Fa’afafine
My name is Alex and I am a dinosaur

Fa’afafine tells the story of a child, and the discovery of the self and of gender identity. It has received prestigious awards for the courage and precision with which it tackles the delicate theme of education to diversity

suitable for children above 8 years old

techniques used: actors and video mapping
length: 60 minutes

There is a word in the Samoan language that describes those who, from an early age, identify with neither gender. They are called Fa’afafine, a genuine third sex, one for which society does not impose a choice, one that enjoys respect and consideration. Alex doesn’t live in Samoa, but would very much like to be a Fa’afafine. Alex is a gender creative child or, more simply, a boy-girl, which is the answer whenever anyone asks whether Alex is male or female.
Alex’s room is a world with no boundaries that geography can define: the sea and the mountains, the sun and the moon, fish and birds, all live together. The bed is a raft or an airplane, a castle or a spaceship.
Today is an important day: the day to tell Elliot that Alex loves him not like all the others, but in a special way. What should Alex wear to meet him? The princess gown with football boots? Aviator goggles or a necklace of flower? Alex knows very well what Alex wants to be: on even days a boy, and odd days a girl. Everything is different today: Alex is in love for the first time, and all that is no longer enough. Today Alex would like to be everything together, just like unicorns, of duck-billed platypuses or dinosaurs.

Susan and Rob, Alex’s parents, stand outside the bedroom. Alex doesn’t want to let them in: they might not understand. This might have been the case until now. No one had explained to Susan and Rob how to be with such a special child: they thought it was a problem, they thought they had to change Alex.

Alex, Susan and Rob: this play is the story of a day in their lives, a day that will change them forever. A special day in which a boy-girl will become the father-mother of his-her parents, and teach them not to be afraid. When Alex opens the door, everything will be new.

Awarded Eolo Awards 2016 - best play for young audiences.
Awarded Premio Infogiovani 2015 - FIT Festival Lugano
Awarded Premio Scenario Infanzia 2014
Shortlisted for Visionari Kilowatt Festival 2016
Finalist Premio Rete Critica supported by Teatro Stabile del Veneto

Official Patronage of Amnesty International – Italia
For having tackled a difficult theme in a remarkable way, addressing the prejudices and ignorance that surround it and delicately depicting the predicament many young people find themselves in.
Patronage of Comune di Udine, Assessorato alle Pari Opportunità e Commissione per le Pari Oppurtunità

MOTIVATION OF THE JURY – Eolo Award 2016
For having created a truly unique play for young Italian theatre audiences. For its remarkable poetics and the incisive way it presents a theme that is still considered taboo, not only for young audiences.
Through a mix of irony and emotional engagement, the play tells the story of Alex, a child that has not yet decided whether he/she wants to be a boy or a girl. Alex is convincingly played by 28 year old Michele Degirolamo.
The subject of freely searching for one’s gender identity as an essential premise to happiness for every human being, and its profound and yet light representation in a theatrical performance make this a compellingly essential experience in the field of young audience theatre, as well as for older audiences too. It should be presented in every school in the country.

MOTIVATION OF THE JURY – Premio Infogiovani / FIT festival Lugano 2015
For the magic and poetry captured by a tale told with childlike lightness and innocence.
After a passionate discussion, the jury decided to present the award in recognition of the precise writing by the director Giuliano Scarpinato and the performance of the actor Michele Degirolamo, which, together with the special effects on stage, have created a play capable of engaging the spectator in a reality that is powerful, yet not always plain to see.
The displacing lightness with which it deals with the issues touched and surprised the mostly young audience.
The emotions and inner conflict were staged through the passionate performance by Alex, the protagonist and were turned into a means of escapism to avoid the world.

MOTIVATION OF THE JURY – Premio Scenario infanzia 2014
The story of a child on a quest to discover the self and gender identity introduces us to a familiar space, inhabited with toys, as well as conflicts and the passageway to a land of dreams. A difficult subject to deal with, outlined and reported with courage and precision, and performed by actors with a talent for irony and lightness. This is an important opportunity to stimulate discussions on gender difference in the field of schools and education.



FA’AFAFINE JE M’APPELLE ALEX ET JE SUIS UN DINOSAURE

texte et mise en scène de Giuliano Scarpinato
avec Michele Degirolamo
en vidéo Giuliano Scarpinato et Gioia Salvatori
visual média Daniele Salaris- Videostille
projet scénique Caterina Guia
assistante plateau et aux costumes Giovanna Stinga
lumières Giovanna Bellini
illustrations Francesco Gallo- VideoStille
traduction du texte en français Federica Martucci
dans la vidéo les voix de Francesco Calabrese et Anna Ravel
production CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia/ Teatro Biondo Palermo

Dans la langue de Samoa, il existe un terme qui définit ceux qui, depuis l’enfance, n’aiment pas s’identifier dans un seul genre sexuelle.  Ils sont appelés Fa’afafine : un véritable troisième genre qui bénéficie d’une considération et d’un respect égaux et auquel la société n’impose pas un choix.
Alex ne vit pas à Samoa, mais il voudrait lui aussi être un Fa’afafine, il est un « gender creative child », ou simplement un garçon-fille, comme il aime répondre lorsqu’on le questionne sur son identité sexuelle.
Sa chambre est un monde sans frontières où la géographie peut rien déterminer: il y a la mer, les montagnes, le soleil, la lune, des poissons, et des oiseaux. Tout ensemble. Son lit est un radeau, un aéroplane, un château, ou une navette spatiale.
Aujourd’hui c’est un jour important pour Alex : il a décidé de dire à Elliot qu’il tient à lui, mais pas comme aux autres personnes, il tient à lui de façon spéciale.
Comment s’habiller donc, pour le rencontrer ?  Il serait mieux de porter une robe de princesse ou bien des chaussures de foot ? Des lunettes d’aviateur ou un collier floral?
Alex a des idées toujours très claires sur ce qu’il veut être : les jours pairs il est un garçon, et ceux impair  une fille. Dit-il. Mais aujourd’hui ce n’est pas la même chose. Il est tombé amoureux pour la première fois dans sa vie, et il réalise que tout cela ne suffit plus. Aujourd’hui il voudrait tout être au même temps, comme le licorne, l’ornithorynque ou les dinosaures.
Hors de la chambre d’Alex, il y a Susan et Rob, ses parents.  Alex ne veut pas les faire rentrer à l’intérieur. Il craint qu’ils ne comprennent pas, et probablement c’est vrai, ou au moins, ça l’a été ( ça l’était)  jusqu’à maintenant.  Personne n’a appris à Susan et Rob, comment il faut faire avec un enfant aussi spécial ; ils ont cru que c’était un problème, ils ont pensé devoir le changer.
Alex, Susan et Rob. Ce spectacle raconte l’histoire d’une journée dans leurs vies. Une journée que les changera toutes. Une journée spéciale où un garçon-fille deviendra le papa-maman de ses parents, en leur apprenant  à n’avoir plus peur.
Quand Alex ouvrira la porte de sa chambre, tout sera nouveau.