Originally published in July 2018, this article recounts an evening at Forte Belvedere and a performance by La Compagnia delle Seggiole.
The Miraculous Hour, the new performance by La Compagnia delle Seggiole: how to move a Florence guide
A few days ago, my husband and I attended the premiere of the new performance by La Compagnia delle Seggiole, staged at the Forte di San Giorgio, better known as Forte Belvedere. As a Florence guide, I had been to this wonderful place countless times. Yet, although I had always appreciated its grandeur and beauty, only on this occasion was I able to look at it through different eyes and experience the atmosphere that once surrounded the soldiers who spent their lives within these walls.
The performance tells episodes from the daily life of the garrison stationed at the Forte. They wait for an enemy and for an attack that never comes. During that long wait, they enjoy the city of Florence spread out before them and the beauty of San Miniato behind them. Life passes slowly, inexorably.
I could only recommend taking part in this performance. Once again my friend Fabio Baronti, the heart and driving force of the Compagnia, left us amazed. As a Florentine, as a guide in Florence and as someone working in the cultural life of this city, I can only thank Fabio and all the members of the Compagnia for the love for Florence that they convey through everything they create.
Long live La Compagnia delle Seggiole, long live Florence!
PS. The performance was organised by La Compagnia delle Seggiole together with ONCE extraordinary events, which ran a charming venue at the Forte where visitors could enjoy an aperitif in a sitting room above Florence. The event was produced in collaboration with the Fondazione Teatro della Toscana. The texts were by Riccardo Ventrella; the costumes by Giancarlo Mancini, created by Pino Crescente and Silvia Anderson; and the staging by Daniele Nocciolini. The cast included Fabio Baronti, Luca Cartocci, Raffaello Gaggio, Andrea Nucci and the wonderful Sabrina Tinalli, unforgettable as the “sartina della Duse” in the performance-tour of the Teatro della Pergola, In sua movenza è fermo.
For more information about the performance, I recommend reading this article on pensalibero.it.
Here are some photographs from the evening!
