Ariella Reggio’s Loved Garment

Currently on display, the beloved garment worn by actress Ariella Reggio, featuring elements from her original stage outfit for “La Vecchia e la Luna” play (The Old Woman and the Moon).

“La Vecchia e la Luna” is a magical tale that takes the audience back in time through its main character, an elderly tramp who, during the play, through the power of the moon, transforms back into a young girl, and eventually, an infant.

The story, although targeted to a young audience, is enjoyable at all ages and follows the protagonist as she revisits her life, reflecting on moments of joy, sorrow, regret and hope. The character of the “Old Woman” is tender yet witty, embracing old age and loneliness with humour and a profound sense of awareness.

Ariella Reggio – a pillar of Trieste’s theatre scene – is profoundly tied to this play and character, because it narrates the early days of La Contrada theatre company, the first independent professional theatre founded in Trieste in 1976 by Ariella alongside Francesco Macedonio, Orazio Bobbio and Lidia Braico, all of whom had left the “Teatro Stabile” of Trieste.

Written and directed by Macedonio, “La Vecchia e la Luna” debuted in 1980, while the company still lacked a permanent home; their current venue, now known as Teatro Bobbio, would only come in 1983.

“We had the fortune of meeting Renata Franchin almost by chance, and she became our impresario. She was the turning point that allowed us to be known across Italy. Renata promoted our shows with great ease, executing a job that was mostly unknown at the time, especially challenging without computers. We owe her a lot.”

Today, Teatro Bobbio stands as a testament to the resilience of those who, in a world increasingly dominated by digital and automated forces, still believe in the magic of theatre. Ariella Reggio’s cherished costume is a message to today’s young thespians, an invitation to believe in their craft and to view setbacks as tools for overcoming challenges. Never stop believing in magic, in dreams and in theatre.