Research inquiry

The project focuses on the preservation and sharing of theatre heritage through the study of Rete Latitudini, a Sicilian network linking approximately 60 associations and theatrical productions, which promotes around 250 activities per year.

Work phases:

Registration of the annual production of the entities adhering to Rete Latitudini; Selection of the most relevant dramaturgical experiences; Digitalisation of theatre entities and their activities, with the aim of adding value to the collected documents.

Methodology for achieving the objectives

The analysis of the repertoire dramaturgy and stage archives will draw on scientific literature. A methodological reference will be found in Richard Schechner’s reflection on the distinction between archive and repertoire. The metadata schema for archived heritage will allow data to be read not only by researchers but also by machines, using the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, to describe archived digital material (texts, images, sounds, videos, web pages, events, services). Cataloguing software for cultural heritage, such as Omeka or Arianna4, will be used, creating a platform that allows the input of multimedia content. Furthermore, it will be possible to create a web portal by designing the data architecture and graphical user interface. The research methodology will be mixed; not only will data archived on the web be analysed, but contact will also be made with production organisations to, through interviews and various documents, achieve an overall view of Latitudini’s productivity. Scientific literature will be explored during the initial phase. The study abroad period at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Centre for Theatrical Studies and Archives, will provide the necessary foundations regarding the archiving method. Subsequently, the completion of the thesis and the preparation of the online format will represent the culmination of the archiving work.

Case studies

Italian theatre Archives, especially those on contemporary dramaturgy, are still distinguished by their incompleteness and disorganisation. The scientific literature provided historical information on Sicilian dramaturgy, especially through the work of P. Puppa and D. Tomasello. Starting with the newspaper article entitled Il Sipario s’alza al Sud by R. Palazzi, a renewed flourishing of texts in southern Italian dramaturgy found its focal point in Sicily.

Data analysis and results interpretation

The object of exploration has been the theoretical-historiographical scientific literature to delineate the history of avant-gardes that are significantly intertwined with contemporary theatre. Rete Latitudini associates have been contextualised in theoretical reflection, technique and themes, analysing some of their most important works.