Rome, January 6, 2026
Shakespeare Reimagined: A Dialogue-Free Dive into ‘Othello’s’ Emotional Core
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A new performance at Rome’s Basilica Theater strips Shakespeare’s tragedy down to its rawest emotions, expressed through movement, sound, and striking visual art.
- “The Willow Song” debuts January 9, 2026, at the Basilica Theater in Rome.
- The production eschews dialogue, relying on physical theater, masks, and multimedia to convey the story of ‘Othello.’
- Director Rosi Giordano’s work explores the power of the “larval mask” as a tool for unlocking preverbal emotional expression.
- Video art by Fabio Massimo Iaquone expands the theatrical space, offering a symbolic counterpoint to the action.
Prepare for a theatrical experience unlike any other. “The Willow Song,” a new performance-drama inspired by Shakespeare’s ‘Othello,’ opens at the Basilica Theater on Friday, January 9, 2026. This isn’t your typical Shakespearean production; it’s a wordless exploration of jealousy, betrayal, and loss, built from a foundation of intense physicality and evocative imagery.
Beyond Words: Emotions Embodied
Performers inhabit the stage, using physical theater and “larval masks” to shape moods, conflicts, and relationships. The characters of ‘Othello’ – Desdemona, Othello, and Iago – aren’t presented as individuals to be narrated, but as emotions to be felt: trust, aggression, fear, abandonment, and betrayal. The production unfolds in seven distinct “paintings,” each representing a stage in a sensorial journey, guiding the audience through a landscape of emotional thresholds.
The visual element is crucial. Video projections by Fabio Massimo Iaquone expand the theatrical space with symbolic and visionary images. These aren’t illustrations of the action, but rather a sensitive reflection, fragmenting time and intensifying the experience. Echoes of Shakespeare’s text drift through the scene, amplifying the synesthetic impact without resorting to a literal narrative.
A Soundscape of Loss and Remembrance
Inspired by musical minimalism, the sound design is integral to the dramaturgy. The performance begins and ends with a voice emerging from silence, resonating with “The Song of the Willow,” evoking a fragile, ancient rhythm. This serves as an echo of Desdemona and all women whose voices have been silenced by violence. In the finale, the sound transforms into a ritualistic wound, suspending time and leaving a lingering question in the silence.
The Power of the Mask
The project stems from a decade of research into the “larval mask” by director Rosi Giordano. She views the mask not as a mere technical tool, but as an archetypal threshold, capable of opening the body to listening and transformation. Through the body-mask, a preverbal and universal language emerges, bypassing the need for words. Sentiments from Shakespeare’s text become emotional lines, embodied in a sensorial and non-narrative dramaturgy, built on the interplay between body, space, and movement.
The roots of this approach stretch back to 2016, evolving from expressive work developed in the 1990s by Giordano and Marina Cangemi, a student of Jacques Lecoq. Today, the project incorporates research into the methods of Lecoq, the Feldenkrais method, the Laban-Bartenieff system, and MusicArTherapy.
Performance Details
Direction, space, and costumes are by Rosi Giordano. The performance features Eva Allenbach, Susanna Lauletta, Raffaela Luminati, Mario Migliucci, Marco Mungiello, Sonia Mungiello, Barbara Parisi, and Alessio Sapienza. Manuele Ferretti provides the reciting voice, while Barbara Parisi embodies “Willow Song.” Fabio Massimo Iaquone is responsible for the video creations, with Erminia Palmieri handling the scenic visual system. Eleonora Iani designed the costumes, and the masks were crafted by Anita Belloni, Sara Colone, Giulia Ducci, Rosi Giordano, Vittoria Manfredi, Zoe Perfetti, and Agnese Verrone. Lighting is by Matteo Ziglio, and the sound design is by Fabrizio Murgante.
Info and reservations: Basilica Theater +39 392 9768519 or [email protected]. The theater is located at Piazza di Porta San Giovanni, 10, Rome. Tickets are available online at www.teatrobasilica.com. Performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 9:00 PM and Sundays at 6:00 PM. Ticket prices are €18.00 (full price), €15.00 (online), €12.00 (reduced), and €10.00 (students).
