ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Teatro Sotterraneo's Pangea Miniserie Explores Untranslatable Words

digital · 2026-04-27

Teatro Sotterraneo, an Italian theater group, initiated 'Pangea miniserie', a five-part audiovisual series helmed by choreographer and filmmaker Jacopo Jenna, after their live production 'Dizionario illustrato della Pangea' faced delays due to COVID-19 restrictions. Initially set to premiere on November 17, 2020, the live event was halted as theaters shut down. Subsequently, from late November, the company released 15-minute episodes on ERT On Air, each highlighting an untranslatable term from languages such as Japanese ('tsundoku') and Bantu ('ubuntu'). Featuring interviews with native speakers and the cast, including Sara Bonaventura and Claudio Cirri, the project aims to safeguard linguistic diversity and examine the influence of language on perception, referencing the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and linguists Noam Chomsky and Vera Gheno.

Key facts

  • Teatro Sotterraneo launched 'Pangea miniserie' after live show was postponed due to COVID-19
  • The miniseries consists of five 15-minute episodes aired on ERT On Air in late November 2020
  • Each episode explores an untranslatable word, such as Japanese 'tsundoku' and Bantu 'ubuntu'
  • Directed by choreographer and filmmaker Jacopo Jenna
  • Cast includes Sara Bonaventura, Claudio Cirri, Lorenza Guerrini, Daniele Pennati, Giulio Santolini, Daniele Villa, and four actors from Compagnia permanente di ERT
  • The project aims to preserve linguistic biodiversity and examine language's role in shaping reality
  • Teatro Sotterraneo cites the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and linguists Noam Chomsky and Vera Gheno
  • The company is using the pandemic to experiment with video, live-streaming, and socially distanced performances

Entities

Artists

  • Teatro Sotterraneo
  • Jacopo Jenna
  • Sara Bonaventura
  • Claudio Cirri
  • Lorenza Guerrini
  • Daniele Pennati
  • Giulio Santolini
  • Daniele Villa
  • Michele Lisi
  • Paolo Minnielli
  • Maria Vittoria Scarlattei
  • Cristiana Tramparulo
  • Noam Chomsky
  • Vera Gheno
  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Massimo Pietrobon
  • Simone Azzoni

Institutions

  • Teatro Sotterraneo
  • ERT On Air
  • Compagnia permanente di ERT
  • Artribune
  • IUSVE
  • Istituto di Design Palladio

Locations

  • Italy

Sources