Teatro Agorà

"Free Theatre Room". This is written on a plaque at number 33 of Via of Penance, which is located in one of the many hearts of Rome, the Agora Theatre '80, managed by 'homonymous Cultural Association, founded in 1979 by the union of elements from different backgrounds, united, however, dall'insana passion of "doing theater".

The local path of penance (which before the operation of "our heroes" had been used as a repository of various odds and ends), became, therefore, the permanent establishment of the company, Agora, in fact, that at the beginning, consciously, had directed its activities, to a theatrical genre (wrongly considered minor) which the Theatre for Young.

The association, in fact, arose in order to offer a product that will awaken the conscience to that band of young people - often forgotten by writers and filmmakers who spettacoli-, considered too large for the "Children's Theater" but too small for the theater of adults, is a refugee in disruptive television images of "cartoons" soulless, remaining abandoned between the dream of a scooter and a desire to act on the adolescent urges.

In this view, the Agora staged in "Testaccio" Clemson Theater (jewel has disappeared) "Puppets in freedom" by Gianni Rodari, "Captain there is a man in heaven" by Maurizio Costanzo and, in 1980, "the adventures of Mr. Bonaventure" Sergio Tofano, work represented at the Teatro Sistina in Rome and recognized by the magazine "L'Europeo" as the best representation of Tofano of that season.

At this, he followed in 1981 the realization of the comedy "Bertoldo at Court", by C. G. Cross, represented at the Teatro delle Muse (Rome).

The Association, therefore, in 1983, found the premises of Penance Via n. 33, at their own expense and without any contribution from public hands, gave birth to a theatrical space, suitable and equipped to a standard, to make it the center of representations of the Italian dramaturgy, perhaps less known (but no less important) without becoming the "gym of misunderstood genius".

In line with this orientation, the Association opened the season 1983/84 with a cycle of works by Luigi Antonelli, thus intending to offer its members an alternative theater scene to the more "commercial".

Moreover, the Association, in the aim to interact with local realities, lent itself to make available to these their own structures and began a fruitful collaboration with the primary school "Giuditta Tavani Arquati" by supervising animation courses and young people, hosting for free for their spectacular activities, collaborating with their structures and their staff in the fitting.

He then collaborated with organizations which carried out training courses and taking specialized courses - lab drammaturgia- with the participation of prominent personalities in the entertainment industry as, Brusati, Calenda, Nicolaj, Pagano etc.

Over time, however, the Agora has diversified its activities by expanding its interests to other fields: hosted, with the help of Maestro Marcella Cruel, music festivals with the young graduates of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory and banished the lucky ( eleven editions) national Piano Competition "City of Rome - Agora Award '80" awarded by a jury of professors of national conservatives; organized courses (including training IRCOF; animation courses for students and dramaturgy for the University of the Third Age of Rome) and workshops of drama, in addition to proposing read cycles (inaugurated by Mario Scaccia with Trilussa poetry), exhibitions and events.

Over the past twenty-five years, at the Agora Theatre (which in the meantime was endowed of two other smaller rooms, equipped and suitable for use) have debuted over 200 companies, some of which come from France, Spain, England, Canada, USA, South Africa etc. with native actors.

In spite of the economic factor and difficult choices but aware, since 1982 the activities of the Agora has proceeded relentlessly and has continued to be a place where anyone can "do theater"; a feeding free ballroom scene of rewarding joy of twenty-five years of intense seasons and seamless.

And, to date, the "free from room" theater remains one of the few spaces available Capitoline to give voice to young talents or talentuosità of those who, believing in a project, wants to meet with the public, to those who believe we can be a good idea to create a thick spectacle.

E 'in this spirit that in Trastevere locals have taken the first steps today known faces from the entertainment world by Massimo Popolizio Rocco Papaleo, by Vincenzo Salemme Antonella Ponziani and, again, have trod the boards of the small theater: Enrico Papi, Gianni Musy, Pietro Biondi, Alessandro Bruno, Paul Buglioni, George Lopez, Elizabeth Venier, Francesca nuncios as well as companies that were owned by famous names from the world of theater which, in addition to the aforementioned Mario Scaccia, Fiorenzo Fiorentini, Nelo Risi, Lorenzo Salveti, Beppe Navone.

And since then, we like to remember, more than 250 performances have here animated and followed.