All Saints Church, Via Solferino 17 | May 4th, 8pm
CAM, corso Garibaldi 27 | May 5th, 4pm
Acknowledgements
Differently from previous English Theatre Milan productions, the present one is supported by several multidisciplinary contributions, an indication that the workshop is turning into an exciting ‘research lab’: Artist Betta Marzorati has very generously designed a backcloth for the Banquet scene, a group of students from the Scuola di Scenografia (Brera) have designed the Banquet and given of their expertise in the area of props and costumes. For the first time, we have hosted an internee from the Università Cattolica. We are deeply grateful to all of them for their support.
Director: Maggie Rose
Assistant director: Melissa Marino
Musical collaboration directed by Amy Barton, artistic director of the Youth Choir of Milan and soprano in the Milan Singers.
Cast: Tommaso Bavestrelli (Caliban), Amy Barton (Prospero), Manfredi Costa (Gonzalo), Julia DiBona (Sebastian), Giulia Gibbon (Ariel), Verlie Anne Jones (Trinculo), Hugo McCafferty (Alonso), Melissa Marino (Stephano), Shila Pakbaz (Antonio), Daria Popa (Miranda), Eugenio Scotti Camuzzi (Ferdinand).
Banquet Design: Beatrice Di Vincenzo, Margherita Magnoni, Matilde Paganini, Martina Toia (Scuola di Scenografia, Accademia di Brera)
Banquet backdrop: Betta Marzorati
Poster: Claudia Moltrasio
Assistant Stage manager: Julia DiBona
Producer: Sal Cabras
Historic Fencing Master: Manuel Rezkalla
Photos and Video: Elena Clara Savino, Matteo Zavattoni, Shila Pakbaz, James and Liz Willetts
The Tempest in Milan
The play explores diversity and exclusion/inclusion, sustainability and the climate emergency, conflict, revenge and reconciliation, making it chime loudly in our contemporary world. Ours is a new abridged version in slightly modernized English (running time approx. 90 mins).
The result of our annual Shakespeare workshop, this Tempest will be the first production of the play in English ever staged in Milan. It features a cast of professionals and non-professionals, mostly mother tongue, from the USA, UK, Ireland, Iran and Italy.
Our production is unique in another way; its very title, The Tempest in Milan, indicates links between this tragicomedy and Milan. The lead characters Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, his daughter Miranda, and brother Antonio, come from Milan, and the name of our city is mentioned over twenty times. We hope this interpretation will contribute to making Milan a ‘Shakespearian’ city as it well deserves.
Meet the Cast!
Amy began her life in music as a chorister in a program quite similar to YCM! After a childhood in song, she went on to study music at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon where she sang in university ensembles and was selected as a student intern for the Portland Opera. Her academic career then culminated in a Master Degree of Music in Vocal Performance at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida where she performed as a soloist in chamber music concerts, oratorios, and in leading roles with the Florida State Opera. In Milan, where she has lived since 2007, she has continued to share her music with others as a performer, educator, and fellow musician.
AMY BARTONProspero / Choir Director 
Daria has been acting since she was in year 6, and she has lived in London, Toronto??, and now Milan. In the UK, she attended LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). She goes to a school where taking Drama isn’t an option, so she looked around for an English-speaking drama club and found English Theatre Milan. She is so happy to be a part of the group because now she can continue her passion for acting in a language she is very confident in.
DARIA POPAMiranda 
Eugenio was born and raised in Milan, Italy. He is currently attending a secondary school, specialising in sports. Still, he has always had a passion for the theatre and cinema and took up acting when he was ten. This year he decided he wanted a challenge, and having found his way ETM, he has started acting in English.
EUGENIO SCOTTIFERDINAND 
Born and raised in Milan, Tommaso started training as an actor when he was twelve by joining the 'Quelli di Grock' academy in Milan. Over the last decade, he has attended theatre seminars in the US and founded his own company with some of his fellow students. Together, they wrote three plays and produced two of them. Subsequently, he moved to Udine for an intensive four-month course at the 'Accademia d'arte drammatica Nico Pepe.' He is currently enrolled in the higher education course 'Piccola università teatrale' in Milan, which offers seminars with leading figures in the performing arts in Italy.
TOMMASO BAVESTRELLICaliban 
Verlie developed a passion for Shakespeare and the fascinating world of theatre as a child in England. As an adult in Italy she decided to venture into this world. An inspiring trip from theatrical improvisation and Enrique Pardo's workshops on choreographic theatre, via monologues, narration, Herns Duplan's expression primitive and dance theatre, to English Theatre Milan.
Favourite roles: the neurotic director of a second rate theatre company, a bigotted moralist who gets her comeuppance, a cameo role as Falstaff.
VERLIE ANNE JONESTRINCULO 
Melissa is a performer, director, and theatre administrator specializing in communication, education and production. Born and raised in California, USA, she received her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance and B.A. In Italian Language and Culture simultaneously from Chapman University. She then went on to study Performing Arts Management from Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy, and this fall she will pursue her MFA in Theatre Management and Producing at Columbia University. In the past she's worked with associations such as Teatro alla Scala and Milano Off Fringe Festival, and she currently collaborates with Piccolo Teatro di Milano.
Melissa MarinoStephano / Assistant Director 
Julia is the current intern at English Theatre Milan. From California, USA she graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA with a B.A. in Creative Writing, and is currently finishing her MSc. in The Art and Industry of Narration from Università Cattolica in Milan. Growing up she always had a passion for theatre and hopes to start a career in theatre casting and production.
JULIA DIBONASEBASTIAN / ETM INTERN 
Giulia graduated from “Università degli Studi di Milano”, whilst studying drama at ATIR - Teatro Ringhiera, directed by Serena Sinigaglia, and specializing in stage combat, acrobatics and circusskills in Milano and Rome and in cinema acting at Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico. She then completed an advanced university degree in Music and Theatre Sciences and specialised in translation for theatre. Today, she works as an actress, assistant to direction, dramaturg and translator, mime, performer, rigger and stunt for events, operas, screen and theatres.
GIULIA GIBBONAriel 
Manfredi grew up between Milan and London, eventually graduating from the London College of Communication with a degree in photography. Following his studies he worked across various roles within the fashion industry, living in the United States, France, and Switzerland, before returning to Milan to continue his career. The COVID pandemic prompted a gradual shift in life priorities, leading him to volunteer for children's charities, learn ceramics, and explore theatre.
MANFREDI CONTIGONZALO 
Shila is a Video editor and Motion designer. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Iran and later went to Malaysia, where she got a second degree in Film and Animation. She has worked with different video production companies as a video editor and animator; in Kuala Lumpur, Milan, London, and Canada both on-site and remotely. In 2019, she came to Milan to study for a master’s degree at the Polytechnic University. She began acting classes with the MICHAEL RODGERS STUDIO in Milan. She is now working with English Theatre Milan (ETM) to pursue her passion for acting.
SHILA PAKBAZAntonio 
Hugo McCafferty is an Irish writer, actor and producer who has been living in Italy for 17 years. After a hiatus from the stage he has recent returned in an amateur capacity.
Hugo McCaffertyAlfonso 
May 4th performance at All Saints Church
