This evening, Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni gets underway at Teatro Paisiello in Lecce with DEDALO E ICARO, OLTRE IL VOLO, the opening production of MITIKA – Teatro e Mito nella contemporaneità.

Written by Giovanna Bino, performed by Carla Guido and Toni Candeloro, who also directs the production, the performance is presented by Aletheia Teatro and draws inspiration from Book VIII of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Through a striking contemporary interpretation, it restores the enduring relevance of one of classical mythology's most powerful narratives.

At the heart of the performance is the relationship between father and son, marked by emotional distance and the struggle to communicate. Set within a symbolic labyrinth that reflects the complexities of the contemporary world, the production explores themes of identity, social perception and the universal search for recognition. Flight becomes an act of necessity, while the fall emerges as a moment of revelation and self-awareness.

Reflecting on the production, director Toni Candeloro said:

"This performance reveals the depth of a father's love for his son and the enduring power of myth to illuminate the contemporary world—although, in truth, myth has always spoken to the present. It lays bare the timeless archetypes that define the human condition: our existence on this earth, our passions, our fears and our contradictions. In this production, flight becomes a metaphor for the need to escape, if only briefly, from our dependence on technology, which dulls the senses, and from the clichés that increasingly impoverish our humanity."

Tonight's performance marks the beginning of MITIKA, which continues at Teatro Paisiello with AGAMENNONE on 17 May and CIRCE: LE ORIGINI on 21 May. All performances begin at 9.00 p.m. and are free to attend, subject to venue capacity.

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).