THE PROJECT
Target groups: students of Humanities at the University of Naples ‘Federico II’

The workshop focuses on the methods and techniques of documentary theatre and artistic creation in the social context through the combination of authentic texts with metaphorical theatrical imagery. The workshop consists of two ateliers: the first, held by Jana Svobodová, will explore the principles of theatrical action; more specifically, physical presence and the use of a text to develop scenic action. Through spatial improvisation and dialogue, students cultivated the ability of “extreme listening” to become aware of the point of view of performers, authors, playwrights, and audience. The second atelier curated by Martin Krupa is focused on the use of video art and digital moving images in live performances. The project is coordinated by Francesco Cotticelli, professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Naples Federico II.

OPEN REHEARSAL 1st DECEMBER h 7:00 pm
DIRECTORS JANA SVOBODOVÁ AND MARTIN KRUPA
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CZECH CENTRE IN ROME AND THE EMBASSY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN ITALY

JANA SVOBODOVÁ AND MARTIN KRUPA
Czech Republic

Jana Sbovodová is theatre director and theatre lecturer focused on projects that are based on cooperation between professional artists and representatives of specific social groups. She worked with refugees, the Roma community, citizens of the rural town, inhabitants of the South African townships, hip-hopers or scientists. Her projects have been presented at festivals in the Czech Republic as well as in US, Japan, South Africa, Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, and other countries. Since 2010 she has been an artistic director of the international festival of the documentary theatre AKCENT. She is the co-founder of the Archa-Documentary Theater Center.

Martin Krupa graduated from the Faculty of Art and Design of the University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in the Czech Republic in the Fine Arts study program. During his studies, Martin specialized in moving images, projection, video art, installation, and light art. He cooperates with several theatre and dance groups. Since 2021, he has been leading the Moving Image Ateliers at the Archa Theater International Summer School. He currently runs a Fine Arts atelier at Ústí nad Labem University.

THE CONTEXT
University of Naples Federico II

With its 800 years of history and academic excellence as of 2023, the University of Naples Federico II is a local partner of the project Quartieri di Vita organized by the Fondazione Campania dei Festival and hosts the workshop run by artists Jana Svobodová and Martin Krupa. The workshop, involving the students of the Humanities Department, gives its participants the chance to experiment with many theatrical apXproaches, from dramaturgy to videoart, in order for the students of Theatre Studies to explore new methodologies for the creation of a new performance.

«A theatre that cares, a theatre that takes frailty and uneasiness into account, a theatre that seeks for remedy in sharing experiences; – says Professor Francesco Cotticelli – a ritual whose protagonist is human essence itself, in its every shade and colour, and the scene provides a gateway, a possibility of a truce with reality. The paths of these social and collective experiences told by Quartieri di Vita every year, in the name of the most ancient of the arts, are a fundamental key moment for the students who have decided to make Performing Arts the center of their studies and future careers. It is a most precious opportunity to have such sensitive, experienced artists to lead the youth in this challenge of techniques and destinies, in the clash with a militant kind of theatre capable of giving, in terms of spiritual enrichment, much more than anyone could ever expect».