Theater director Zé Celso Martinez, Zé Celso, was hospitalized and intubated this Tuesday (04/07) after a fire reached his apartment in the south zone of São Paulo. The information was confirmed by the press office of the Teatro Oficina, a company managed by Zé Celso.
The playwright is 86 years old and is in intensive care at the Hospital das Clínicas. According to Globo, the artist has burns on 60% of his body.
In addition to Zé, there were also Marcelo Drummond, husband of Zé Celso, Ricardo Bittencourt and Victor Rosa in the apartment, who are under surveillance for smoke inhalation. In addition, the Nagô couple’s dog is under surveillance for carbon monoxide at a veterinary clinic.
According to friends of the director, the fire broke out at dawn due to a problem with the heating or air conditioning in the property, which would have caused it to fall to the ground. At the time of the accident, which occurred in the morning, eight fire engines had been called to the scene.
“Following the fire in his apartment today (07/04), Zé Celso was taken to the hospital. We await official medical communications and hope the press will respect the moment without further speculation. Among them the other three residents of the house Marcelo Drummond is under surveillance for smoke inhalation. The Nagô dog is also under surveillance at a veterinary clinic. It is important now that we form one great chain of axe, prayer, protection and healing,” the theater said in a statement.
Zé Celso Martinez is known for the eccentric and daring way of composing his pieces. He began his career as a playwright in the late 1950s with two plays of his own: Vento Forte for Papagaio Subir and A Incubadeira.