Dialog Festival

Zisa Castle, Dancers

text: Emma Dante, set design: Emma Dante, Carmine Marignola, lighting design: Maria Cristina Fresia, production and distribution coordinator: Fanny Bouquerel / Amunì, premiere: February 2011

cast: Onofrio Zummo, Claudia Benassi, Stephenie Taillandier, Sabino Civilleri, Manuela Lo Sicco

 

If I were asked to express my idea of theatre I would say this: a situation evokes a feeling and thus stimulates action. This is what life itself does. Theatre is always far ahead of all definitions. We just want to talk of who we are, of what is inside us, of what destroys us and fills us with contradictions. These contradictions we carry with us all the time – common sense and senselessness, power and powerlessness.”  

Emma Dante

During this year’s Dialog Festival, Emma Dante – seen in Poland for the first time – will present two parts of her Trilogy of the Glasses, the protagonists of which, though half-blind, see much more than most of us. The Zisa Castle comes from the name of a Catholic asylum for the incurable in Palermo. Its sisters of mercy are infantile and inquisitive, cantankerous and superstitious; they are trying to experience a miracle. But perhaps the healing of an autistic patient happens only in his dreams? The protagonists of Dancers are a bizarre, nearly grotesque elderly couple, who dance to old romantic Italian hits, telling us the story of their lives and their love. In this case, too, the on-stage ode to love is not far removed from a dream.

The Trilogy of the Glasses is full of amazing energy, this incredible will to live that neither old age nor illness can overcome or suppress. The energy that accompanies us till the end, in spite of everything.”  

Paolo Cervone, Corriere Della Sera

The Sud Costa Occidentale theatre was founded in 1999 by Emma Dante. Since 2008 it has been based permanently an abandoned factory, which has acquired a cult status and constantly bustles with life. It is a venue for open meetings and international workshops. The Sud Costa Occidentale theatre is not financed from public funds; its only source of income comes from ticket sales. Its international renown attracts more and more external producers. The company is made up of actors with different experiences and approaches to art. The productions that Emma Dante has created with the company include Il Sortilegio (2000), Insulti (first prize in the Shownoprofit 2000 competition), mPaermu (Premio Scenario 2001 and Premio Ubu 2002) and Carnezzeria (Premio Ubu 2003).

Coproduction: Compagnia Sud Costa Occidentale, Teatro Stabile di Napoli, CRT Centro di Ricerca per il Teatro, Théâtre du Rond Point – Paris.