Inspired by the novel “Non dirmi che hai paura” by Giuseppe Catozzella, the show intertwines theater, dance, and music to narrate the encounter between cultures, experiences, and dreams. Through hybrid artistic languages, “Lampedusa Fine Corsa” celebrates integration and the strength of diversity.
The show tells the story of Somali athlete Samia Yusuf Omar, who in 2008, at the age of 17, competed in the 200-meter dash at the Pechino Olympics. With a time of 32 seconds and 16 seconds, she finished last in her heat, more than 10 seconds behind the first place finisher—which in a sprint race is an eternity. The images of this young athlete, wearing an improbable race uniform and with incredibly thin legs, proudly completing the race despite the gap with the other athletes, went viral around the world.
Samia quickly became a symbol of the women of her country fighting for rights and emancipation.
Deprived of the opportunity to train in Somalia, Samia decided to leave her country to pursue her dream of becoming an athlete.
On April 2, 2012, at an unspecified point in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Lampedusa, Samia Ysuf Omar, 21, drowned along with other traveling companions when the boat they were attempting to reach the Italian coast capsized.
Two years later, in 2014, Giuseppe Catozzella’s true-to-life novel “Non dirmi che hai paura” was published in Italy. It tells Samia’s story, blending reality and fiction.
The performance represents a unique and necessary encounter, bringing people with diverse histories, cultures, and experiences together on the same stage. Fifteen asylum seekers, with no previous theater experience, work alongside actors, dancers, and volunteers, creating a dialogue of movement, dance, music, and silence. In this shared space, differences become a resource: new skills are learned, alternative ways of collaborating are explored, and a common language is built that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers. Rehearsals always begin with a moment of sharing: sitting in a circle, we reflect on what has happened during the week and plan our work. There is no room for pity or do-goodism, but only for the authenticity of the exchanges and the beauty of human connection. This journey allows participants, both foreign and Italian, to interact in new ways, mutually enriching their lives.
“Lampedusa fine corsa” supera i confini del teatro tradizionale, affrontando temi di inclusione, dialogo interculturale e denuncia sociale, rimanendo fedele alla missione artistica di Sanguemisto.
Style and languages
The show uses a hybrid approach that mixes theater, contemporary dance, live music, video, and song, characterizing the artistic language of the Sanguemisto company.
Replicas and Locations
After its debut at the Estate Fiorentina in 2017, the show has been performed 9 times in social spaces and theatres, including:
- La Casa dello Studente, Firenze
- Teatro L’Affratellamento, Firenze
- Teatro Giotto, Vicchio
Credits
Direction: Rodolfo Vezzosi
Choreography: Piero Leccese e Martina Belloni, poi Giovanna Vitale
Video: Filippo Belperio
Cast: 15 richiedenti asilo, 4 attori/trici professionist/e, 10 volontari
Copione
This theatrical script, created by the Sanguemisto company, is an original and authentic work. To certify its authorship and guarantee its integrity, it was notarized on the public Algorand blockchain. This technology provides immutable proof of the recording date, protecting the work from future alterations or disputes.
This theatrical script, created by the Sanguemisto company, is an original and authentic work. To certify its authorship and guarantee its integrity, it was notarized on the public Algorand blockchain. This technology provides immutable proof of the recording date, protecting the work from future alterations or disputes.