Introduzione al volume UN FESTIVAL DELLE MERAVIGLIE. THAUMA. TEATRO ANTICO IN SCENA. DIECI ANNI DI STORIA

[Autom. eng. transl.] The introduction illustrates the conception of the THAUMA Festival which turns 10 in 2024 and explains the contents of the book in a reasoned way. The Thauma Festival was organized by the Catholic University (Milan branch) from 2015 to 2024 to welcome in healthy competition the virtuous school-theatre works carried out in Italian high schools. The suspension of theatrical activities during the years of the Covid epidemic resulted in participation in an international circuit of video shows from 2021, "Playing Greek Tragedies", whose story is told. The introduction offers methodological reflections and reflects on the pedagogical value of theater workshops which allow young students to animate ancient texts, making them perceive that they are not dead, but in their distance, absolutely close to the big questions on the life of every human being in relationships with others, both on a personal, social and political level. Theatrical activities on classic texts represent a formidable way for the personal maturation of the adolescent in the working group of their school, to overcome the extreme temptations of generational conflict and to prevent bullying. The very young interpreters appear to be expertly guided by their teachers, and always full of enthusiasm, bringing the distances between us and the great heroes of ancient myths closer, giving them a breath, gestures, looks with skill that manage to persuade even professional juries. This is a precious 'third way of theatre', different from both amateur and professional theatre, of which I present a summary chronicle with work diaries, which represent a mine of useful information for anyone who wants to approach the study of theatre. classic on stage.