Francesco

The life of a Saint who influenced the history of Italy and the world, and a tribute to the wonder and simplicity of creation. Eight hundred years after his death, “Francesco” recounts, in the style of Compagnia dei Folli, the deeds of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy. The stage takes us to Assisi in the thirteenth century, where a young man, the son of wealthy merchants and destined for knighthood, decides to renounce all material wealth and embrace poverty and the gifts of God.

Francis chooses to give away all his possessions to devote himself to something higher and, at the same time, profoundly earthly, becoming the last among the least and finding joy only in what nature reveals of the greatness of the Lord: from Brother Sun to Sister Bodily Death. Scene by scene, the Canticle of the Creatures becomes the story of the Poor Man of Assisi, who travels barefoot through a world illuminated by the Moon and stars, crosses a stormy sea aided by Sister Water and Brother Wind, and finally reaches the land of Jerusalem in an attempt to stop the Crusade.

The performance is a tapestry of images that immerses the audience in medieval and spiritual atmospheres, almost transforming the stage into a succession of Giotto frescoes that recount, step by step, the life journey of one of the best-known and most beloved saints in history. Francesco is a reflective yet joyful performance, capable of conveying the wonder of creation within a poetic but humble framework, in the spirit of Francis himself. The production is suitable for both large and small squares, historical re-enactments and festivals, and above all for audiences of all ages.