at h 11:00 and h 16:00

as part of Oltre le mura / Beyond the walls
a project by Fabbrica Europa for Autunno Fiorentino

Sirene is an immersive and site-specific performance which seeks to explore the concept of ‘nostos’ or ‘homecoming journey’ from a contemporary perspective.

Inspired by The Odyssey, the audience will travel through and encounter a series of physical places which are modern translations of the challenges that Odysseus faced on his journey. These external obstacles represent the internal stages of transformation, in the search for home, in finding ourselves.

In each place, the audience will be invited to take part in little rituals through activities and reflections, in doing so progressing through transformative experiences, rendering the performance an opportunity for introspection and change. Owing to this, the performance mixes live-performance with an immersive and poetic soundscape in an artistic language that brings with it elements of ritual, psycho-magic, human exchange, and presence of a sensory universe.

Sara Vilardo is an actress, performer, and theatre maker. Originally from Milan, she has lived and worked across Europe, first in Brussels and later in Copenhagen. She trained in physical theatre and holds two master’s degrees: one in Advanced Performance & Scenography Studies (BE) and another in Stage Performance & Visual Culture from the Reina Sofía Museum/University of Madrid.
Over the past decade, she has built a diverse international network of collaborations as both performer and co-creator, contributing to a wide range of projects as well as developing her own original works.
Her artistic practice often explores site-specific performance in interactive and unconventional spaces, with a particular emphasis on sensory and immersive experiences. At the heart of her work lies a belief in the unique and transformative connection between performer and audience.

concept, direction & performance: Sara Vilardo
assistant director: Gaia Barco
dramaturgy: Sara Vilardo & Sonja Winckelmann Thomsen
texts: Sonja Winckelmann Thomsen
sound composition: Camilla Rosselli
voice-over: Gabriele Reboni
co-performer: Thelma Vilardo
text translations: Sara Vilardo
supported by: KIT/Metropolis (DK), Danish Arts Foundation (DK), CrossProject (IT), Progetto CURA 2024 (IT), workspacebrussels (BE)
Special thanks to Stefano Casi and James Trinca for their valuable insights
Winner of “Progetto CURA” 2024

Oltre le mura / Beyond the walls is carried out within the framework of

photo: Loris Slaverio