From Maremma to Prussia, for Elena Vannoni (in the picture) the story of a success. With a question that may refers to all of us: why a girl from Follonica has to go to Berlin to see her talent being aknowledged? Arrived to the German capital, Elena was offered the artistic direction of an historic theatre, with full decisional power on the program and the team. Would it ever be possible in Italy? Born in Follonica in 1971, Elena immediately unveils her multiple talents. She can dance and act. She dances in The Greek Theatre in Syracuse, she is hono- red as an actress, then she becomes a costume designer at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. «Then I realized that I am looking for something different – she tells – I want to achieve higher results». In order to realize her dreams, there is only one choice: directing. It is no easy. She achieve one of the only two positions offered every year by the National Academy of Dramatic Arts Silvio D’Amico, in Rome. She gets her degree summa cum laude. And now? In Italy there is any chance, despite the enthusiastic critics to her stagings. She leaves the Country, as other talented young people do every year. Two years ago, she gets a scholarship at the Universität der Künste in Berlin, one of the most renowned universiTIES IN GERMANY FOR PERFORMING ARTS. VERY SOON, SHE FINDS HERself as a professor in the same University, forced to quickly learn Goethe’s language. But that is not all. While she works as an acting and directing teacher, she is offered the artistic direction of the Engelbrot, a new name for the famous Hans Theatre, a playhouse that dates bank to 1888 and still keeps all its appeal. «What am I supposed to do?» she asks. «Do what you prefer!». In Berlin, the city where Brecht lived and worked, Elena Vannoni teaches Germans how to act in the Italian style. And now she is putting on stage two plays at the same time: “Miss Julie” by Strindberg in the StudioTheatre and “Bites” by Kay Adshead in the MainTheatre.

in La Nazione, by Roberto Giardina