Can an archaeological park become a place where local teenagers can investigate their abilities by performing, with professional artists, in an ancient show?
Are 15-17 year old boys and girls able to challenge the story of an area like the one around Pompeii, “difficult” and “weak” according to the usual socioeconomic indicators, surprising adults with their incredible enthusiasm and creativity?
After the first year of “Sogno di Volare” – a project aimed at involving local children and schools and establishing a concrete link with their cultural heritage, through art and theatre – the response in the second year of the initiative could be a less timid “yes”.
Having overcome some initial bureaucratic and cultural barriers, by bringing together schools, cultural institutions, artists and officials from the Ministry of Culture, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii has created a model: after year zero, which saw the first Pompeian show also land in Ravenna and Bologna (with sold-out theatres), the project takes flight and expands.
No longer just theater but also cinema and documentary storytelling in collaboration with Giffoni Experience and Giffoni Innovation Hub, but above all the participation of schools is growing, after the Liceo E. Pascal of Pompei, the Istituto Superiore E. Pantaleo of Torre del Greco, the Liceo G. de Chirico of Torre Annunziata and the Istituto Superiore R. Elia of Castellammare di Stabia enter.
Economically, the project, supported by the Pompeii Park, is starting to walk on its own two feet: in addition to a contribution from the General Directorate of Entertainment, a significant portion of the expenses is covered by a sponsor, American Express. And so on the one hand, the theater, which will see 27 students/actors from schools in the Vesuvian area next May 28 and 120, open the summer season of the Teatro Grande di Pompei with the “Acarnesi Stop the war!”, a rewrite of a comedy by Aristophanes and the second event of the three-year period dedicated to the Greek playwright.
The kids will be guided by the expert direction of Marco Martinelli, accompanied by the music of Ambrogio Sparagna and with the lighting design of Vincent Longuemare, internationally renowned professionals of the theatre scene and already artistic signatures of last year's show "Uccelli".
A theatrical production of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, created in collaboration with Ravenna Festival, Teatro delle Albe/Ravenna, Teatro di Napoli-Teatro Nazionale and Giffoni Experience and Giffoni Innovation Hub, the result of a memorandum of understanding with the Campania Regional School Office.
On the other hand, always with a view to highlighting the magical relationship between the archaeological site and young people, a training project in cinematographic language and documentary storytelling in collaboration with Giffoni Experience and Giffoni Innovation Hub involving students from the “Giorgio De Chirico” Art School in Torre Annunziata, with the aim of producing and distributing mini documentaries and telling – with the support of professionals in the sector, who will also guide them through dedicated masterclasses – the peculiarities of a unique place in the world, telling about 6 construction sites underway in the archaeological site: Excavation IX – Insula 10, House of the Lararium of Achilles – Vicolo dell'Efebo, Insula Occidentalis – House of the Library, Chaste Lovers, House of Pansa and Domus of the Lararium – Regio V. On Wednesday 26 April the “Sogno di Volare” project will be presented at the Pompeii Auditorium at 11,30:XNUMX am.
Introduced by the Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the following will speak: the Superintendent of the Ravenna Manifestazioni Foundation, Antonio De Rosa; the director, Marco Martinelli; the Director of the Regional School Office for Campania, Cristiana Passerini; the Artistic Director of Giffoni, Luca Apolito; the actor and director, Paolo Ruffini, together with the school children, protagonists of the project.
