by InTrieste
Trieste will host the Italian debut of Robert Wilson’s highly anticipated production, Pessoa. Since I’ve Been Me, from February 13 to 16. The play, a powerful homage to the influential Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, has already captivated audiences in Florence and Paris, where it garnered widespread acclaim for its striking visual storytelling and poetic depth.
Presented by Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia, a co-producer of the play, Pessoa is a collaborative effort involving prestigious international partners, including Teatro della Pergola in Florence, Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, São Luiz Teatro Municipal de Lisboa, and Festival d’Automne à Paris. The production marks a significant artistic endeavor, celebrating one of the 20th century’s most distinctive literary figures.
Wilson, an internationally renowned director, is known for his profound visual and conceptual approach to theater. In Pessoa, he pays tribute to the writer’s extraordinary legacy, employing light—an element Wilson considers integral to his work due to his architectural background—as the driving force behind the production’s atmosphere. His interpretation captures the many facets of Pessoa, who famously wrote under various heteronyms, each representing a different literary voice. Wilson’s goal is to explore the fluidity of identity through these multifaceted alter egos.
The multilingual production is a dynamic blend of Italian, Portuguese, French, and English, accompanied by Italian surtitles. It features an impressive international cast, including Maria de Medeiros, Aline Belibi, Rodrigo Ferreira, Klaus Martini, Sofia Menci, Gianfranco Poddighe, and Janaína Suaudeau, who bring to life Pessoa’s complex characters—Alexander Search, Bernardo Soares, Vicente Guedes, Alberto Caeiro, Álvaro de Campos, and Ricardo Reis.
Darryl Pinckney, the dramaturg behind the piece, describes Wilson’s vision as an exploration of Pessoa’s modernist engagement with language and identity. The play delves into the nature of the self through essential texts from the poet’s early writings, as well as his dramatic work, Faust. The stagecraft is designed to reflect Pessoa’s introspective exploration of the mind, blending imagination and reality in a captivating visual and intellectual dialogue.
Charles Chemin, co-director and long-time collaborator of Wilson, will participate in a discussion on the play’s creative process on February 14, at the Sala Bartoli of Politeama Rossetti. Joined by theater historian Paolo Quazzolo, Chemin will offer insights into the development of this ambitious production.
Performances of Pessoa. Since I’ve Been Me will take place at the Sala Assicurazioni Generali at Politeama Rossetti, with tickets available for the following dates and times: February 13 and 14 at 8:30 p.m., February 15 at 7:30 p.m., and February 16 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia’s official channels. For more information, visit www.ilrossetti.it or call 040.3593511.
