Lombardia Plus 2019/2020 Linea Cultura, the educational project set up by the Piccolo Teatro, entitled Dallo Studio al Palcoscenico and aimed at 3rd-year students from the Giorgio Strehler course, had the main objective of training actors that were capable of responding to the wide range of market requirements.
On 23 February 2020, the crisis surrounding Covid-19 interrupted all possibilities of providing continuous training to the students, depriving them of the possibility to achieve their goal.
In accordance with the school’s pedagogical outlook, the actor is identified as a complex professional with a range of skills (acting, expressive movement, voice education, singing, dance), each of which is examined during the course through individual dedicated sections that, for their very nature, cannot take place remotely.
For this reason, in line with that defined by the Lombardy Region through Resolution n° Xi/3063 dated 20 April 2020, the Piccolo Teatro has decided to reschedule the didactic activity.
In accordance with Government regulations, the lessons should recommence in September 2020, with the completion and consolidation of technical subjects, while from January the course will continue with an increase in specialised seminars held by important directors, ending in July with the graduation production organised under the guidance of Carmelo Rifici.
The decision to extend the Giorgio Strehler Course until July 2021 has been taken in response to the need, which is ever more evident in this moment of serious crisis, to protect the students that have been followed over the last two and a half years with passion and devotion from an excessively precarious situation that could impede them from concluding the positive experience of the school with the satisfaction of finding employment, as was usually the case for students from the Piccolo Teatro School of Theatre before this pandemic created so many problems in the education sector.
The solution that the management has chosen to adopt, in coherence with intellectual honesty and a commitment to younger generations, qualities that have always characterised the choices made by the Piccolo Teatro, is to create a fourth year of study, which will not only be aimed at recuperating the hours lost due to the halt in activity, but which will seek to return the psychological state of the students - currently one of fragility and doubt for the future - to one of serenity and hope, an essential condition for a course as important as that offered by the Piccolo Teatro School of Theatre. Now more than ever, the Piccolo Teatro feels a profound sense of responsibility in supporting the students, not only from an educational point of view, but also and above all in terms of humanity and affection, following their progress right up to their entry into the world of employment. The Piccolo Teatro, which has always played an active role in creating a future for new generations, strongly believes that this is not the right moment to allow its students to leave the course, in the same way that a responsible family would not allow their children to leave the house with a storm raging outside.
The Piccolo Teatro School of Theatre places great importance not only on educational aspects, but also on the delicate and complex period of approach to the profession, accompanying its students from the School to the world of employment with extreme sensitivity.
Now more than ever, in this period of uncertainty, the Piccolo Teatro School of Theatre wants to lend its support to its students, helping them to overcome this highly complex period of uncertainty for the theatre and seeking to protect them until the situation is once again acceptable.
The opportunity that the Lombardy Region is providing for the extension of the project to November 2021 makes this possible, allowing us to modify the course according to this proposed timetable:
- September-December
Recommencement of teacher-led lessons on technical subjects and conclusion of the acting/drama lessons that were interrupted in February.
- January-April
Higher Education seminars in accordance with the Management of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, offering the opportunity to meet important professional figures from contemporary theatre and to use this further period of study to hone individual skills. A course essentially aimed at work on stage, in a profitable exchange between the school and opportunities to try out the tools acquired as well as refining acting techniques for cinema and television with sector experts.
- May-July
Preparation of the end-of-course performance directed by the School director, Carmelo Rifici.
In line with the reprogramming of the course, September saw the recommencement of regular activity at the School, respecting the published calendar.
Preparations for the final show have been confirmed for May/June.
The call for applications for the 2021/2024 three-year course will be published as soon as possible.
The continuing health emergency means that we are constantly reassessing procedures and protocols in order to carry out the selection process with the utmost safety.
Enrolments for the selection process will be open from the date of publication until around mid-August 2021.
Selections will commence at the end of August 2021.