To close out the program of the Terre del Vescovado Theater Festival, the “G. Gavazzeni” Cinema-Theater in Seriate will host the performance“Pinocchio / What Is a Person?”, a manifesto-style play of extraordinary social and educational impact, conceived, directed, and staged by director Davide Iodice.
The central inspiration for the project lies in the specific moment when Pinocchio reunites with Geppetto inside the whale’s belly. Faced with his father’s warning that the candle will soon go out, leaving them in the dark, the puppet asks, “And then what?” This question about “what comes next” becomes a universal metaphor for the answers that every family—as well as the entire community and social service institutions—are called upon to provide for the future of vulnerable children.
The production stems from the director’s deep desire to challenge the traditional—and often misunderstood and limiting—concept of “normality,” while at the same time moving beyond any form of pity or charitable rhetoric. On stage, a large and close-knit cast gives voice and form to the complex, vibrant, and rich world of disability. The show thus presents itself as a true manifesto asserting these young people’s right to express their uniqueness, to be seen for who they are, and to have access to spaces of pure happiness, shared experience, and artistic expression.
The event is organized in collaboration with the “Giacinto Gambirasio” Municipal Library in Seriate and with support from the Municipality of Seriate and S.I.E.C. srl / Cineteatro Gavazzeni.
This initiative is part of the “Local Bites, Cultural Sites—The Journey Continues” event series, which is included in the Lombardy Style 2026 regional call for proposals. Activity carried out with the contribution of the Lombardy Region.
Credits: Renato Esposito
