether producing plays, developing new writing, or collaborating with other artists, Lobo‑Guará Productions is committed to creating work that feels intimate, magical, and deeply human. This company matters because it carries the mission I’ve had since childhood: to honour the quiet creatures, the overlooked stories, and the voices that deserve a place on the stage.

A heartfelt story about memory, grief, and goodbye.

Lucky, a senior black cat who recently finished his mission with his humans, has just arrived in a magical Sanctuary between worlds. His next task? Deliver an inspiring “CAT Talk” to a group of wide‑eyed kittens so they can find their purrrfect humans. His real challenge? Letting go of the humans he already loved.

As the clock ticks, Lucky is surrounded by a cast of unforgettable feline souls: Bart, his slow‑thinking but big‑hearted cousin; Minou, a Belgian cat who judges with love (mostly); and Mirra and Bobby - two chaotic kittens who believe he’s a legend. But Lucky is still grieving - and the story he’s supposed to tell is the one he’s not ready to face.

Blending humour, heartache, and magical realism, "The Lucky Life of a Black Cat" explores what it means to love deeply, lose deeply, and still find the courage to help others begin their journey. A warm, whimsical, tear‑and‑laughter‑filled tale for anyone who has ever been saved by a pet - or said goodbye to one.

Writer's Note

The Lucky Life of a Black Cat is a whimsical fantasy mixed with magical realism that could be interpreted as a metaphor for life, purpose, and transformation.

Imagine a place where cats can travel from the physical to the spiritual realm - A Sanctuary. In this magical place, all adopted cats who passed away reunite with the living cats still awaiting adoption. Every cat must fulfill their mission in the physical world, protecting humans - the most complicated creatures on Earth - through love, patience, and warmth.

In "The Lucky Life of a Black Cat," the three cats who recently passed away must complete a final task: to tell their story in a TED Talk-style.  

Lucky, the last cat of the trio, arrives at the Sanctuary after finally finishing his mission with his humans, a lovely couple still grieving and unable to move on. Seeing his human Mom and Dad suffering makes Lucky think that maybe he has failed, and his mission hasn’t been accomplished; therefore, he struggles to give the final speech to the others. He knows that if he doesn’t give his speech, the other cats can’t be adopted, causing an imbalance in both the human and cat worlds.

Lucky relies on the cats in the Sanctuary to help him. Lucky’s cousin Bart, the chilliest orange cat in the world who also recently finished his mission will be always by Lucky’s side, together with Minou, a Belgian white cat with French vibes who was the first to finish her mission; and the kittens Mirra, a curious smart cat who seems to know a lot about humans according to all the information she collects; and Bobby, a shy and scared cat who’s afraid of being adopted and not being able to fulfill his mission.

A little trivia: all the mentioned cats, except for Bobby, are based on real special cats in my life!

Background

Grieving has been part of my life more intensely for the past 7 years. Recently, losing my cat has been the most difficult loss to deal with after my father’s. The best way to cope with all the suffering, for me, is to create something artistic out of it. I wanted to honour my cat because he was an important part of my existence for almost 14 years. Lucky’s arrival and departure had a spiritual poetry that anyone who has lost a beloved pet will understand.

Writing has always been a powerful way to heal. Many years ago, I published a collection of poems and short stories called “From Depression to Creation” – in Portuguese: Da Depressão à Criação. It was a cathartic experience in my life, especially after dealing with major depression since the age of 13. My second book, “How to Be a Good Husband” – in Portuguese: Como Ser Um Bom Marido, was published when I was dealing with severe health issues; however, I was thriving because my wonderful gentleman and our fluffy baby were taking such good care of me, and my books were selling like hot cakes!

Now, writing about Lucky and how I feel about losing him, projected in his character, is helping me tremendously. Of course, the purpose of writing this play is to create a beautiful memorial, a tribute to my cat, but I also want to touch people’s hearts when it comes to grieving and respecting others' process of dealing with loss and pain.

The comical elements inserted into the kittens' scenes give a sense of hope and relief, helping to balance the play’s energy.

I hope my play will help someone feel less alone in their grief and perhaps, a little more seen. It really destabilizes whoever is going through this kind of loss.

It’s the same, sometimes bigger than losing a person, and therefore, there’s no shame in admitting it. There’s no right or wrong, or no deadlines for grieving.

"The Lucky Life of a Black Cat" is the highlight of my writing journey and will always have a special place in my heart. It is not just a whimsical play: it is my love letter to Lucky, my healing journey, and a tribute to the mysterious bond between cats and humans. It symbolizes a way for me to remain forever connected to those I have lost, and to always keep their memories alive in my heart.