Theatre at School: Serious Play!

The school year has only just begun, yet my eyes are still filled with a vivid memory: on June 21st, 2026, a stage packed with young people—some laughing, full of joy, others crying with intense emotion—surrounded by thunderous applause and the pure happiness of having made it. It was the thrill of bringing to life a beautiful, meaningful, and truly valuable show, and above all, of having done it together.

Every single one of them knew full well how much it had cost to put themselves out there—how much energy they had spent overcoming concrete obstacles (such as attending rehearsals with a major test the next day or leaving family problems behind) as well as personal, psychological limits and vulnerabilities. It had been a long, shared journey of growth, self-discovery, and acceptance, as well as socialization and mutual understanding. It was a journey that was certainly fun, but also one of deep responsibility toward the commitment made to the group, the school, and the local community. Last but not least, it was a learning journey through a hands-on, workshop-based approach, proving that education can indeed happen through art.

Needless to say, the students learned a great deal from this experience. The play they performed, entitled "Restare Salvo", was adapted for the stage by the students themselves alongside the project's creative team (for which I serve as lead coordinator). It was freely inspired by the investigative stories of Inspector Salvo Montalbano by the contemporary Sicilian writer Andrea Camilleri.

Yet, the project went far deeper than the play's storyline itself. Through the main characters and their choices, the students explored the thin line between moral duty and personal feelings, the values of justice and humanity, and the search for truth as an act of resistance against the indifference and corruption of mafia-like mindsets and behaviour.

The title itself was chosen to convey a crucial message to the audience—both to the adults and to the many young people who attended the show. Beyond playing on the protagonist's name (Salvo), it highlighted the urgency of choosing to stay at all costs (Restare = to stay / Salvo = safe/saved).

It served as a rallying cry for young people in Calabria (as well as for youth across Southern Italy) to consciously choose to stay in their homeland—loving their beautiful yet complex region and working hard to change it for the better.

The performance undoubtedly left a powerful impression. Connected to the Capaci massacre evoked in the final scene, it delivered a clear message to the younger generation: "I'm staying in my land, because it needs me here!"