Viewers become creators of theater. From Sept. 28 to Oct. 8, the second edition of “Ragusa Behind the Curtain,” the biennial festival dedicated to the crafts of art.
Talks, workshops, concerts and performances in the streets and monuments of Ragusa Ibla dressed up to pay homage to the great Italo Calvino on the centenary of his birth. Many guests, from Buttafuoco to Violante, Bergonzoni to Rea.
How is a sound, a word, a movement born? And why does it enchant the audience and transport them to the magic of the stage? To answer these questions, “Ragusa Behind the Curtain,” the biennial festival of the crafts of art, conceived by Vicky DiQuattro, was born in 2021. Now, the festival returns with new and exciting challenges: can a show be born day after day, together with the audience, and then premiere? That’s what will happen in Ragusa with “Il calabrone e la farfalla,” directed by Walter Manfrè and written by Costanza DiQuattro, which will be staged at the Teatro Donnafugata with Giuseppe Ferlito and Maria Rita Schembari, accompanied by music by Mario Incudine.
A festival that exalts the crafts of theater
“Ragusa Behind the Curtain” celebrates not only actors, but all the crafts of the theatrical art, such as set designers, stagehands, costume designers and makeup artists. The second edition, scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8 in Ragusa Ibla, turns the usual theatrical mechanism upside down, putting the behind-the-scenes at the center. Performances become “off” programs, while the centerpiece of the event is the opening of rehearsals to students and the public, with workshops allowing spectators to actively participate in the creation of the show.
A program full of events and prominent artists
Promoted by the “Donnafugata 2000” association and curated by artistic directors Vicky and Costanza DiQuattro, the festival is supported by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the Sicily Region’s Department of Tourism and Entertainment, and other local institutions. The festival invites viewers to discover the fascination of theater in all its forms, with talks, workshops, meetings and performances by nationally renowned artists.
The guests and main performances
Among this edition’s stars are comedian and playwright Alessandro Bergonzoni, director Gabriele Vacis with actors Roberto Tarasco, Mario Incudine, Danilo Rea, and many others. Scheduled performances include “Prometheus Chained,” “Seven at Thebes,” and a theatrical and musical transposition of “The Wolf and the Moon.” The Cirko Vertigo Foundation will present exciting dance theater performances, while Blas Roca Rey and Monica Rogledi will offer Calvino’s “Fairy Tales.”
Cultural and social gatherings
The festival will also host meetings on cultural and social issues, featuring experts such as Luciano Violante, Paolo Verri, and Fulvia Toscano. These meetings will explore the role of democracy, urban cultural programming, and contemporary theater education.
A Tribute to Italo Calvino
On the occasion of the centenary of Italo Calvino’s birth, the festival will pay tribute to the writer with art installations inspired by his book “Invisible Cities.” Ragusa Mayor Peppe Cassì stressed that these installations will transform the city’s urban spaces, creating a great shared festival.
An Invitation to Co-Creation
The artistic directors, Vicky and Costanza DiQuattro, invite the public to actively participate in the festival, promoting the co-creation of performances together with the artists. The festival program involves prominent cultural institutions such as the Fondazione Istituto Dramma Antico and the Cirko Vertigo Foundation, as well as numerous young students from schools in the province of Ragusa.
For more information on the program and events, visit www.teatrodonnafugata.it and follow the festival’s social channels. “Ragusa Behind the Curtain” is supported by various private sponsors, including Banca Agricola Popolare di Ragusa, Villa San Giorgio, Randstad, Regran, ST Sergio Tumino, Marina Iblea, Cappello and Battaglia Insurance, Reale Mutua agency of Ragusa, Argo Software and Rosso di Sicilia, Coop Gruppo Radenza.
Don’t miss the opportunity to have a unique experience, immersing yourself in the magical world of theater and discovering all that goes on behind the curtain.
