MITIKA – Teatro e Mito nella contemporaneità opened to a full and highly engaged audience last night at Teatro Paisiello in Lecce, launching the theatre strand of Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni.

The Festival's opening performance featured Dedalo e Icaro, oltre il volo, written by Giovanna Bino, performed by Carla Guido and Toni Candeloro, who also directed the production. Rich in physical expression and emotional intensity, the performance combined spoken word, movement and visual imagery to create a compelling and immersive theatrical experience.

The stage was transformed into a symbolic and ever-changing labyrinth, shaped by the movement of the performers and the evolving relationship between the two protagonists. The father-and-son bond unfolded through a dynamic interplay of closeness and distance, restraint and aspiration, powerfully expressing the tension between protection and the desire for freedom.

Particularly striking was the expressive use of physical theatre, where movement frequently replaced dialogue, heightening the emotional impact of the performance. Flight itself was never represented literally; instead, it became a powerful metaphorical experience. Likewise, Icarus's fall was suggested rather than shown, creating a moment of suspension and revelation that left a lasting impression on the audience.

Performed before a capacity audience, the production once again demonstrated the enduring relevance of classical mythology, offering a contemporary reflection on identity, the influence of social expectations and the universal search for recognition and self-determination.

MITIKA – Teatro e Mito nella contemporaneità continues at Teatro Paisiello with two further performances: AGAMENNONE on 17 May and CIRCE: LE ORIGINI on 21 May. Both performances are free to attend, subject to venue capacity, with the curtain rising at 9.00 p.m.

Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni is conceived and promoted by the Euromediterranean Cultural Heritage Agency in partnership with the Municipality of Lecce, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Tourism through the National Tourism Fund (FUNT) – Current Expenditure Programme 2025 (CUP F89I25002020001).