The Laughing Body: The Theater of Comedy as an Experience of Growth
The Laughing Body: The Theater of Comedy as an Experience of Growth
Mime, acting, music. Applications due by November 3, 2026
Much more than a theater workshop, this is a journey that combines art, education, and personal growth, celebrating the Neapolitan theatrical tradition and offering participants the tools to express themselves with creativity, confidence, and a spirit of teamwork.
The University of Naples Federico II, as part of F2Cultura’s activities and in collaboration with the Commedia Futura ETS Association, presents the workshop “The Body That Laughs – Mime, Acting, and Music in the Footsteps of Neapolitan Comedy and Musical Theater, ” curated by Veronica Mazza and Eduardo Tartaglia. The project offers an opportunity to discover theater not only as an art form but also as a tool for personal growth, well-being, and shared experience.
The workshop is rooted in the Neapolitan comic and musical tradition, ranging from the “macchietta” to the “sceneggiata,” all the way to the works of Raffaele Viviani. Through work on the body, voice, and rhythm, participants learn to develop greater self-awareness, manage stress, and improve their communication skills. An important role is also given to self-deprecating humor, understood as the ability to transform one’s vulnerabilities into strengths and opportunities for artistic expression.
The program consists of three integrated modules. The first is dedicated to mime and the exploration of the body as the primary means of expression; the second delves into acting, scene construction, and monologues inspired by the Neapolitan theatrical tradition; the third introduces participants to basic music education, focusing on breathing, rhythm, and the interpretation of pieces from the Neapolitan comic repertoire. All modules culminate in the production of a final performance open to the public, in which body, speech, and music merge into a single theatrical experience.
The initiative is open to students, faculty, and technical, administrative, and library staff at the University of Naples “Federico II,” with no prior artistic experience required. The sessions will take place from January to June 2027, every Monday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in the F2Cultura Theater Workshop Room at Via Mezzocannone 8.
To participate, you must submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on November 3, 2026, by sending an email to infof2cultura@unina.it with the subject line “Application to participate in the selection process for the ‘Il corpo che ride’ workshop.” The application must include a personal information form with a photo, a motivation letter of no more than 1,500 characters, and a description of any artistic experience (if applicable), all combined into a single PDF file. Candidates will be selected through a brief interview, during which they are encouraged to present a monologue or a recited reading lasting no more than three minutes.
At the end of the program, participants will receive a certificate of participation and an Open Badge certifying the skills acquired. The workshop will conclude with a final performance open to the public at TEDER – Teatro del Rimedio, offering participants the opportunity to experience performing on stage in front of an audience.
Further information can be found in the attached call for applications and on the dedicated webpage.