Matera 2019: Theatre as a Stage for Ecological and Political Reflection

The city of Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019, hosts a series of performances and events under the umbrella 'La città come palcoscenico' (The City as Stage). Central is 'Petrolio. Uomo e natura nell’epoca dell’Antropocene', co-produced by Basilicata 1799, curated by Giuseppe Biscaglia and Francesco Scaringi. This project explores the Anthropocene and ecological balance through performance and study, divided into four sections, the last in September. 'Giacimenta', curated by Francesca Corona and Michele Di Stefano, involves site-specific urban experiments with choreographers Alessandro Sciarroni, Silvia Rampelli, New York performer Maria Hassabi, and Industria Indipendente. 'Sedimenti', curated by Massimo Carosi, creates choreographic and musical maps between Mediterranean and Basilicata artists. 'Stratificazioni', a short program by Abito in Scena, fosters co-creation. 'Pensiero Geo-logico' hosts conferences at the University of Basilicata, opening September 5 with philosopher and botanist Emanuele Coccia. 'Matera Città Aperta' features director Andrea Santantonio, choreographer Daniele Ninarello, musician Theo Teardo, and performers, reflecting on new physical, political, and virtual walls 20 years after the Berlin Wall fell. 'Tòpoi. Teatro e Nuovi miti' presents Swiss director Milo Rau's 'Il Nuovo Vangelo', inspired by Pasolini, questioning institutions in extreme Southern Europe.