A masterpiece of twentieth-century literature, a forerunner novel of powerfully European scope, ironic and fascinating complexity, “The Conscience of Zeno” celebrates in 2023 the hundredth anniversary of its publication. The Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia brings it to the stage under the direction of Paolo Valerio in a new production – produced together with Goldenart Production and the Stabile di Catania – as part of a rich research path dedicated to the very important cultural deposits of Trieste and its territory.

The monumental figure of Italo Svevo and his extraordinary psychoanalytic novel represent there a moment of profound, universal significance. “The Conscience of Zeno,” on the other hand, also possesses its own lively theatricality, due to its experimentation with innovative writing and its being dominated by the engaging, complex and highly topical figure of Zeno Cosini.

In fact, the novel springs from the notes of the protagonist who undergoes the treatment of the psychoanalyst Dr. S trying, by that route, to resolve his sickness of living, his neurosis and inability to feel “in tune” with the world and with reality. His perceived ineptness and illness, and his stubborn-but never quite convinced-attempts to change and heal, lead Zeno to traverse existence by surprisingly interweaving bourgeois everyday life with surreal episodes rich in humor and truth, and with illuminations that possess a force that still shakes us.

“The Conscience of Zeno” has always been interpreted by great actors, such as Renzo Montagnani, Giulio Bosetti, Oreste Lionello who was also the protagonist of the RAI screenplay and, in the later television edition, Johnny Dorelli.

In the new staging by Paolo Valerio, Zeno will have the face of Alessandro Haber, an actor with an extremely powerful charisma and an absolutely personal stage instinct, who outside of any cliché knows how to combine irony and depth in every interpretation.

directed by Paolo Valerio
sets and costumes by Marta Crisolini Malatesta
lights by Gigi Saccomandi
video by Alessandro Papa
music by Oragravity
stage movements Monica Codena

Oct. 10-11 TRIESTE Politeama Rossetti

Oct. 12-13 PISTOIA Teatro Manzoni

Oct. 16-20 PERUGIA Teatro Morlacchi

Oct. 22-23 PESCARA Teatro Circus

Oct. 24-27 BARI Teatro Piccinni

Oct. 29 ottobre to Nov. 3 MILANO Teatro Carcano

Nov. 4 GUASTALLA (RE) Teatro Ruggero Ruggeri 

Nov. 5-10 MESTRE (VE) Teatro Toniolo

Nov. 12-14 THIENE (VI) Teatro Comunale

Nov. 15 SPILIMBERGO (PN) Teatro Miotto

Nov. 16 CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI (UD) Teatro Ristori

Nov. 17 PALMANOVA (UD) Teatro Gustavo Modena

Nov. 20-21 PONTEDERA (PI) Teatro Era

Nov. 22-24 FORLÌ (FC) Teatro Fabbri

Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 NAPOLI Teatro Bellini

Dec. 3 MARSALA (TP) Teatro Impero

Dec. 5-6 NOTO (SR) Teatro Comunale

Dec. 7-8 MODICA (RG) Teatro Garibaldi 

Dec. 10-15 CATANIA Teatro Verga

Dec. 17-22 PALERMO Teatro Biondo

Jan. 4-5 PRATO Politeama Pratese

Jan. 7-19 TORINO Teatro Carignano 

Jan. 20-23 RIMINI Teatro Galli

Jan. 25 to Feb. 2 BERGAMO Teatro Donizetti 

Feb. 4 FIORENZUOLA D’ARDA (PC) Teatro Verdi

Feb. 5-9 BRESCIA Teatro Sociale

Feb. 11-12 FOGGIA Teatro Giordano

Feb. 13-16 SALERNO Teatro Verdi