FACCE DA TEATRO
By Pietro Spagnoli

FACCE DA TEATRO: I see them all around me, every time I walk through the Artists’ entrance.
People passing by, busily or calmly.
They may be holding different objects, or empty-handed, or even bringing variously-shaped, multicoloured instruments. I can see people wearing fancy-coloured clothes as well as their theatrical costumes.
My eyes meet with others’, whose face is well made up, or maybe just shows a line of black eye-pencil, or reveals no sign of makeup at all.
Men in their business attire and women in their formal outfits walk side by side with others who simply wear t-shirts and trousers.

It’s the world of Theatre, living and working in a place that remains undisclosed to the general public. As well as in a large swarm, everyone here has his precise duty and performs his own role.

Much alike the composition of a great Opera, which needs different vocal and instrumental timbres, each show requires a wide multiplicity of skills and talents to co-operate, in view of one common aim: raising the curtain, starting off the show.

I have been thinking of this along the years, while I was trying to catch all the suggestions that came to me from such a rich environment.

As a matter of fact, I have met with faces of people from all over the world.
Among them there are artisans, singers, clerks, stagehands, tailors, makeup artists, porters, musicians, dancers, directors and their assistants, lighting designers, subtitle writers, set designers or choreographers, pianists, tuners, cooks and prop men…

I always wondered if the public at large could even imagine all the energy and synergy that are necessary for the life of a theatre.

Finally, I came to the conclusion that it is actually very difficult for the general public to realize that every single moment on stage involves hours and hours of hard work, concentration and commitment from so many people.

As a vocal artist and opera singer, I am always exposed and visible on stage.
Many people around the world know me, but I wonder if they also know that behind the scenes of each and any of my performances there is always the silent and fruitful co-operation of a capable makeup artist, a quick-sewing tailor, an inspired conductor, a thoughtful director, as well as of all the theatre staff.

My task was to try and tell more about all those faces around me.
Faces of people that I have had the opportunity to get to know more closely, and that I think of very fondly.

This exhibition is my personal way to thank them for their precious work.

I am not a writer (what an effort, even for these few lines…)
I am no director, nor a painter.

Today I am their photographer.

Traduzione: Anna Tabet