Based on the book by the French philosopher Didier Eribon, Thomas Ostermeier has created a transnational theatrical project which examines the political and social changes in Western Europe. The story of a man and his difficult acceptance of the past is the starting point for a reflection on the concept of identity, both that of an individual and an entire country.
-
Teatro Studio Melato
The performances on 12, 19, and 26 October, and on 2, 9 and 16 November 2019 will be surtitled in English.
Surtitles provided by Prescott Studio
With this extraordinary transnational theatrical project, Thomas Ostermeier gets to the heart of the political and social identity of Europe, the work Ritorno a Reims - based on the essay of the same name that the French sociologist Didier Eribon published in 2009 - to stages throughout Europe, re-writing the dramaturgy each time in collaboration with the theatre and the actors involved in each individual project. For Italy, Ostermeier has chosen the Piccolo Teatro, and Sonia Bergamasco for the central role of Katy, an actress who, together with the director Paul and the sound technician Toni, is working on the commentary for a documentary dedicated to Eribon.
Moving between personal confession and sociological analysis, the philosopher recounts his return to his town of birth, Reims, and his reunion with the family he had not seen or heard from for decades, ever since he began his university career in Paris. In this encounter with the past, Eribon confronts the darker aspects of contemporary society: the brutal mechanisms of exclusion from education and employment set in motion by the apparently progressive but fundamentally elitist upper classes - to which he now belongs, and a working class which - abandoned and deprived of its rights - rejects communist politics and embraces the right-wing popularism of the Front National.
“I was very interested in further examining how and why, in recent years - explains Ostermeier - an extreme right-wing movement has been able to develop so quickly in so many nations in both Europe and beyond. I am deeply shocked by the analysis presented by Eribon, who connects this alarming trend to the historical failure of the traditional left. I like the idea of creating different versions of the staging in different nations and languages, and with different actors, whose personal experiences influence and modify the production”.
Duration: Two hours without interval
Learn more
Booklet
ReadThe performances on 12, 19, and 26 October, and on 2, 9 and 16 November 2019 will be surtitled in English.
Surtitles provided by Prescott Studio
With this extraordinary transnational theatrical project, Thomas Ostermeier gets to the heart of the political and social identity of Europe, the work Ritorno a Reims - based on the essay of the same name that the French sociologist Didier Eribon published in 2009 - to stages throughout Europe, re-writing the dramaturgy each time in collaboration with the theatre and the actors involved in each individual project. For Italy, Ostermeier has chosen the Piccolo Teatro, and Sonia Bergamasco for the central role of Katy, an actress who, together with the director Paul and the sound technician Toni, is working on the commentary for a documentary dedicated to Eribon.
Moving between personal confession and sociological analysis, the philosopher recounts his return to his town of birth, Reims, and his reunion with the family he had not seen or heard from for decades, ever since he began his university career in Paris. In this encounter with the past, Eribon confronts the darker aspects of contemporary society: the brutal mechanisms of exclusion from education and employment set in motion by the apparently progressive but fundamentally elitist upper classes - to which he now belongs, and a working class which - abandoned and deprived of its rights - rejects communist politics and embraces the right-wing popularism of the Front National.
“I was very interested in further examining how and why, in recent years - explains Ostermeier - an extreme right-wing movement has been able to develop so quickly in so many nations in both Europe and beyond. I am deeply shocked by the analysis presented by Eribon, who connects this alarming trend to the historical failure of the traditional left. I like the idea of creating different versions of the staging in different nations and languages, and with different actors, whose personal experiences influence and modify the production”.
Duration: Two hours without interval
Learn more
Booklet
ReadMeetings and insights
Credits
Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato
from10 October to 16 November 2019
Ritorno a Reims
based on the book by Didier Eribon
world copyright Editions Fayard, Paris
translated by Annalisa Romani
© 2017 Giunti Editore S.p.A. / Bompiani
dramaturgy by Florian Borchmeyer
translated by Roberto Menin
directed by Thomas Ostermeier
sets Nina Wetzel
light design Erich Schneider
sound design Jochen Jezussek
film Sébastien Dupouey, Thomas Ostermeier
camera Marcus Lenz, Sébastien Dupouey
sound (film) Peter Carstens
music Nils Ostendorf
with Sonia Bergamasco, Rosario Lisma, Tommy Kuti
a Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Romaeuropa Foundation co-production
in collaboration with Schaubühne, Berlin
first production Schaubühne Berlin with Manchester international Festival, HOME Manchester, Théâtre de la Ville de Paris
The performances on 12, 19, and 26 October, and on 2, 9 and 16 November 2019 will be surtitled in English.
Surtitles provided by Prescott Studio
PRODUCTION – PERFORMANCE AVAILABLE FOR SUBSCRIPTION HOLDERS
Subscribtion online click here
Stalls:
Full price € 40 | Discounted price for youngsters and the elderly (under 26 and over 65) € 23
Balcony:
Full price € 32 | Discounted price for youngsters and the elderly (under 26 and over 65) € 20
INFO, PURCHASES AND RESERVATIONS
piccoloteatro.org
Subscriptions and full-price and promotional tickets are available for purchase online
Tickets for plays for the current season can be purchased up to one hour before the beginning of scheduled performances.
Teatro Strehler box office
Largo Greppi 1, M2 Metro Station Lanza. From Mondays to Saturdays 9.45 a.m. - 6.45 p.m.; Sundays 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
It is possible to purchase full-price or discounted tickets (for spectators under the age of 26 or over the age of 65), as well as subscriptions.
For the final hour before the beginning of a performance, the box office is available exclusively for the production that is due to begin.
Box office line +39 02 42411889
From Mondays to Saturdays, 9.45 a.m. - 6.45 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
It is possible to purchase full price or discounted tickets (for spectators under the age of 26 or over the age of 65) as well as subscriptions.
Automatic box office Chiostro Nina Vinchi
Via Rovello 2, M1 Metro Station Cordusio. Active during the opening hours of the Chiostro
It is possible to purchase subscriptions, as well as full-price and promotional tickets
Tickets for all productions for the current season can be purchased up to one hour before the beginning of scheduled performances.
Reservations
Reservations are available exclusively for subscription holders. Reservations are valid up to one month before the chosen date: for example, if a reservation is made for a show performing on 15 March, the seats must be confirmed by 15 February. The reservation must be picked up by the deadline at the Teatro Strehler box office or via the box office line.
Unconfirmed reservations will be automatically cancelled.
It is not possible to make reservations less than one month before the chosen performance date.
Please remember that printed vouchers cannot be either substituted or refunded.
Oro subscription holders can cancel vouchers which have already been issued by and no later than 6 p.m. on the day before the date on the voucher free of charge.
Important information regarding Subscriptions
For subscription holders under the age of 26 or over the age of 65, the issuing of reduced-price subscriptions is possible exclusively on presentation of a valid form of identity at the Teatro Strehler box office.
Piccolo Teatro Subscription tickets provide for the assigning of seats according to availability for the chosen date and show.
Services for the disabled
For information on prices, seats and dedicated services click here
Dedicated email for the public
servizioalpubblico@piccoloteatromilano.it
For artistic reasons, access to the auditorium is not permitted once the performance has started. You may take your seat during any intervals.
Purchased tickets cannot be cancelled or substituted or be used for dates or times which differ from those indicated.
Groups and organisations
For information on tickets and subscriptions for groups and organisations, and afternoon performances for schools and educational shows, please contact the Servizio Promozione Pubblico e Proposte Culturali.
Tel. 02.72.333.216
e-mail: promozione.pubblico@piccoloteatromilano.it