PINOCCHIO. WHAT IS A PERSON? MITEM

The puppet Pinocchio has provided a kind of symbolic kinship with the children in our varied group, many of whom suffer from a range of conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome, Williams’ syndrome, and different forms of autism. And he belongs to the same family as those children who have miraculously escaped from crime, or are in the process of redefining their lives after being released from prison, which they either couldn’t or didn’t know how to  avoid.  

Along with the other symbolic characters that feature in his tale, Pinocchio seems to personify all the incomprehensible or misunderstood features of teenage life, whose torments – at times steeped in joyful fury, at others appearing dark and irredeemable – are the reflection of an adult society that is either a caricature of itself or in ruin. Pinocchio embodies difference, and all those who are different, with their anarchic and disruptive energy.  

In an earlier draft, Pinocchio’s story ended with the puppet hanging itself, as if to suggest there was no way out. It was then revised by Carlo Collodi with a final, conciliatory, benevolent transformation into a child, into a person. Fine. But what is a person? The work of redefining identities through the instrument of Art, the centrality of the person and his fragilities, are the principles at the basis of the pedagogy of Scuola Elementare del Teatro, Conservatorio Popolare per le Arti della Scena for the stage arts.  

This scenic study brings on stage some students of the Conservatorio Popolare, together with their parents, and also marks the launch of the Compagnia, with which the Scuola Elementare del Teatro builds a new piece of its community history. 

The Neapolitan Pinocchio, which was also selected for the Venice Biennale programme, received the Special Prize of the prestigious Italian Ubu Theatre Awards in 2024.