Marco Paolini debuts ‘Bestiario idrico’ at Ferrara's Teatro Comunale

Italian actor and narrator Marco Paolini has opened the 2026/2027 prose season at the Teatro Comunale Claudio Abbado in Ferrara with his production ‘Bestiario idrico’. The performance, created in collaboration with Giulio Boccaletti and directed by the Dalla Via brothers, features Paolini and Patrizia Laquidara.

The show explores the complex relationship between human-made hydraulic systems—such as dams, canals, and embankments—and the natural landscape. It examines the biological and social life of rivers and territories, addressing the conflicts and contracts surrounding water usage. A central theme of the work is how climate change may force a radical rethinking of the landscapes and water management systems that currently sustain regions like Veneto, Friuli, and Emilia-Romagna.

The production is part of a broader cultural initiative involving the Po River District Authority and the LABPO project, aiming to connect historical memory and civil engagement with contemporary environmental challenges.