Brazilian centre for social communication created in 1968. In 1975, Centro de Communicaçáo Social do Nordeste (CECOSNE, Centre for Social Communication of the Northeast) became a foundation and an important distribution centre for works of puppetry, after introducing the teaching and practice of this art in Brazil.

CECOSNE welcomed the programme Curso de Comunicação Social (social communication course) at the Universade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE, Federal University of Pernambuco) in the early 1970s. It also opened its doors to the students of the Faculdade de Filosofia do Recife (Faculty of Philosophy of Recife) under the supervision of Madre Armia Escobar Duarte, an indefatigable guide to the art of puppetry. This experience contributed to the creation of Teatroneco, marked by the influence of the Sociedade Pestalozzi (Pestalozzi Society) and by the research of Hermilo Borba Filho on the subject of folklore and on popular theatre of the Northeast.

The repertoire of Teatroneco consists of plays that fall under the thematic concept of popular Brazilian traditions, without leaving behind the great universal works for theatre, such as Faust by Goethe. The troupe Mamulengo Só-Riso is a product of this institution. Trained by artists originally from Teatro Popular do Nordeste (Popular Theatre of the Northeast) and by students of CECOSNE, this company is the first mamulengo theatre troupe to be set up outside of traditional apprenticeship.

Besides shows, the foundation offers diverse courses in the field of scenic arts. Structured as a non-governmental organization, the CECOSNE school is also a reference point in terms of teaching circus arts as well as encouraging popular Brazilian culture.

(See Brazil.)