Eugène Ionesco e Gian Renzo Morteo. Con un’aggiunta su una messa in scena universitaria di “Macbett” a Torino (2025)

In its opening section, the paper sets out to investigate, from a variety of perspectives and by drawing upon different kinds of sources, the intense and multifaceted relationship between Eugène Ionesco and Gian Renzo Morteo. Particular attention is devoted to Morteo’s scholarship and his translations of Ionesco’s works, which played a decisive role not only in shaping the knowledge and critical reception of the playwright in Italy, but also in fostering his broader recognition and influence within the European cultural landscape. In the second part, a recent experience of a mise-en-scène in Torino of Ionesco’s Macbett, by a recently established universitary theatre group, is discussed and presented. Exploring the creative process behind the staging, and building on Morteo’s Italian translation, the article deals with the different phases through which the performance was created, combining historical and literary research with practical experimentation in rehearsal settings. Ultimately, the article proposes Macbett as a tool of contemporary inquiry, exploring the continuing vitality of Ionesco’s “classicism” even today as a rich opportunity of experimentation.