The villagers of the tiny Tuscan town Monticchiello have found a very unusual way of dealing with their problems: each summer, they turn their lives into a play. This fascinating piece, contributed by Chris Shellen, who codirected Spettacolo, a 2017 documentary about the town's "autodramas," features photographs and ephemera (including a removable insert) from 50 years' worth of productions, and includes a fascinating interview Shellen conducted with the theater's artistic director, Andrea Cresti.
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Protest in Paradise: Teatro Povero di Monticchiello
Introduction and interview by Chris Shellen
“I think all of our plays have a tension-relieving effect. Tensions are normal in a community. There are and will always be tensions. But theater—if we are able to face those tensions onstage, theater can be incredibly therapeutic.”—Andrea Cresti
California-based Chris Shellen produced the award-winning 2012 documentary Marwencol and is coauthor of its companion book, Welcome to Marwencol (2015). In 2017, she co-directed the documentary Specttacolo with her husband, Jeff Malmberg, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. She also worked in the editorial department for Navalny (2022).