Death in Venice 2.0: Thomas Mann Reimagined as Sexting Performance at Teatro Goldoni

At Venice's Teatro Goldoni, the stage is covered in sand and sheets, evoking decay. In this adaptation of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice, Baron Aschenbach meets Tazio on a dating app, and Tazio communicates via sexting from his phone. The performance, directed by Mattia Berto and devised by Arianna Novaga, eliminates place and time, focusing on the present of chat. Spectators can text Tazio during the show, blurring real and virtual audiences. Gianluca Bozzale plays Tazio, embodying a voyeuristic, erotic figure inspired by Ninetto Davoli and Mapplethorpe. The project is a first study for a larger work that will be presented at the Festival Teatro Europa 18/35 'Le théâtre m'appartient', directed by Orlando Forioso. Tazio will respond to messages at [email protected].