"The Mask that Liberates"

Neapolitan comedy theater, from its popular origins to its contemporary manifestations, offers an invaluable heritage of downplaying techniques that transform pain into laughter, difficulty into opportunities for growth, isolation into collective sharing.

'The Mask that Frees' is a new project organized by theUniversity of Naples Federico II and the Commedia Futura Association as part of F2Cultura activities. A theater workshop, with Veronica Mazza and Eduardo Tartaglia, intended for students, faculty, researchers, technical-administrative staff and librarians of the University of Federico II.

Comedy, then, as a weapon of defense, a tool for deep understanding of the world and of oneself, as a "look outside oneself" that allows one to observe one's own frailties with the necessary critical distance, transforming self-pity into constructive self-mockery. A workshop in which Neapolitan comic theater, a fundamental identity heritage of Neapolitan and Mediterranean culture, becomes a tool for personal growth.

The workshop will take place with a weekly afternoon meeting, lasting 3 hours for 20 weeks, from January to April 2026; the detailed program will be announced at the beginning of the activities.

There are 15 places advertised, plus 5 auditors, with a maximum quota of 5 reserved for participants of the 2024/2025 Frederick Theater Workshops.

Applications must be submitted via the link, which is open until 11:30 p.m. Nov. 17, 2025.

The convocation calendar for selections will be published by November 19, 2025.

The ranking list will be announced on the University website by December 15, 2025 with the start date of the Workshop.

Participants will be issued a certificate of participation and at the end of the course the Open Badge to certify the skills acquired (Bestr | The digital platform to enhance skills with Open Badges).