lacasadargilla: Avant-Garde Theatre Ensemble on Solitude and Hitchcockian Influence

The Italian avant-garde theatre ensemble lacasadargilla, founded fifteen years ago by Alessandro Ferroni, Lisa Ferlazzo Natoli, Alice Palazzi, and Maddalena Parise, discusses their production 'Il Ministero della solitudine' (The Ministry of Solitude), recently staged at Teatro Vascello in Rome. The play, written by Fabrizio Sinisi with movement by Marta Ciappina, explores solitude through cryptic monologues rather than dialogue, a choice amplified by the pandemic. The ensemble emphasizes a para-theatrical apparatus—sets, costumes, sound design, lighting, and movement—that functions like an ancient chorus, guiding the audience. They cite Hitchcock and Borges as influences, using thriller elements to dissect human communities. Their upcoming projects include a collaboration with Australian playwright Andrew Bovell (due 2027) and a staging of Caryl Churchill's 'Escaped Alone' in early 2026.