25 – 26 OCTOBER 2018
VENICE, ISLAND OF SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE
International Conference Giovanni Poli. The Essential Stage

On 25 and 26 October 2018, the Institute of Theatre and Opera is holding an international conference entitled “Giovanni Poli. The Essential Stage”. The scholars and experts in the field attending the event will
analyse the career and work of the Venetian actor and stage director, celebrated for having revived and enriched the great Venetian theatre tradition and Commedia dell’Arte. The acquisition of the Giovanni Poli
Archive, at the behest of his heirs and celebrated with a public presentation on 20 October 2017, has provided the Institute of Theatre and Opera with a key resource for research work into Venetian and Italian
theatre of the second half of the 20th century. Together with the university lecturers and researchers, who will illustrate the results of studies carried out on archival materials, women and men of theatre will speak
about their experience of working with the director and playwright.
During the conference, an exhibition curated by Maria Ida Biggi will display a selection of materials from the archives of Giovanni Poli and Mischa Scandella in the exhibition room of the Manica Lunga Library.
Moreover, Stefano Poli will direct a revival of the historical manifesto play La commedia degli Zanni, written and directed by his father Giovanni.
Produced by the Teatro Ca’ Foscari at Santa Marta and staged with the participation of young actors and the collaboration of the Teatro a l’Avogaria, the play will be performed on 25 and 26 October at the Teatro Ca’ Foscari.