bio
Rui Gago
Stage Name
DR. APOKALIPSE
Born in Algarve - Portugal 1970
(1980 – 1990)
Starts performing in juvenile theater groups in Algarve and Lisbon, then following to several productions organized by Portuguese Scouts
Links to environment organizations related to renewable technologies where he joins many radical expeditions as a climbing, rafting and survival monitor
Develops several activities connected with artistic photography and illustration
Takes part in the II Salão de Artes Visuais (II Salon of Visual Arts) in Lisbon
Was an assistant of the Portuguese corporates Antevisão and Arquivisão in the fields of International Exhibitions Design, Museums and Industrial Archeology
(1990 – 2000)
Attends for a couple of years the superior course of Arts and Design at Iade University in Lisboa
Continued the colaboration with the corporates Antevisão e Arquivisão until 1999
Was a team member in charge for the inauguration of the Liceu Dr. Francisco Machado (Díli) offered to Timor by the Lisbon City Hall
Has been a technical partner for the producer Eutaxia - Assessoria Cultural during five years in the field of tours, where he consolidate professional training in the following areas:
Scene Structures
Stage FX
Scenography
Shows Pyrotechnics
Stage Rigging
Tour Logistics
Apart from the technical component he was also the creative and graphic designer of the Festivais de Lisboa (Lisboa Festivals) from 1992 to 1996, produced by Eutaxia
Was graphic designer for IFICT- Instituto de Formação e Investigação Cultural e Teatral (Theatral and Cultural Institute of Training and Investigation) from 1991 to 1992
In 1994 he’s a member of the multimédia team for Lisboa94-Capital da Cultura in the avant guarde theater department, working exclusively for the third time in an international production of La Fura Dels Baus
In 1996 he co-founds Nirvana Productions for whom designs and manage several dozens of corporative events and multimedia happenings for movies and records from studios such as Polygram, BMG, Sony, Warner, Universal, among others
In 1997 he’s co-author of the Portuguese Phonographic Association’s digital Award
He co-produced in Portugal launch events for several productions, movies and records such as:
AC/DC
Apokaliptica
Green Day
Harry Potter
Madonna
Mike Oldfield
Phil Collins
Prince
R.E.M.
Seal
Stone Temple Pilots
The 3 Tenors
The Doors
Van Halen
Xutos & Pontapés
4 Non Blondes
He’s co-founder of the international platform Nirvana Roadshows which offers dozens of exotic vehicles and roadshow trucks for corporate tours
(2000 – 2010)
Em 2002 he’s co-founder of the Custom Circus theater company for whom he designs the stage structures and multimedia riders of the shows:
A Saga da Roda (Wheel’s Saga) (2002)
Custom Parade (2003)
At Nirvana Productions he coordinates several shows for the Euro2004
In 2004 signs exclusivity with Custom Circus as an actor, multimedia designer, tech manager and visual artist, producing for this company the following shows:
Lua Cheia (Full Moon) (2004)
Custom Party (2004)
Teatro Sobre Rodas (Theater on Wheels) (2005)
Prisioneiros do Blues (Prisoners of the Blues) (2006)
Performers do Fogo (Fire Performers) (2007)
Gigolo Dance (2008)
In the same period he is the co-author of the following exhibitions, art and architectonic venues:
Raver (2004)
Apokalipse Bunker (2005)
Psygon Hot Rod (2005)
Galeria STRANGE (2006)
Band Box Corridors (2006 – 2008)
International Taxi (2008)
Biodiesel Blues (2009)
Muro da Fama (Wall of Fame) (2010)
In 2004 he co-founds Nirvana Studios – The Alternative Cultural Center
At Nirvana Studios he’s also the co-author of projects such as:
Band Box - Musicians Community (2006)
Nirvana Boulevard – Artists Collective (2007)
Art Express – Performers Dynamic Installation (2008)
He has been the international manager of Nirvana Roadshows platform until 2010
(2010 – 2018)
He’s co-founder of the following projects:
Custom Café Theater (2012)
Projecto UR “Upcycling-Recycling” – Artistic Experiment Facilities (2014)
Steampunk Ateliers – Artisans Collective (2015)
Custom Ville - Artistic Residences in Upcycling bungalows (2017)
Nirvana Mapa Tour – Outdoor Art Gallery with a digital APP (2018)
For Custom Circus he’s multimédia designer and tech manager of the following shows:
Le Cabaret Rock (2012)
Bizarre Chic (2014)
A Viagem (The Journey) (2015)
Absurdium (2017)
In the same period he’s co-author of the exhibitions, art and architectonic venues:
Custom Café “Imaginarium, Collection & Gallery” (2012)
Backstage Army Truck (2012)
Tia Maria (2012)
Regie (2012)
Diner 1903 (2013)
On the Road Again (2013)
Raus Human Portico (2014)
Bus Stop (2014)
Cargo Station (2015)
Saga Truck (2015)
Make a Promise (2015)
Herdeiros do Apokalipse (Apokalipse Heirs) (2016)
Check Point (2016)
Rock Shop Gigolo Dance (2016)
Steampunk Corridors (2017)
Mund Unid 2072 (2018)
Since the beginning of this company he performed as an actor in more than 800 Custom Circus shows
Other Facts:
15 months after Neil Armstrong had jumped cheerfully on the Moon, somewhere in the Lusitanian South a star shinned in such way it would have again caught the attention of the Three Kings but this time ridding a noisy caravan of Harley Davidsons.
Legitimate true son of an administrative lady and an Air Force gentleman officer, this future adventurer was born in the crepuscular Portuguese New State. From his father, who passed away when he was only 3 years old, he inherit an endless adventure thirst and the notion that our planet is wide and fantastic.
Renaissence style autodidact of everything that sparked his curiosity and enriched with huge lessons about Nature and the rural life transmitted by his family, during vacations as a little boy he already helped his Grand Fathers on the farm, the cowshed and a guesthouse with a restaurant where he soon understood that the future of Algarve would be plucking the tourist without mercy.
His adolescence was marked by action and risk which he blend in a Zen way with visual arts, design and photography. He undertook several environment campaigns and dedicated years of his life promoting alternative and radical life styles involving climbing, mountaineering, canoeing, survival techniques, adventure camping, bicycle touring and Upcycling construction in wild or urban surroundings.
Has been and still is a borderless traveler, never a tourist but instead a hands on observer with the Atlas as his Bible. He spread cells from his tanned skin in all the 5 continents he crossed from point to point and the few places he missed are well marked in an old Steampunk scrapbook he carefully hides in a safe place.
If not enough, he was also a 1% Biker in the Road Runners for 9 consecutive years. To drag him out of a plane, a boat, a truck, a Peruvian rotten train or even an Indian tuk-tuk heading to an unknown destination requires lots of brutal force.
Or instead, one can just appeal to his love of classic vehicles restoration, frightening machinery building and Custom Circus performances.