On Wednesday, December 04, the second edition of Festivabìlia – The Theater of Potential Abilities concluded with the production “In principio era la rupe” (In the beginning there was a cliff) , performed by Teatro a Rotelle, the theatre company of the University of Verona.
The show, directed by Nicoletta Vicentini and Jana Karšaiová, involved actors and actresses with different abilities. The title and theme of “In principio era la rupe” are an ironic and provocative reference to the Spartan practice of abandoning infants considered weak or disabled on Mount Taygetus, a cliff, to let them die. Starting with this historical reference, the theatre group wanted to emphasize within its performance how much the perception of people with disabilities has changed over time. The self-mockery of the title highlights the absurdity and injustice of discrimination, reversing the historical narrative to highlight the strength and determination of people with disabilities in claiming their place in society.
The performance was warmly welcomed by the audience and offered moments of heightened emotions. Through acting, music, and coreography, the artists repeatedly demonstrated that art does has no barriers.