Yorick Festival

“I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy”. Named after the famous jester from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, whose skull is found by chance at the beginning of the fifth act as the tragedy unfolds, the festival conceived and directed by Leonardo Petrillo is a tribute to the joy of overturning conventions and the creative energy of theatre, to freedom of spirit and the power of gibes, gambols and songs.

Founded in 2013 through collaboration with national and international theatre institutions, the festival has developed as a shared platform for research, cultural exchange and innovation, promoting the circulation of contemporary drama in dialogue with festivals and carnivals around the world. During Carnival, from 7 to 17 February, this year’s festival offers a program of six shows with an international flavour and in their original languages (Romanian, French, English and Italian).

The festival ventures beyond traditional stages to inhabit the city’s art venues and transform its historical heritage into a space for living storytelling. Shows will be held not only at the Teatro Torlonia but also in four exhibition spaces: Palazzo Esposizioni (with “Viața mea din flori” on 7 and 8 February), Palazzo Altemps (with “Quell’attimo di beatitudine” on 9 February and “At Home With Will Shakespeare” on 12 and 13 February), Palazzo Braschi (with “Ulisse inside” on 9 and 10 February) and the MACRO museum (with “Othello” on 16 and 17 February).

With the exception of Casanova ½ at the Teatro Torlonia, with Leonardo Petrillo’s La Pirandelliana theatre company, admission to the shows is free with compulsory booking.