Cirque Barzotti

Created in 2019, the company aims to create and produce shows that put new forms of contemporary dramaturgy, circus and “magie nouvelle” at the center of their artistic creation.

The company’s creations have received numerous international awards, and the duo has presented their shows at numerous festivals in France, Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria.

Created by Alessandra Ventrella and Rocco Manfredi, who provide artistic direction and project ideation, the company is based in the région SUD (France) with the aim of developing in this territory as a pole of creation and transmission based on “magie nouvelle”.

Since 2021, the company’s activities have been supported by the City of Marseille.

“The Death cheers Barbie” (2015)

Finalist show – “Premio Gianni Damiano” for street theater 2015 – IT

“Homologia” (2015)

Special prize “Scenario Award 2015” – IT

“Victor – Loosely based on “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley” (2017)

“Strabismi prize 2017” – IT Prize “Casa con Vista Fringe 2017” | Turin Fringe Festival – IT “Jury’s prize 2017” | Direction Under 30 – IT Best Show 2018 | Small Season Festival, Sofia, Bulgary – BG

“The Barnard Loop” (2023)

production award “Odiolestate 2018” | Carrozzerie N.O.T, Rome – IT Special Prize Festival “Tendenza Clown 2019”, Milan – IT

“La fin du monde” (work in progress)

SACD – Processus Cirque 2023 // EFFEA – European Festival found for emerging artists

Alessandra Ventrella

Playwriter / director

Domodossola, 1990

Looking for a way to mix and the multiple levels of narration and interpretation, Alessandra Ventrella graduated in 2013 at Paolo Grassi School of Milan.

Meanwhile, she attended “Crisi”, a training course for playwriters at Teatro Valle Occupato of Rome, a writing workshop led by Fausto Paravidino about the economic crisis of 2008. During the years 2018-2019 she participated in the workshop Magie Nouvelle promoted by the CNAC – Centre National des Arts du Cirque, in Châlons-en-Champagne (France).

She is assistant director for the trilogy “Progetto Anne Sexton” by Milena Costanzo and for the theatres production “Ce ne siamo andati per non darvi preoccupazioni” by Deflorian/Tagliarini’s company. Besides her work with DispensaBarzotti, Alessandra is also the co-writer of the performance “Duo pour violoncelliste seule”, a project by the artist Émilie Rault, associated with 14:20 company.

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Rocco Manfredi

dramaturg / actor / illusionist

Parma, 1991

Rocco Manfredi graduated in 2013 at Paolo Grassi Civic School of Dramatic Arts in Milan. In 2014 he attended the Piccola Accademia at Casa del Teatro Ragazzi e Giovani Onlus of Turin. As actor he trained with Milena Costanzo. In 2017 he attended an advanced acting training course organized by Piccola Compagnia della Magnolia, “Maestrale”. This experience gave him the opportunity to prove himself with D. Donnellan and N. Ormerod, J. J. Lemetre (Théâtre du Soleil), Piccola Compagnia della Magnolia, Pan Théâtre, Oskaras Korsunovas and Gabriele Vacis.
As puppeteer, he trained with the company Riserva Canini (with whom he attended the workshop “Cantiere Canini”, a series of meetings about the main techniques of contemporary puppetry), with Teatrino Giullare and Familie Flöz company.
In the years 2019-2020 he took part to the workshop Magie Nouvelle promoted by the CNAC – Centre National des Arts du Cirque, in Châlons-en-Champagne (France).

As a dramaturg, he worked with Manuel Renga, Roberto Rustioni and the Deflorian/Tagliarini company. In 2013, he worked as a dramaturg for the award-winning project “The dog the night and the knife” by M. V. Majenburg, directed by Manuel Renga and supervised by Laura Olivi (Residenz Theater). The project, supported by Paolo Grassi School of Milan, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Piccolo Teatro of Milan and the Goethe Institute – Mailand, is the winner of the contest “Finestra sulla drammaturgia tedesca”.

As actor, he worked with Baruffini, Teatro del Cerchio, Cal.Arts- California Institute of Arts, Compagnie Clandestine, Teatro Medico Ipnotico, Andrea Bernard, Théâtre de Cuisine, Daniele Menghini, Peter Greenaway, Teatro Regio de Parme, Teatro alla Scala de Milan, Macerata Opera Festival, Festival D’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence et la compagnia di teatro di strada Les Karnavires (Marsiglia, France), Geoffreoy Randeau and Badaboum Théâtre.

In 2014, in partnership with Alessandra Ventrella, he founded DispensaBarzotti, as a way to make their imagination come true.

He is currently collaborating with the international festival of circus and street theatre “Tutti Matti per Colorno”, promoted by TeatroNecessario, committed to preserve the charm of street performances and contemporary circus.