itSaturday, June 4, 10:30 a.m. at the Vittoria Theater
Meeting with Raffaele De Ritist, free admission
New Cinema Circus
A new way to discover the ancient on screen
An encounter-show, between narration, images and footage, through the incredible adventures of pioneers linked to the origins of both cinema and circus. A continuous intersection of twin worlds, the screen and the ring, traveling through time with extraordinary and compelling material often never before seen.
Raffaele De Ritis is one of the world’s leading circus directors and historians, and this project is based on materials from his collection.
Project curated by Fifth Wall, the historical archive of Raffaele De Ritis and with Circopedia.com
The meeting is part of the Astley’s Place initiative, an action curated by Raffaele De Ritis and produced by Ass. Giocolieri e Dintorni, as part of the activities of Progetto Quinta Parete, a program for the development and engagement of contemporary circus audiences, carried out with the support of MIC. The different actions of “Astley’s Place” are explained on the website progettoquintaparete.it.
Astleyโs Place
Initiative for the enjoyment of circus heritage
Astley’s Place is an action curated by Raffaele De Ritis and produced by Associazione Giocolieri e Dintorni, as part of the activities of Progetto Quinta Parete, a program for the development and involvement of contemporary circus audiences, carried out with the support of MIC.
The different actions of “Astley’s Place,” called “Astley’s Lab,” “Nuovo Cinema Circo” and “Astley’s Blog,” the specifics of which are explained on the website progettoquintaparete.it/ , are carried out at and in collaboration with contemporary circus organizations and realities active in the national and international territory.
ASTLEYโS PLACE: THE PROJECT
NEW GENERATIONS AND ANCIENT ROOTSย
Circus training and creation, in its current declinations, sees a generation of artists who, if they find artistic and social stimuli and suggestions in the present, begin to nurture curiosity towards the past of their art, to overcome categories (contemporary/tradition, or nostalgia/breakage) and with the aim of a global enrichment of artists, trainers, spectators, interlocutors of all kinds. In parallel, the forming maturity of new spectators develops deepening interest in the centuries-old circus heritage in search of inspiration, stimulation, but above all awareness.ย ย ย
INNOVATIVE ACCESS TO ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE
The project was created to foster access to sources by developing new participatory tools (that go beyond conventional forms such as the conference mode or that of localized archives, or occasional publishing). It also aims at territorial rebalancing and direct accessibility – both virtual and physical – to rare, complete and valuable documentary sources. Astley’s Place is thus a fluid form of access to knowledge. It is named after Philip Astley, founder of the modern circus, who has remained in history for his capacity for contamination, transgression and dissemination.
A HIDDEN RESERVOIR
The project is based on the availability of one of the largest existing and internationally respected circus archives that has never before been open to the public: the collection of Raffaele De Ritis. A world-renowned author and director, De Ritis has accumulated a considerable amount of material over half a century. Ranging from the 17th century to the present, the collection includes materials from all over the world. The collection is not limited only to the circus. An additional thousand volumes and documents cover areas that are adjacent to and have now become relevant to contemporary circus: illusionism, sideshow, burlesque, revue, puppetry, commedia dell’arte, and physical comedy.
As well as historical materials on theater, opera, film, musicals.
In addition to the De Ritis collection, the project includes an exclusive twinning with Circopedia, the world’s leading online resource of video materials and biographies of circus history.
ACCESSIBILITY AND MODULARITY
This heritage is dedicated, rather than mere preservation, to a project of cross-accessibility of knowledge, in virtual or physical forms, allowing endless combinations of thematic lines and types of material. Training/information modules on circus history are designed, dedicated to the world of schools, companies, festivals or to meetings with the public: part of the themes is structured in the project, others can be conceived on demand. In short, it is a matter of being able to build, in infinite combinations, tools at the service of creation, education and even the spectator.
Astley’s Place actions are open to the participation of a wide and diverse audience, as well as to small and specific groups. Each action includes a minimum and maximum number of participants that can facilitate and optimize the enjoyment of the proposed content.
