That will be (not) big theater... The idea of clinica della formazione in working with young actors in the face of the effects of liquid modernity

Contrary to first impressions the defavoring effects of liquid modernity concern not only adults and civilizational phenomena at the macro level, but also constitute direct living environment for children. That marks their development with risk and with permanent situations of scarcity. Exclusion, marginalization, alienation ceased to characterize only selected social groups, and have become a somewhat common experience.

Unprofessional acting of children at an early stage of school education, using the Riccardo Massa’s idea of “clinica della formazione”, can counteract an existential and cultural disability. Theatrical work involving the whole class and using an individualistic attitude to small actors and valuable cultural influences is a full-sized form of education that conducive to the formation of the so-called “qualitative intelligence”. It is important to respect the principle of “first theater, then therapy” in this method of work. In this dimension a school theater (in the case of my teaching practice) becomes an educational space that has a chance to effect on the integrated development of children’s personality, leaving a stable trace, leading primarily to individual changes in a wide range – artistic, psychological and social.