War and bread

Guerra e pane (War and bread) by and with Massimo Lazzeri

scenes Andrea Coppi

light design Stefano Mazzanti

video Diego Monfredini, Lucia Scipioni, Antonio De Cia

arrangements Chiarastella Calconi, Diego Moser, Massimo Lazzeri e Adele Pardi

recommended age: over 12 years old

Luigino, known as Gino, fought in the Great War, and when back home his dream comes true: he becomes a baker.

The Fascists come to power, but Gino feels he has already done enough for his country and has no intention of fighting again. He refuses to join the Fascist party, so he is threatened and beaten, but he doesn't give up. As a result he is transported to a concentration camp in Sobibor. He is spared by the Nazis because he is a baker and therefore he's useful.

Gino sees hundreds of people arrive and die every day, so, together with other prisoners, he begins to steal weapons, petrol, money and plots to raze Sobibor to the ground. On 14 October 1943 the camp ceases to exist.

Performance, songs and videos take turns. The pace is brisk, the narrative is straightforward and at times, despite the topic, it's also light and ironic.

The script, songs and videos are original, but inspired by the writings of Primo Levi, Vasilij Grossman and Elisa Springer, as well as by stories of unknown people who survived the concentration camps.

This is a show to remember and to learn, in the hope that knowing the history we have left behind will help us to be better in the future.