Italian Theatre Season Opens with Classics, Premieres, and Fantozzi

January 2024 sees a packed Italian theatre calendar with premieres of Shakespeare's 'Antonio e Cleopatra' at Teatro Storchi in Modena (January 10, touring until June), featuring a new verse translation by Nadia Fusini and Valter Malosti, who also directs and stars alongside Anna Della Rosa. At Teatro Due in Parma, Chekhov's eight one-act plays (1884-1891) run from January 9 to February 24, with a final marathon, involving 24 actors and four directors: Roberto Abbati, Nicoletta Robello, Antonio Rosti, and Matteo Tarasco. The Piccolo Teatro in Milan presents the world premiere of 'Ho paura torero' on January 11, directed by Claudio Longhi and starring Lino Guanciale, adapted from Pedro Lemebel's novel about a transvestite and a political militant under Pinochet's Chile. At Teatro Astra in Turin, 'Wonder Woman' by Antonio Latella and Federico Bellini runs January 11-21, inspired by a 2015 Ancona court case where judges acquitted rape defendants citing the victim's 'too masculine' appearance. In Genoa, 'Fantozzi. Una tragedia' debuts January 30 at Teatro Ivo Chiesa, directed by Davide Livermore and starring Gianni Fantoni, adapting the first three Fantozzi books (1971-1976) into four acts blending classical tragedy and commedia dell'arte. Additionally, 'La ferocia' by VicoQuartoMazzini, based on Nicola Lagioia's novel, starts its tour from Bari on January 12 after its Romaeuropa debut.