This book sets out to study the supposed influence of naturalistic theatre aesthetics on contemporary Brazilian telenovelas, based on a detailed case study, mainly considering the formal and diegetic aspects present in Joao Emanuel Carneiro's telenovela Avenida Brasil, produced by Rede Globo de Televisao and shown by the same network in 2012. The work was chosen, among other reasons, because of its aesthetic-communicational relevance and significant repercussions in terms of audience. A reflexive investigation was carried out, taking into account the theatrical elements responsible for peculiarities in the representation of so-called social reality in soap operas shown in the 9pm slot, considered to be the broadcaster's prime time.