In Salerno a psychiatrist stages Trotula De Ruggiero to talk about empathy and care

«Ante Trotulam: on healing from the soul to the body» is the title of the theatrical performance scheduled for Sunday 21 April at 4pm at the Villa Comunale of Salerno as part of the Minerva Exhibition – Rare plants and everything in the garden. The initiative was conceived, coordinated and followed entirely by Claudio Ardia, psychiatrist at the Mental Health Operational Unit 7 of the Salerno ASL, directed by Germano Fiore, who morally sponsored the project. In addition to writing and directing the entire show, Ardia also created sets and costumes. They collaborated on the direction Stefano Schiavone and Anna Intennimeo. The work, passionate and at times tiring but also fun, focuses on an important figure in the history of the city, Trotula de Ruggierothe first female doctor in Europe, represented in her very first professional phase and slightly revisited, through a form of ingenious communication which theater is by definition, to bring out what lives inside people: emotions, reflections , positive and negative thoughts that are transformed into a constructive and virtuous experience.

All the performers were truly enthusiastic and, although inexperienced, gave their best since the rehearsals, putting their hearts into it. On stage Angela Angrisani plays Trotula, Giovanni Carratù is Astolfo; Daniela Ceciul does Placeba, while Andrea Cuomo, Daniele Leone, Mauro Marrocco and Annunziata Melfi they wear the role of Pan, Walter, Hippocrates and Cascabella respectively. Francesca Vignesfinally, in the role of Calliope, she keeps the spectators company by singing. Makeup done by Maria Festa. «We tried – says Ardia – to propose, on the one hand, expressive methods typical of classical theatre, on the other, the modules of improvisation starting from a mythical and therefore timeless figure. The contents represented are linked to the world of care and feeling cared for. What guided us was the profound belief that listening, empathy, resonance and identification in the exchange between patient and doctor represent the foundation for being close to those who want and need to be supported and, at the same time, enhance everyone’s peculiar areas without underlining the aspects of suffering, bringing everything back to the natural grandeur of human events.”

The assistant director echoes this Stefano Schiavone: «I am happy to have participated in this project, it was an interesting experience above all to see how people, who are approaching the theatrical experience for the first time and would never have believed they had the potential nor the possibility of being able to interface with a public and to be able to express themselves, have blossomed little by little before our eyes. They overcame many insecurities and were able to dare by finding their own personal, beautiful and funny nuances or even just the courage to face this challenge in a constructive way.” A little big surprise for the spectators will be the performance of the very young mascot of the group who will join the physical theater of the actors and who will be a dispenser of energy for everyone. Finally concludes Anna Intennimeo; «The experience of the theater workshop was very precious and enriched us a lot. Having reached the end of the project, everyone now seems to be in agreement and eager to start another one.”