Fraternal Compagnia APS, founded in 2000, is the official theatre company of the Emilia Romagna region in Italy. They have created numerous productions and organised multiple festivals, many regarding Commedia dell’Arte, including the first World Commedia dell’Arte Day in Bologna, sponsored by UNESCO and ITI — International Theatre Institute — Italian Centre. Most forms of today’s theatre – from pantomime to musicals, passing through mime, improv, clowning, and more – all emanate from Commedia. The historical reach of the genre spans from Carlo Goldoni to Dario Fo. Through its repertoire, it paints a picture of several centuries of theatrical, social, and anthropological history of Western culture.
Fraternal Compagnia co-founders, Massimo Machiavelli and Tania Passarini, took upon themselves the mission to preserve, promote, and share this important piece of Italian culture in as many and as varied places as possible. They have performed all over the globe, including Japan, China, Brazil, Poland, and Turkey among others, including the Avignon Festival in France.
The show ‘Masquerade Mask’ was created with now-artistic director Luca Comastri in the spirit of swiftly and easily bringing this art form to new audiences. It showcases Commedia’s most famous stock characters in their element: the mischievous servant, Arlecchino; the old Venetian merchant, Pantalone; the cowardly braggart, Il Capitano; and more. Each has a scene with the audience, taken from the classic Commedia repertoire. These are presented and performed by two clown servants – Pasta and Pizza – at the service of their master – an eminent professor. Through many games, songs, jokes, and puns, they tackle the central themes of Commedia: the love of power, the power of love, the hunger and misery of the less fortunate, and the magic that surrounds life and stage.
In addition to the company’s entertainment value through Commedia, it also recognises a social value inherent in its aesthetic. Because of this, Fraternal Compagnia has been extensively active in local life: they have worked with Bologna’s homeless community; they regularly organise civic theatre shows and films in the region; recently they have started working alongside people who are physically disabled; and they visit local schools providing educational shows for students of all grades.
Buy Here- Masquerade Mask | Theatre | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com)