by InTrieste
This September, a unique theatrical experience returns to the streets of Trieste. “In Search of Zeno Through the Streets of Trieste,” a walking performance that brings to life Italo Svevo’s literary masterpiece La coscienza di Zeno (Zeno’s Conscience), will run from September 17 to 26, offering spectators an immersive journey through the city that inspired the novel.
The production, which is a collaboration between the University of Trieste’s Department of Humanities and the Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia, blends performance and literary exploration in a series of theatrical strolls through the heart of Trieste. Actors from the Teatro Stabile, along with university researchers, guide small groups of participants through the city’s streets, weaving passages from Svevo’s novel into the urban landscape. The walk begins at the Teatro Verdi at either 11 a.m. or 6 p.m., depending on the day, with tickets available for pre-sale at www.ilrossetti.it.
Initially presented in May 2023 to mark the 100th anniversary of La coscienza di Zeno, the tour was met with enthusiastic praise. This fall, it returns to offer another opportunity to engage with Svevo’s work in a way that feels uniquely tied to Trieste’s history and culture.
A City as a Stage
The tour, led by actors Ester Galazzi, Riccardo Maranzana, and Francesco Godina, all of the Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia, is not merely a performance but a literary exploration. Under the guidance of professors Laura Pelaschiar and Paolo Quazzolo, along with researchers Elisa Mariuz and Federica Rufolo, the narrative-performance hybrid takes participants through key Svevian sites. These include Piazza Verdi, the Tergesteo, and Piazza della Borsa, locations that offer a backdrop to some of the novel’s most important scenes.
Audiences are invited to follow in the footsteps of Zeno Cosini, the novel’s neurotic protagonist, and experience his world through a creative reimagining of both the character and his surroundings. The walk breathes new life into passages from Svevo’s seminal novel, mixing performed scenes with discussions of Trieste’s deep connection to the text.
“It’s not just about the novel,” says Maranzana, one of the lead actors. “It’s about seeing the city through the lens of literature and recognizing how a place like Trieste can shape a writer’s work. Walking the streets where Svevo lived and worked makes Zeno’s Conscience feel incredibly present, even 100 years later.”
A Literary Legacy Revisited
First published in May 1923 by Cappelli in Bologna, La coscienza di Zeno was slow to gain recognition but has since become one of the most important works of 20th-century Italian and European literature. Italo Svevo, the pseudonym of Trieste native Ettore Schmitz, crafted a novel that delves deeply into the psyche of its protagonist, exploring themes of self-deception, neurosis, and addiction.
For decades, Zeno’s Conscience was overshadowed by other works of modernist literature. But today, Svevo’s novel stands as a defining text of psychological fiction. The city of Trieste, once a bustling hub of literary innovation, played a central role in Svevo’s development as a writer, and this walking tour allows visitors to explore those deep connections.
The idea for the walking tour grew out of a broader collaboration between the University of Trieste and the Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia. Since 2021, they have worked together on similar projects, including guided tours exploring other aspects of Trieste’s literary history, such as the legacy of theater director Giorgio Strehler.
An Intimate Experience for Small Groups
The event is limited to 35 spectators per performance, ensuring an intimate experience that allows for personal engagement with both the actors and the material. Tickets, priced at €10 (€8 for subscribers), are available for pre-sale through the Politeama Rossetti box office or at outlets affiliated with the Teatro Stabile. A limited number of tickets will also be sold at the starting location 30 minutes before the event for €12.
Educators can still book performances for school groups, with special tours designed to engage younger audiences with Svevo’s work. Interested teachers are encouraged to contact the event organizers directly at enrica.birsa@ilrossetti.it.
