La Gioia
Bring in the clowns! La Gioia is a flower–laden ode to joy, an antidote to our fear of death. Pippo Delbono reminds us how fragile happiness is. The stage is a whirlpool of songs, dance, stories, poetry, music, madness, and fairy tale costumes, in which Delbono and his performers celebrate living with a feverish zest for life.
Dutch première
hall Grote Zaal
starts at 20:00
duration 80 minutes
language spoken in Italian, surtitled in Dutch and English
alert stroboscopic light and loud sound
extra warming up & after talk 7 feb
La Gioia (Joy) is Delbono’s piece inspired by his protagonist, deaf-mute performer Bobò, who was 82 and died last year. For those who saw him on stage, Bobò was unforgettable. Though he could not read, write, or speak, he was a born actor. He had a gift he used to touch everything and everyone. When you were in the auditorium, you felt as though he was playing for you, and you alone.
Pippo Delbono: ‘La Gioia is a new milestone on the road I have travelled with my company over the past twenty years. This company was formed by encounters with actors, dancers, but above all people from all corners of life. More than anything, I think of the recently deceased Bobò, who was locked up in a psychiatric clinic for more than forty years. He starred in all of my performances, films, and opera productions. He fundamentally changed my view of theatre and life. La Gioia is the heart of his story.’
In the press
‘Pippo Delbono creates irresistible images – a triumph of colours, flowers, and balloons. But don’t be fooled, because Delbono is out to disrupt. He is still a completely unique figure in European theatre, whose performances are not so much about characters as about pure emotions.’ – Il sole 24 ore
A cathartic journey, with irony here and there, in which anecdotes of the performers Delbono has met, chosen and saved mix with a tribute to the world of circus, vaudeville and film.’ – Cultweek
‘A theatrical sarabande of words, music, dance, images, and paintings brimming with emotion, with astonishing beauty.’ – Rue du théâtre
Performances from Italian theatre-maker Pippo Delbono are exuberant, carnivalesque celebrations of life and death, which he sees as two sides of the same coin.
Fr 07 feb 19:00 - 19:45 | warming–up 7 La Gioia | ITA Salon | language: Dutch
The work of Pippo Delbono is influenced by Commedia Dell’arte. Togehter with Katrien van Beurden (artistic leader Theatre Hotel Courage) we talk about this art form. Language: Dutch
Fr 7 feb 21:40 | after talk | ITA Salon | language: English
After talk with director Pippo Delbono hosted by Ilaria Forciniti.
credits
conceived and directed by Pippo Delbono
with Dolly Albertin, Gianluca Ballarè, Margherita Clemente, Pippo Delbono, Ilaria Distante, Simone Goggiano, Mario Intruglio, Gianni Parenti, Pepe Robledo, Grazia Spinella and with Bobò’s voice
floreal composition Thierry Boutemy
music Pippo Delbono, Antoine Bataille, Nicola Toscano and Various Artists
light designer Orlando Bolognesi
costumes Elena Dal Pozzo
light technician Alejandro Zamora
sound Pietro Tirella
set and props Gianluca Bolla
production manager Alessandra Vinanti - Organization Silvia Cassanelli
technical manager Fabio Sajiz
tour manager Laura Faveros Fransos
special thanks Enrico Bagnoli, Jean Michel Ribes, Thierry Boutemy’s assistant Alessia Guidoboni, Théâtre de Liège for the costumes
production Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione – National Theatre
co-production Théâtre de Liège, Le Manège Maubeuge – Scène Nationale
photos Luca Del Pia
english version Stefano Guizzi
This performance contains stroboscopic light and loud sound
supported by
