Gianni de Luigi

Gianni de Luigi - Curriculum Vitae
Born in Venice into an artists' family, Gianni De Luigi begins his theatrical career at a very young age
in the early 1960's at the Teatro di Ca' Foscari with which he is awarded a IDI prize for activities in
foreign countries as well as the first prize at the Festival des Théatres des Nations in Paris for their
work 'La Commedia degli Zanni'. He then works with G. Strehler at the school of the Piccolo Teatro
(Milan) and at the Teatro Durini and collaborates with the likes of G. Cavalieri, J. Svoboda G.
Santuccio, S. Tofano as well as P.P. Pasolini, V. Zurlini, M.Siciliano, G. Biagetti, R.M. Fassbinder, W.
Schooeder, L. Fulci, D. Tessari, Dante Guardamagna, and Daniele Danza.
In that period he also features as an actor in films and television productions collaborating with the
Italian state TV (RAI) as well as with France 2 and Antenne 2 in France.
The beginning of the 1970's is marked by a significant encounter and collaboration with J.Beck's
Living Theatre and by the collaboration with L.Ronconi during the 1974 Theatre Biennale in Venice.
Between 1974 and 1980 he works with Fassbinder , G.Scabia and F. Basaglia and collaborates with
the Venice Biennale on the World premiere of Pasolini's “I Turcs tal Friul”
Between 1979 and 1980 he works with M. Scaparro to plan and promote the return of the Venice
carnival, which he subsequently directs on various occasions.
Between 1980 and 1985 he spends considerable time in France, between Marseiile and Paris,
working on Theater-therapy with world-famous psychiatrists F. Rutelli and F.Guattari.
In 1985 he resumes his collaboration with the Theatre Biennale user the direction of F. Quadri
working with Dario Fo on "Hellequin, Harlekin, Arlekin".
In 1997 he begins a collaboration with Atelier Carlson at the Theatre de la Ville in Paris, as a codirector, dramatist, set and light designer for C. Carlson's 'Dall'Interno' which will lead to a lasting
collaboration. De Luigi and Carlson jointly direct the 1999 Venice Dance Biennale where they also
establish the "Academic Isola Danza" Dance Academy running it until 2004. The collaboration also
results in the production of: “Parabola”, “Light Bringer” and “Il segno di Giotto”.
Founder of the "Festival della Commedia Dell'arte Internazionale" in 2000 he directs it until 2003
collaborating with Michel Portal, Dario Fo and Ferruccio Soleri in Padua.
In 2000 he also founds the Istituto della Commedia dell'Arte Internazionale (ICAI) which he still
directs, organising regular courses and productions with established international collaborators and
young actors. Activities also include audience development programs for elementary schools and
collaborative research projects on the theatre tradition in Veneto.
In 2007 he is artistic director of the International Festival of the Sea in Venice.
De Luigi's recent projects and productions include: The Persian Bride (Venice Biennale 2007),
Pinocchio and autism (2009) , Filo' (2010) and Histoire du Soldat (2012)