SAPIENS
production Principio Attivo Teatro
a co-production La Baracca – Testoni Ragazzi, ATGTP Teatro Pirata
playwrite Valentina Diana
directed by Giuseppe Semeraro
with Dario Cadei, Silvia Lodi, Otto Marco Mercante, Cristina Mileti, Francesca Randazzo, Giuseppe Semeraro
original music and soundtracks Leone Marco Bartolo
choreographic consultancy Barbara Toma
light design Davide Arsenio
shadows theatre consultancy Silvio Gioia
scenografy Dario Cadei, Francesca Randazzo
costumes Cristina Mileti, Francesca Randazzo
technician Vincenzo Dipierro
scene photo Carlo Elmiro Bevilacqua
The show tells an audience of children and young people about the meeting/clash between two species of hominid, Sapiens and Neanderthals, who shared their existence in Europe many thousands of years ago. Until recently it was believed that the arrival of the Sapiens had supplanted the Neanderthal species but it seems that things turned out differently. New findings have shown that the two groups have lived side by side in southern Europe. Neanderthals were not like Sapiens, they had different genetic characteristics. We’ve wanted to imagine that these characteristics made them less competitive on an evolutionary scale but gave them a particular sensitivity towards the more subtle aspects of nature.
So we have imagined them to be less skilled, less aggressive, in contrast to the efficiency and organizational capacity of the Sapiens. In our vision, the most cynical and successful aspects of contemporary society are reflected in the Sapiens, whereas the Neanderthals will embody the most selfless and poetic aspects of life. In terms of historical research, it seems that the Neanderthals had a strong inclinations for the art, painting, music and it seems that they were able to build musical instruments. This partition, even if schematic, in a simple and direct way, allow us to work on the conflicts between the two groups who will meet from time to time, in our story. Across this prehistoric fairy tale we’ll reveal about two species with different visions and attitudes towards life and the environment.
age: 6+
genre: actor theatre, shadows theatre