This production, one of the latest creations by Italian director Romeo Castellucci, is loosely inspired by Jean Racine's classical tragedy. The work is presented as a highly intense monologue, transforming the original text into a contemporary scenic experience that emphasizes the word, voice, and presence of a single performer on stage.
“"Bérénice is, probably, the most immobile, static, and disconcerting tragedy ever conceived."
In this adaptation, Isabelle Huppert embodies Bérénice as a central figure, described by Castellucci as a "fixed star" on stage, highlighting the actress's identification with the theatrical act itself. In addition to Huppert, the play features the participation of Cheikh Kébé and Giovanni Armando Romano, along with twelve local performers.
The sound design, by Scott Gibbons, plays a crucial role, as most of the play's sounds, both heard and unheard, originate from the actress's voice. The costumes, designed by the innovative Iris van Herpen, combine craftsmanship and technology to create pieces of great visual impact and sculptural character, in harmony with the aesthetic proposal of the scene.
Considered one of the major recent European productions, Bérénice invites reflection on madness, truth, and lies in loving and being loved. The plot is set in Rome in 79 A.D., where Emperor Titus, after his victory in the First Jewish War, wishes to marry Princess Bérénice. However, the opposition of the Senate and the Roman people to a foreign queen forces him to renounce his love. Titus entrusts his friend Antiochus, also in love with Bérénice, to communicate his decision. Upon learning the truth, Bérénice understands that the emperor's political duty outweighs their feelings and decides to leave Rome.
