Babilonia Teatri's 'Paradiso' Premieres in Verona

Babilonia Teatri's new work 'Paradiso' premiered at Teatro Camploy in Verona, though the venue was not full despite the group's past sold-out shows. The piece had previously been performed in Argentina. 'Paradiso' represents a third way in socially engaged theatre, distinct from the approaches of Pippo Del Bono or Armando Punzo. The company does not impose roles on its 'sensitive' actors but cultivates conditions for positive diversity to emerge. The performance features five actors: Enrico Castellani as a less directive tutor, Daniele Balocchi as poetic collaborator, and Amer Ben Henia, Joice Dogbe, and Josephine Ogechi Eiddhom, who bring authentic fragments of their own lives to the stage. The actors were selected with artistic collaboration from Stefano Masotti of Zero Favole. The title 'Paradiso' references Michelangelo Pistoletto more than Dante, describing a paradise that is here and now, before pain and knowledge. The staging uses minimal decor, lateral lights, and blackness to shape the actors' painful biographies. The company is also working on other projects, including 'Scarpe di cuoio' and a potential new 'Romeo and Giulietta'.