Capinera | prima residenza

After weeks of intense work, experimentation and dialogue between artistic languages, the participants presented the outcome of their journey to the public. “Capinera” is an artistic exploration inspired by the novel by Giovanni Verga “Storia di una capinera”, incorporating elements of dance, theatre, music and visual arts.

The artistic residency, held over two weeks at the Saint Louis campus in Milan at viale Bodio 37, represented a vibrant creative workshop that brought together talents from different artistic disciplines to create a collective work, where the exchange between different perspectives generated a piece that blends tradition and innovation, technique and improvisation.

This event is not only a performance, but also a celebration of collaboration and the transformative power of art. The theatrical project is in fact inspired by Giovanni Verga’s epistolary novel “Storia di una capinera”, updating and overturning it.

The main character, however, is not Maria – the nineteen-year-old girl who was confined to a convent in Catania at the age of seven and forced to become a cloistered nun – but ‘Capinera’, Maria’s alter ego, the stage name of a woman, artist and singer-songwriter, who has taken refuge in an anti-violence centre.

During the sessions, she retraces the four key events of her life and, through this journey, attempts to rediscover herself and free herself from feelings of guilt by telling her story and expressing herself. The narrative therefore begins at a point in the story when almost everything has already happened.

The events retraced by the author/singer-songwriter are flashbacks linked by the common thread of images, music, dance and sounds.
The inspiration behind the project, which stems from an idea by Beatrice Goracci, a third-year student on the First-Level Academic Programme in Pop-Rock Singing at Saint Louis, revolves around the creation of a female-centred story with a protagonist who does not passively endure (Maria) but who, with the help of her tutor, takes action (Capinera) towards a final rediscovery of herself following catharsis, thanks to the strength and power of art.

Maria is forced into seclusion by her family. Then she falls in love with Nino. And dies of love. Capinera is forced by her husband to give up her passion for music, not to see her friends, not to go out, not to make phone calls. Yet she remains in love with him. And she almost dies. Almost…

At the heart of the project is the idea that, through art, ‘Capinera’ recognises the trauma (physical and psychological violence, feelings of guilt and inadequacy), accepts it and faces it. Ultimately, she begins to feel the stirrings of a new life once again.

The performance “Capinera” will be presented as a preview at the “Base Milano” cultural centre at via Ambrogio Bergognone da Fossano, 34 on 16 December at 16.00.

The second performance of Capinera took place on 19 December at Tallinn University-BFM (Baltic Film, Media and Arts School).

The PM – Playing Memories project, led by Saint Louis, was among the winners of the PNRR call for funding aimed at the internationalisation of AFAM Institutions.

Among the project partners are Rufa – Rome University of Fine Arts, Conservatorio Alfredo Casella di L’Aquila, Fondazione Accademia d’Arti e Mestieri dello spettacolo Teatro alla Scala di Milano, ISIA di Roma.

PLAYING MEMORIES is aimed at conceiving and creating multidisciplinary artistic performances in various cities around the world. The objective is to conceive, compose, stage and present a multidisciplinary performance (for a total of 8 performances) in just 15 days, with the creative and collaborative contribution of each artist and performer in residence, under the supervision of coaches and tutors.

As project leader, Saint Louis will select the 8 projects and the various performers who will take part. The objective of each residency is the final performance. There will be two performances for each residency: the first in a Theatre/Festival in the city that hosted the artistic residency, and the second at an Institution in another European city.

All residencies and their related performances will be filmed in full by a television crew,to create a docu-series that will be published on a prestigious international streaming platform.