Theatre in English Inspired by Dostoevsky

Teatro della Pergola (via della Pergola, 30) will host a one-of-a-kind performance on November 2 and 3 at 8:45 pm. The Underground: a Response to Dostoevsky is a play in English with Italian subtitles directed by Thomas Richards.

The plot focuses on the hidden feelings that exist buried within every one of us: a hellish realm where needs, actions and thoughts live quietly, fermenting. Somehow worry and fear seep into our daily lives, taking over our consciousness. How do we then remain present in every moment? How do we detach from our mind?

A ‘battle’ ensues that gives rise to a piece full of narrative and comedy.

Featuring selections from the 19th century Russian novelist and philosopher, Notes from the Underground and The Brothers Karamazov, the production is a reflection on Dostoevsky’s work and his ability to analyse the human psyche.

The Brothers Karamazov, which was one of his most famous works, deals in depth with the themes of free will and morality. The story centres on three half brothers, Dmitri, Iva and Alyosha who are sent to live with family relatives by their father, following the passing of their mothers. Years later when Dmitri, the eldest of the three, returns, the father is unwilling to give him his fair share of his inheritance. The plot develops further when Dmitri calls in his siblings for help.

Notes from the Underground is considered to be one of the first ‘existentialist’ novels, which follows the memoirs of a bitter, isolated and unnamed narrator, a retired civil servant living in Saint Petersburg. In his writings, the protagonist details his experiences of alienation from modern society. In fact, it is his self-loathing and spite that has corrupted him. The character, after spending what feels like a lifetime on his own, is driven insane by his thoughts, incapable of making any decisions or enjoying what life has to offer.

Focused Research Team in Arts as Vehicle, creator of The Undeground: a Response to Dostoevsky, is a theatre company and work centre managed by Richards and Jerzy Grotowski. The group aims to understand how the world of performing arts can be a bridge to create a new way of going about our daily experiences and interactions.  (karen gee)

Tickets cost €15 and €12 for over 60s and under 25s. For more information visit Teatro della Pergola’s website.