Teatro dei Borgia's 'Antigone' turns pandemic grief into ritual performance

The Teatro dei Borgia presents 'Antigone, cerimonia con canzoni,' a ritualistic performance that reworks the myth of Antigone to address the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by Elena Cotugno and Gianpiero Borgia, the piece draws on testimonies from the hard-hit areas of Brescia and Bergamo, where the company gathered stories of loss, impotence, and the clash between the need for funeral rites and health restrictions. The narrative centers on a family devastated by sudden deaths, with only a sister and uncle surviving. The audience participates by writing the name of a deceased relative on a mask and wearing it, breathing through the letters. Performers Elena Cotugno and Christian Di Domenico enact the story of two brothers—one good, one selfish—and the impossibility of saying goodbye. Musicians Luna D’Intino (voice) and Sabino Rociola (guitar and voice) lead the audience in song, starting with Francesco De Gregori's 'Buonanotte Fiorellino,' transforming the event into a communal farewell rather than a funeral. The production is part of the company's ongoing 'Città dei Miti' project, which uses classical tragedies (Eracle, Medea, Filottete) as frameworks to explore contemporary anxieties. Performances are scheduled for November 4–5 at San Pietro in Vincoli, Turin, and November 9–10 at Cantiere Obraz, Florence.