The wonderful journey of the amateur and solidarity theater of the AmaTe festival restarts after two years, which in five editions between 2013 and 2022 saw 21 shows staged by 7 local companies, brought over 11,260 spectators to the theater in total and raised 59,865 euros, destined for solidarity projects in favor of 18 different third sector and voluntary sector organisations.
«This time it’s the turn of the Gli Affari Collaterali company to open the dance for the “best” theatrical event in Varese – he explains James Mazarincouncilor of the Collateral Effects Association and organizer of the AmaTe Festival – then it will be the turn of Volto di Velluto to animate two evenings on 15 and 16 June, and then to the Crennese Theater Group, with its first participation, to close on a high note on 22 June”.
Solidarity has always been the true essence of AmaTe, a festival of amateur and solidarity theatre, created thanks to the patronage of the Municipality of Varese, which bears the costs for the use of the Apollonio Theatre: combining the passion for theater with the charitable purposes, providing evenings of light-heartedness and fun, but doing so by contributing to leaving something important for the community.
«Theatre by its nature has a therapeutic function – underlined the president of the Culture commission Manuela Lozza – Using this art for a beneficial purpose also allows you to combine fun, the ability to make people dream and give psychophysical well-being, which are typical of theatre, with the possibility of helping others too.”
FOUR PERFORMANCES FOR THREE COMPANIES
This year the series includes four performances, for three different theater companies: opening the series is, in fact, Side effectscompany linked to the oratory of San Vittore, which presents, Sunday 19 May 2024 at 6 pmCaught in the act” Of Derek Benfielda hilarious “English-style” comedy of errors that is part of the company’s tradition.
On stage with Laura Botter, who in addition to directing is also one of the performers, the usual companions, pillars of the Varese company: Valeria Biscotto, Francesca Mamolo, Manuela Tenti, Michele Barberis, Paolo Franzetti and Armando Molinari, to whom this Jacopo Malnati is added once again, making his debut at the Teatro di Varese.
Alongside the Side Effects there will be their historic charitable partner, the Club Kiwanis Varese ODV: by mutual agreement, the two entities have decided that the proceeds of the evening will go towards the works of the Felicita Morandi ETS Foundationaimed at providing support and assistance to women and their children who are victims of violence and mistreatment, through structures such as the shelter home, the mother-child community, the anti-violence centre.
After the first performance of the leaders, the second scheduled appointment is “Was beautiful”, a comedy drama written by Matteo Tibiletti, which closes a sort of “family trilogy” written by the Varese author. The play will be performed on Saturday 15 June at 9pm by The Velvet Facea theater company based in Brenta, and this year celebrates 40 years of activity: it was founded in 1984 with the name of Ars Nova, taking its current name in 1999. The proceeds of the evening will go to the Ascoli Foundation.
The next day, June 16th at 6.30pm, it will be staged Borderline, a comedy also by Matteo Tibiletti performed by the children of the theater school of the Volto di Velluto company. «Borderline was born as an essay by the young group of the company, and we are honored to be able to perform it in a real theater, and one as large as the theater of Varese» explains one of the young actors.
Finally, on June 22nd at 9pm, it will be staged “Antigone, the torn thread” show taken from Sophocles’ Antigone and performed by the GCT, Crennese Theater Group, born in 1997 as an amateur theater company set up at the Crenna Oratory and now one of the most established provincial realities in the sector. The proceeds of the evening will be given to the committee Maria Letizia Verga.
