Three days of theater for the Colosseum Award, and the magic repeats itself

It was a great pleasure for me to serve on the jury for the Colosseum Award, which is awarded to the best theatrical performance (for the 2025 season) by FITA - the Italian Federation of Theater and Arts in Rome.

Three days for three very different performances. And the choice was anything but obvious. Right off the bat, I'm tempted to say that the real winner is writer Gianni Clementi, because two of the three performances were based on his plays.

The winner was a play by Gianni Clementi that seems to have been written after reading Epstein's files. An incredible modernity that makes conspiracy theorists pale but ultimately feels like a blow to the heart. "In one performance, a lady shouted 'bastard' during the last scene," director Marco Giancarli told me.

The story centers on a depraved politician with an immaculate public image. I won't tell you about the ending because it's truly a gut punch in its bitter violence and mockery. I've seen many of Gianni Clementi's works, and perhaps this is the best.

The two actresses who played old prostitutes were excellent, and the actor who played the politician managed to exude intimidating power even when wounded.

The performances were held in the beautiful Teatro San Pio in Vitinia, between Rome and Ostia, a masterpiece of modern art that does justice to the suburbs.

This variety of performances made our work as a jury exhilarating, and together with Fiammetta Fiammeri and Fabrizio Caiazzo, we stimulated minds and hearts to debate the performances.

If you have the chance, don't miss seeing Donnacce; perhaps go with a few friends to enjoy the pleasure of post-theater reflections.

The competing shows were:

The La Bottega di RebArdò company with Il Cappello di Carta by Gianni Clementi, starring Enzo Ardone, Alberto Orsini, Antonella Rebecchi, Andrea Ardone, Stefania Giayvia, Giulia Ardone, and Dario Formiconi, directed by Enzo Ardone.

The Attori per Caso company with Snitchcare, starring Eleonora d’Ottavi, Francesco Carcani, Fabrizio Mari, Marta Bruni, Matteo di Ponzio, Viola Bartolini, Giulia Acanfora, Viola Bruni, Martina Colonnello, Sofia Campanelli, Giuseppe Palmieri, Samuele Arcieri Lancione, and Sofia Grillo, written and directed by Riccardo Passalacqua.

The Cuori Quasi Seri company with Donnacce by Gianni Clementi, starring Luisa Valloni, Simona Verni, and Riccardo Passalacqua, directed by Marco Giancarli.