With the beginning of July, the Teatro Tor Bella Monaca (TBM) in Rome presents a week full of varied and engaging shows. From 1st to 7th July, the public will be able to attend a series of performances that range from tradition to comedy, passing through profound reflections on the figure of Saint Francis. Here is a detailed preview of the upcoming events.
Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd July: “Stories of kings, chairs and hidden dreams” and “I will leave your life in a taxi”
The week opens with two shows which will take place on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd July. The first is “Stories of kings, chairs and hidden dreams”, the end-of-year show of the 2023/2024 advanced course hosted and directed by Alioscia Viccaro. The actors Paolo D’Uffizi, Cristina Graziosi, Cristina Luccioli, Paolo Sestini, Samuele Torrini, Massimiliano Tumino and Paola Vandelli will bring to the stage two surreal, dramatic and poetic stories, which explore humanity and its ancestral condition. This show represents the conclusion of a work process that has seen the students deal with different types of theatrical narratives.
Also on the same dates, the comedy “I will leave your life in a taxi” will be performed, a production by Seven Cults Production | Exaggerate, directed by Filippo D’Alessio. The text by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, performed by Maddalena Emanuela Rizzi, Marco Cavallaro, Bruno Governale and Alessandra Cavallari, is a classic example of English irony. The comedy explores the facets of love, between betrayals, lies and extravagant truths, staging characters who try to find themselves amidst misunderstandings and fears.
Thursday 4 July: “The story of Francis”
On July 4th it will be the turn of “The story of Francesco”, a production of La Città degli Artisti – Margherita Romaniello, freely based on the novel “The Wisdom of a Poor Man” by Éloi Leclerc. Pino Quartullo takes care of the dramaturgy and directs a cast composed of Francesco Tortorella, Roberto Fazioli, Francesco Trasatti, Massimiliano Viola, Giorgio Melone, Simone Sabìa and Rachele Sarti. The show tells the last period of the life of Saint Francis, when the Saint, in crisis, takes refuge in a hermitage with some friar friends. Here, Francis struggles with himself and tries to rediscover his relationship with God, while preaching the essential and fighting against the new feelings of possession that animate his community. The performance explores universal themes such as spirituality, compassion and the search for meaning in life, making the message of Saint Francis current and relevant for people of different cultures and religious traditions.
Friday 5th July and Sunday 7th July: “Marriage and other catastrophes” and “Masquerade Mask”
On Friday 5 July, the TBM stage will host “Marriage and other catastrophes”, a production by NL White’s Alt Academy Produzioni, directed and performed by Alessandra Mortelliti and Luca Ferrini. The comedy tells the story of the marital routine of a couple far from passion, which suddenly implodes and explodes due to a small oversight. This event triggers a series of comical situations that overwhelm the protagonists and involve the public, who will be able to recognize themselves in the dynamics represented.
The afternoon of Sunday 7 July will be dedicated to children with “Aliens and meatballs”, the final performance of the ImagineTeatro 2023-2024 Laboratory, conducted by Roberta Gentili. Livia Abbondanzieri, Alessio Aino, Angelica d’Alessio, Zoe Cippitelli, Samuele Cirini, Isabel Zoe Forconi, Gioele Proietto and Mariasole Restuccia will take the stage. The story, set in a small neighborhood inhabited only by children, sees the appearance of a mysterious dark spot in the sky, which turns out to be the arrival of the Martians on Earth.
The week will end with “Masquerade Mask”, a production by the Fraternal Compagnia APS, starring Massimo Macchiavelli and Luca Comastri, who also take care of the dramaturgy and direction. The show is a tribute to the characters of the Italian theatrical tradition, from the Commedia dell’Arte, and addresses fundamental social issues such as the power of love and the misery of the less fortunate. The use of improvisation and the direct involvement of the audience make the show an interactive and engaging experience, accompanied by the original music of Maestro Umberto Cavalli.
Useful information
The Teatro Tor Bella Monaca is located in Via Bruno Cirino, corner of Via Duilio Cambellotti, and is easily reachable by Metro C or Bus Line 20. A large parking lot is available for spectators. For information and reservations, you can contact the theater at 062010579 (from 10:30 to 19:30) or send a WhatsApp message to 3920650683. The box office is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 to 21:30. Tickets can also be purchased online at Vivaticket. Ticket prices are as follows: full 12 euros, reduced 10 euros, youth 8 euros, and GIFT CARD of 78 euros for 10 admissions.
