Pai Tiatrist

Pai Tiatrist
Portrait of Fernandes from the 20th century
Born
João Agostinho Fernandes

(1871-12-14)14 December 1871
Died29 August 1947(1947-08-29) (aged 75)
NationalityPortuguese
Other names
  • Comic Fernandes
  • J.A. Fernandes
Alma materSt. Xavier's School, Dhobitalao
Occupations
  • Playwright
  • actor
Years active1892–1947
Employer(s)Messrs Phillips and Company, Bombay
Spouse
    (m. 1892; died 1908)
      Luiza Colaço
      (m. 1909)
    Children8

    João Agostinho Fernandes (14 December 1871 – 29 August 1947), popularly known as Pai Tiatrist (lit.'Father Tiatrist'), was a Portuguese playwright, theatre actor, and former chemist. Referred to as the "Father of Konkani tiatr", he is known for his contribution to the first tiatr, Italian Bhurgo (transl.Italian Boy). The play was first performed on 17 April 1892 in Bombay at the New Alfred Theatre, along with playwright Lucasinho Ribeiro, Caitaninho Fernandes, and Agostinho Mascarenhas.

    Fernandes continued the tiatr tradition when his mentor Ribeiro quit being part of Konkani theatre during the early 20th century. Over a span of more than fifty years, he created 30 plays, with the majority being original works crafted by him, totaling 26, while the remaining four were adaptations from external sources.