with dancers Arthur Bouilliol, Leonardo de Santis, Gregorio Dragoni, Glenda Gheller, India Guanzini, Paolo Piancastelli, Julie Vivès
Design and choreography Sofia Nappi
Music Dead Combo, Jean du Voyage, Irfan, Frédéric Chopin
Sound design Ed Mars & Sofia Nappi
Lights Alessandro Caso
Costumes Judith Adam
Coproduction Burghof Lörrach (Germany), Danse Danse Montreal (Canada), ecotopia dance productions (Germany), Escher Theater (Luxembourg), MART Foundation (USA), ROXY Ulm (Germany), Sosta Palmizi (Italy), Tanz Köln (Germany), Theater Winterthur (Switzerland), Tollhaus Karlsruhe (Germany)
In italian, “Pupo” refers to both the child and the puppet: Sofia Nappi’s new piece is inspired by the figure of Pinocchio, Collodi’s famous work about the metamorphosis of the puppet who dreams of becoming a child.
Far from a didactic narrative, Pupo explores the theme of growth and awareness, of how an innocent and curious child begins to interact with the world, continually putting himself at stake in his relationship with others and with his own limitations. The focus is on metamorphosis: how does this slow transformation from one state to another take place? How does the naive child grow up and stop being manipulated by others? The famous children’s book by Carlo Collodi has inspired the young Italian choreographer to create a modern coming-of-age story, in which we can see the famous fairy tale characters (the cat and the fox, the talking cricket and the turquoise fairy). Sofia Nappi’s dance language combines the wild and free flow of Israeli dance with elements of breakdancing for the jerky movements of the puppet. With minimal gestures and flashing leitmotifs, often embedded in the dancers’ unbridled desire to move, the choreographer refers to personal growth and self-awareness. Through his own realisation and the help of guiding figures, Pinocchio finds himself: choreographically, the individual connects to the collective over a musical mantra symbolising a moment of transformation.
The strongly rhythmic musical collage, on which Pinocchio dances, varies from the folkloric sound of a guitar to solemn, mystical sounds; at the end, the melancholy of memory resonates in a delicate nocturne by Chopin. White masks mysteriously appearing and disappearing on faces allude to the stereotypes and social criticism of the old Italian commedia dell’arte. A strong, atmospheric lighting design sets the scene for the central hero and all the influences that gravitate around him.
Pupo was created for adults, but it will be a show to give a wide audience the opportunity to observe and reflect. Pupo is an invitation not to forget the child in us, the impulsive and playful wooden puppet we once were, the exuberant and irrepressible desire to dance. “The wood from which Pinocchio is cut is the humanitas, the humanity” – so said the Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce about the iconic figure of the little wooden puppet who longs to be a boy.
Individual tickets for the performances will be on sale from Saturday 7 September at 10 a.m., at the theatre box office and online on this website.
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PERFORMANCE
Tuesday, 25 March 2025 – h. 20.30
PRICES
Stalls – Boxes 35€ + presale
IV Balcony parapet 25€ + presale
IV Balcony rank 20€ + presale
V Balcony parapet 22€ + presale
V Balcony rank 19€ + presale
Under18 / Inteatro fare 15€
