Press release 19th November 2015
THE THEATRE’S THOUGHTS ON PRISON
WITH “LE ALTRE FACCE DELLA MEDAGLIA”(“THE OTHER SIDES
OF THE COIN”)
Theatre dialogue on prison to mark 40 years of the penitentiary law reform,
from 24th to 27th November at Turin’s prison
What is prison and what should it be, what are its rules, how do people involved day in day out
cope with it, and what do people observing from afar think? Tackling this is “Le altre facce della
medaglia”, a theatre event on 24th -25th -26th -27th November at the theatre of the Lorusso
Cutugno Prison, directed by Claudio Montagna from Teatro e Società theatre company, in
collaboration with the Chair of Sociology of Law in the Law Department of the University of Turin.
“Le altre facce della medaglia” compares viewpoints on the transformations and innovations
introduced by the 1975 penitentiary law reform, how it is put into practice today, on its
modifications which, forty years on from its approval, have been discussed over the last few
months by “États Généraux” on the execution of penal sentences promoted by the Ministry of
Justice.
The language chosen to do this is that of the theatre, which director Claudio Montagna has been
experimenting with over the years. This time, however, the spectators themselves are involved.
The dialogue opens with their questions, written down and collected before the start of each
evening’s performance; a group of inmates answers using scenes thought up with theatre
improvisation techniques and their points of view on the subject are presented. There are some
intense and significant moments, followed by a brief talk by a group of law students regarding law
and concluding with comments from experts and scholars of the sector and from people who work
for prisons: from the Director, to Tutors, to state correction officers.
Claudio Montagna explains: «Once again, prison theatre is the means to bring out the ‘other sides
of the coins’, exposing clichés but also providing the instruments needed to thoroughly discuss
situations that are often just hearsay. This is why we have involved people who know prisons –
albeit in varying roles – and prepared the audience by sending them a text with the regulations
and preliminary list of possible questions along with their prison entrance pass. They will be the
ones to set the themes each evening and trigger an in-depth analysis”.
Collaboration with the Chair of Sociology in the Law Department of the University of Turin began
last year. So far it has facilitated the involvement of a group of young law students taught by
Claudio Sarzotti, who explains: “This has been an exciting learning experience for the students.
Even today it is still possible to become a judge or lawyer without ever having seen a prison. It
was a very informative surprise to see how law in real life is rather different from that found in law
books”.
"Le altre facce della medaglia" theatre evenings are part of the Passi oltre i confini project set up
by Teatro Società thanks to support from “Progetto libero – prison guidelines” by the Compagnia
di San Paolo and with the participation of the City of Turin’s Department of Culture. The project is
actively shared by the Management, tutors and prison guards of the Lorusso e Cutugno Prison and
by the Law Department of the University of Turin as part of the Chair of Sociology of Law.
« Teatro Società is an important project in that it aims to open up dialogue between society and
prison structure. The community often turns a blind eye and in doing so risks making the physical
limitations of prison something that goes even deeper. A complex dialogue that Teatro Società is
trying to set up through the filter of metatheatre: just as useful an aim inside prisons as it is for
those outside» states Maurizio Braccialarghe- Councillor for Culture, Tourism and Promotion of
the city.
«The Compagnia di San Paolo together with local authorities and bodies has for years supported
and promoted prison projects with “Progetto libero – prison guidelines” according to the principle
that prison sentences must – in line with our Constitution’s indications – not just be a punishment
but pave the way for rehabilitation. This road to emancipation does not stop at the individual; it
ultimately offers advantages to the whole community. As part of “Progetto Libero – prison
guidelines” the Compagnia di San Paolo granted roughly € 5.8 million between 2011 and 2014,
supporting 136 projects in prisons in Piedmont and the Genoese area.
Initiatives in favour of social and work re-integration made up about 52%, the rest went to culture,
art, entertainment and, in general to improving living conditions inside prisons. Among these are
the shows created by Teatro e Società, whose aim is to closely examine these themes with a
strong social and civil commitment» points out Luca Remmert, Chair of Compagnia di San Paolo.
“Le altre facce della medaglia”
Casa Circondariale di Torino – via Maria Adelaide Aglietta 35 (già Strada Pianezza 300)
Creation and director co-ordination Claudio Montagna
Shows – 9pm
Tuesday 24th November 2015
Wednesday 25th November 2015
Thursday 26th November 2015
Friday 27th November 2015
Taking part in the project “Le altre facce della medaglia”:
On stage: Alfonso P., Antonino P., Armando B., Carmelo S., Daniel M., Erico I., Ezio M., Fabio M.,
Francesco G., Gian Franco C., Giuseppe M., Indrid J., Khalil N., Silvano S. and Elisabetta Baro, Chiara
Bosco, Simonetta Gargano
Harp: Valeria Manigrasso
Audience: Gruppo Scout Torino 23
Labs and training: Franco Carapelle
Collaborating and taking part: the Director and tutors at the prison and the state correction
officers.
Consultation: Claudio Sarzotti, Perla Allegri, Cecilia Blengino, Michele Miravalle, Silvia Mondino,
Daniele Ronco, Giovanni Torrente, Lecturers of the Chair of Sociology of Law in the Law
Department of the University of Turin.
Organisation: Teatro e Società
THE THEATRE PROJECT
The City of Turin’s Department of Culture and the management of the “Lorusso e Cutugno” prison
(formerly “Le Vallette”) has been promoting a permanent theatre lab project since 1993, run with
inmates of the wards in A wing. The theatre lab is supported by Compagnia di San Paolo and
directed by Claudio Montagna, and run by the latter and collaborators at TS Teatro e Società;
targeted meetings are held with the protagonists, culminating with theatre events open to the
public and finalized at bringing together inmates and civil society.
Until April 2011 most of the work was done with a group of inmates from section VI A wing and
then with inmates from various sections of that wing. LO SCIMMIONE E LA TARTARUGA (2011),
ASTUZIA DEL MURO (2010), TEATRO DI GUERRA (2008), TAGLIARE LA CORDA (2007), HO VISTO
SUZANNE (2005) from which director Davide Ferrario based the film of the same name, are some
of the productions staged.
The Passi oltre i confini project continues the analysis launched over the years by Claudio
Montagna and the Teatro e Società theatre company at Turin’s prison, on the subject of justice
with the theatre event “Cicatrici e Guarigioni” - October 2013 and with “Ognuno ha la sua legge
uguale per tutti” – November 2014.
More information at: www.teatrosocieta.it
www.teatrosocieta.it/index.php/cosa-facciamo/teatro-e-sociale/41-vallette.html
Press office: Kami comunicazione – [email protected] – Roberta Dho 339/6076861