La Voce delle Cose - english - Curricula and infos

La Voce delle Cose (The Voice of Things) is an association aiming to:
- stimulate a careful and divergent glance towards the objects that surround us.
- explore the imaginary world that this glance creates.
- connect memories and imaginations related to objects, producing narrations, shows and performing events.

We reunite people that, in different fields:
- use objects to do things that differ from the original purpose the object was made for.
- collect and study objects used by others in different times and places, and look for instruments to make that experience live again.
- mix different arts and some technology to create new experiences for us and for our audience.

The new route began when, after some twenty years using the rules of puppet theatre to put on stage common objects (see a press review), Luì Angelini e Paola Serafini, after the 'Assondelli e Stecchettoni' experience, decided to:
- widen the field of activity to visual arts and playing games (see below the founding manifesto 2003).
- invite our audience to become makers of images and narrations.
- study the relationship between the two points of view of theatre and antropology towards the world of everiday objects.

Along the years, the project involved more people working in the fields of visual arts, education and vocational training.

Luì Angelini, lui@lavocedellecose.it
- co-founder of La Voce delle Cose, author, director and performer of Object Theater, especially oversees the logical structures of the projects, the stage technologies, the graphical and audiovisual output of all works.

Paola Serafini, paola@lavocedellecose.it
- co-founder of La Voce delle Cose, author, director and performer of Object Theater, specialized in the exploration and scrutiny of the objects, in their dramatic use, in the transmission of this knowledge. She works as scenographer for La Voce delle Cose and other companies.

Stefano Giunchi, stefano@lavocedellecose.it
- puppeteer, author and director of Puppet Theater (Teatro di Figura), focused on the structures and codes of glove-puppets. In 1975 he founded the Festival “Arrivano dal Mare!”. He is the director of the Atelier delle Figure/ School for Puppeteers and Storytellers.

Maria Giulia Leuzzi, giulia@lavocedellecose.it
- becomes a member of La Voce delle Cose in 2015; she explores the interstitials zones among Visual Arts, Performance, Object Theater and Body Expression. In La Voce delle Cose, she also deals with communication and social media.

Silvia Sieni, silvia@lavocedellecose.it
- performer, puppeteer, actress. She attended the Atelier delle Figure in 2008, where she met La Voce delle Cose. Since then she's in, especially taking care of workshops in Florence and its area.

The projects you will find in the website, every one with its own peculiarity, share:
- a common approaching style to each subject: in-depth, but 'light'.
- a preliminary research before the development of any project.
- a playful presentation of the search results either in web events (exhibitions, games) or in live events and multimedia products.

WHY
Theatre is an ephemeral matter, but those who get in touch with it bear ineffaceable marks.
Frequenting it along the years, you try to build up something original and, if you are lucky, one chance will cross your way.
We met our lucky chance by mixing puppets with everyday objects.
Objects entered the play giving new strength to the stories we were telling.
Now it’s time to pay the visit back.
Taking theatre into the world of objects, to check which parts of its rules can be part of other worlds, of other plays, of other jobs.
Reaching their playground, where ordinary objects, from forks to strings to telephones, from gifts to waste to mouse-traps are the hosts and we are the guests.
So here we are.

When showing ‘théâtre d’objet’ to someone for the first time, and the genre is such minority that this happens rather often, the feedback you get is usually a pleasant surprise where oddity with familiarity mix.
"I didn’t even think something like that could exist." – is a common reaction but, when the play begins, really few find it difficult to enter the spirit of it.
This is due to the fact that theatre made with objects, as odd as it might be, has its roots in experiences belonging to all of us.

The common background.
FIRST THING: THINGS
We all live surrounded by objects, we use them for both practical and aesthetical purposes.
These objects are linked to recollections, feelings, opinions.
Some of these links belong to individual history, but it’s amazing how similar the answer of very dissimilar persons is if you ask them: "choose an object suggesting the idea of ‘wicked’. Or of ‘good’. Or of ‘family’.

THEN: A SMART GLANCE
A century of figurative arts strongly oriented toward innovation has shaped the way we watch. Today anybody, with few exceptions, can deal with the bizarre metaphors of visual communication reaching us from ads, comics, movies. (Computers are rather conservative in comparison.)

AT LAST: PLAYING
Playing is the mental site where we become ourselvesand which stays with us even when memory of that playing seems to be erased.
Whether we recognize it or not, it is by playing that we have been developing and learning also our adult roles.
In societies like ours (the internet’s ones, just to be clear, since you’re reading this) which are learning, even in a tormented and contradictory way, the relevance of leisure, it is surely grateful, almost certainly useful and probably necessary to get hold of our pre-history as players. Even better if it is enriched by our current skills (connected with each one’s age) and by some hints to explore new forms of ‘playing’ which will nourish our relationship with daily life.

PLAYING – VISUAL- ARTS – THEATRE: A TRIANGLE
Every proposal of ‘La Voce delle Cose’ finds a place within the boundaries of this triangle, sometimes getting nearer to one side or one corner, sometimes to another: so there are projects closer to theatre, others nearing sculpture, others that are almost games, others that are in between, but ALL of which having at least a little bit of the three basic components.
If you happen to think about something that can fit this statement and does not yet appear in these pages, contact us and we can try together to turn it into something existing.

A&S
In 1978 Luì Angelini and Paola Serafini found Assondelli & Stecchettoni.
The company begins with non-traditional glove puppets and gradually shifts, from 1984, toward ‘théâtre d’objets’.
In 1989 under the title Appartamento con Figure they collect three short pieces: Shaker-speare five Shakespearian dramas shrinked in 15’ and told by means of a cocktail set, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde monologue of Paola dealing with her breakfast, and Odyssey entirely taking place in a bathtub.
This show takes part to the most relevant Italian festivals and becomes their passport to Europe with a tour through Portugal, Spain and France.

CTF/A&S
During the following years the cooperation with Centro Teatro di Figura di Cervia builds up and there begins a long lasting artistic teamwork with Stefano Giunchi (director of the festival Arrivano dal Mare!) sometimes as a producer, sometimes as a co-writer.
A group of shows, particularly Anfitrione, Cappuccetti Rossi and Pinocchio dei Legni, mark this phase and contribute to the spreading of the work of the company outside Europe.

AdM!
In 1995 Assondelli & Stecchettoni joins Centro Teatro di Figura.
The new ensemble, taking its name from the festival held by CTF since 1975, becomes Arrivano dal Mare!.

Birth of LVDC
In 2000 Paola e Luì give life to the Unconscious Theatre Machines project (Italian acronym MTI from Macchine per il Teatro Incosciente), objects that are simultaneously micro shows, toys, entertainment devices, educational units, tools for theoretical and practical dramatic research.
In spring 2003 they quit Arrivano dal Mare! and give birth to their new project la Voce delle Cose.

During all this time,
beside stage work, Paola e Luì have been developing, both as a job and as food for invention, educational projects for human beings from the age of two years.

Season (once for more stagings); suggested age of the public; Title; source; notes

2018 (adults); L'intendance suivra; produced for the festival La Macchina dei Sogni - Roncisvalle (St. Jean pied de port (F) e Ibaneta (E))

2018 (adults); Il fabbricante di strumenti di mortificazione al convento di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria (the maker of mortification tools...), part of the show "Storie di bambole, repentite e sante", produced by Figli d'arte Cuticchio for the festival La Macchina dei Sogni - Palermo

2017; USA version of MTI CR, LN, PN, RG ; Produced for Company Aiello, Solow Festival, Philadelphia (USA) - translation Rachel Icenogle - voice for M: Aaron Roberge

2017; Danish version MTI CE, CR, FK, LN, OD, PN, RG; Produced for Waves Festival - DK - translation Anne Sinkbaek and Helle Iuel, revised by the readers - voices: Helle Iuel, Siri Facchini Haff, Steffen Sommerstedt

2017 (joint work); restyling of the scenography of the performance Hidden Number by CANTABILE2 for Copenhagen tour and Waves Festival -DK (dk)

2016 (from 10; in use); MTI.2 (15(TC), 16(TT)) two machines from Shakespeare's The tempest; the same pièce in two different treatments, depending on the set of objects; both as board games

2016 (joint work); scenography for the performance Hidden Number by CANTABILE2 - Vordinborg (dk)

2015; german version MTI 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Produced for Busker Bern Festival - CH - translation Rita Scifo, revised by Gunnhilde Schneider - voices: Rita Scifo and Gunnhilde Schneider

2013-14 (joint work); guidance on scene objects and machines in the show Rosso angelico by Teatro Tascabile di Bergamo

2012-13; french and english version of MTI 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11; Produced for the festival Teatro a Corte - Torino - french translation Monica Corbani, english translation Brian Charles Whalley and Elisabetta Zilioli- english voice for MElisabetta Zilioli

2012-13 (from 6; in use); MTI.2 Three machines from Orlando Furioso: 12(OFFA): la fuga di Angelica; 13(OFPA): Il palazo di Atlante; 14(OFPO) La pazzia di Orlando; Produced for the festival La Macchina dei Sogni - Palermo

2010-11; portuguese version of MTI 4, 7, 8, 9; Produced for FITO Festival Internacional de Teatro de Objetos- Brasile - translation Luiz André Cherubini - voice for M: Lilian Pinheiro

2010-11 (from 5; in use); MTI for small children: MTI 10(BA), UGLY DUCKLING by H. C. Andersen; MTI 11(AS),The donkey, the miller and his son (La Fontaine and others)

2010-11 (from 6; in use); MTI dedicated to voyages: restaging MTI 4(LN),Apollo 11; MTI 7(CO), first voyage of Cristoforo Colombo; MTI 8(OD), Odissey; MTI 9(MP), Il Milione by M. Polo

2008-09; portuguese version MTI 5, 6; Produced for Festival Sesi Bonecos do Mundo and FITO Festival Internacional de Teatro de Objetos- Brasil - translation and voice Luiz André Cherubini

summer 2008; Nowegian version MTI 1, 2, 3; Produced for Markedet for Scenekunst - Sandefjørd - translation Rob & Camille (?) - voice Marit Maarud

2007-08 (from 8); Storie di Luna; Paola Serafini

2006-07 (adults; in use); Faust; from Marlowe and Goethe; part of 'La Forma delle Storie'

2005-06 (all; in use); Fiabe Africane; traditional tales from Africa

2004-05 (adults; in use); La Forma delle Storie; Luì Angelini; produced for festival De Sidera, Bergamo 2005

2004-05 (all; in use); Fiabe Selvatiche; traditional tales from Italy

summer 04 (from 6; in use); MTI 6(FK); Frankenstein

summer 02 (from 6; in use); MTI 5(PN); Pinocchio

summer 02; Dutch version MTI 1, 2, 3; produced for Festival of Gent (B); translation and voice Manuela Ten Raa Nava.

2001-02; Spanish and Catalan version MTI 1, 2, 3; translation Alfred Casas; voices students of Istitut del Teatre de Barcelona.

2001-02; English version MTI 1, 2, 3; produced for "Wels Puppen Theater Festival" - Osterreich; voice in CE Anna Serafini.

summer 01; Portuguese version MTI 1, 2, 3; produced for "Festival internacional de Teatro de Bonecos" Belo Horizonte (BR); translation and voice "M" Ceiça Dias; voice "S" Paola e Luì.

2000-01 (all); Italian-English-Chinese adaptation of Pinocchio dei Legni; representing Italy in the event "Eurochristmas" organized by the trust of European Chambers of Commerce in Hong-Kong.

2000-01; French version MTI 1, 2, 3

2000-01 (all; in use); Oggetti da favola; 1: Genesis: Adam and Eva; 2: Grimm: Cinderella; 3: Jack and the magic bean; 4: Three little pigs

99-2000 (from 6; in use); Macchine per il teatro incosciente [MTI]; 1(CR): Little Red Riding Hood; 2(CE): Cinderella; 3(RG): Romeo and Juliet; (4:landing on the moon: workshop 3aA S. Media Donadoni, BG); event "Il piccolo carro" - Bergamo.

99-2000 (all); Italian-Portuguese version of Pinocchio dei Legni

98-99 (adults); Omerica; 1: restaging of Iliad; 2: restaging of 'Odissea - epopea dell'eroe tornato in patria'; produced for"Wels Puppen Theater Festival" - Osterreich.

98-99 (all); French version of Pinocchio dei Legni

97-98 (all); Pinocchio dei Legni; by Carlo Collodi

95-96 (from 10); Iliade Ripresa; from "Iliad"

summer 94 (from 6); French Version of Cappuccetti Rossi

93-94 (all); Cappuccetti Rossi; from Perrault and Grimm

summer 93 (all); In Punta di Mani; street version of Manologo

92-93 (adults); restaging of Anfitrione

91-92; French Version of : Appartamento con figure e Manologo; produced for "Marionettes du Monde"- France; Translation Liliane Morin.

91-92 (adults); Anfitrione - mito comico; from Plautus and Molière

91-92 (adults); Biancaneve ou le malheur de la vertu; from Snowhite; produced for "Festival de Tardor de Barcelona"

90-91 (from 6); Andante Navigabile; L. Angelini, P. Serafini

89-90 (adults); Appartamento con figure; Shaker-speare; Jekyll & Hyde; Odissea; for a short tima named "Oggettivamente Komiko".

88-89 (adults); Horror Menu - Dracula; from B. Stoker; produced for "Il salotto del Lunedi`", Teatro Donizetti - Bergamo.

88-89 (adults); Horror Menu - Jekyll & Hyde; from R.L.Stevenson; produced for "Il salotto del Lunedi`", Teatro Donizetti - Bergamo.

88-89 (adults); Horror Menu - Frankenstein; from M. Shelley; produced for "Il salotto del Lunedi`", Teatro Donizetti - Bergamo.

88-89 (all); restaging Manologo

estiva 88 (adults); Odissea - epopea dell'eroe tornato in patria; from "Odisse"; produced for "Arrivano dal mare!" - festival del C.T.F. - Cervia.

87-88 (adults); Solo; from "Il contrabbasso" by P. Suskind;produced for "Il salotto del Lunedi`", Teatro Donizetti - Bergamo.

87-88 (adults); Shaker-speare; from "A Midsummer Night Dream", "The tempest", "Othello", "Hamlet" and "Macbeth"; produced for "Il salotto del Lunedi`", Teatro Donizetti - Bergamo.

87-88 (adults); Opera d'Arena; da "Aida";produced for "Il salotto del Lunedi`", Teatro Donizetti - Bergamo.

87-88 (from 6); Sulle Mie Orme; L. Angelini

estiva 87 (adulti); P.S.: promessi sposi; from A. Manzoni; second part of "Sentimental".

86-87 (from 3); In Bocca al Lupo; L. Angelini (consulenza P. Serafini e A. Bonomi)

estiva 86 (adults); Sentimental; L. Angelini

estiva 86 (all); Manologo; L. Angelini, P. Serafini

85-86 (from 8); Delitto al Varieta`/ Varieta` del Delitto; L. Angelini

estiva 85 (from 8); Camping; L. Angelini

83-84 (from 3); Nella Notte Buia; B. Munari e L. Angelini

estiva 83 (all); Gelati; L. Angelini

82-83 (from 8); La vera storia del giro del mondo; from J. Verne

81-82 (adults); Pantagleize; M. de Ghelderode

80-81 (from 6); I Viaggi dei Viaggi di Gulliver; from J. Swift

79-80 (from 6); I Tre Grassoni; I. Olesa

78-79 (from 3 to 8); Come ti addormento il re; from Aesop

77-78 (from 12); Qui ci scappa il morto; "Entrate e uscite" di J. Prevert e "La leggenda del soldato morto" di B. Brecht

77-78 (from 3 to 8); Drizza le orecchie che ancora li senti; from "Fiabe Italiane" collected by I. Calvino

76-77 (from 8); In Alto Mare; S. Mrozek

estiva 75 (adults); Etna; L. Angelini