Boxes / Scatole
A sensory, nonverbal performance for very young children.
Seven white boxes sit on a natural-fiber rug, waiting to be opened. He is asleep; she waits for him to wake and, without rushing him, invites him to begin.
Through gestures, glances, sounds, and exclamations, each box offers a different sensory experience. Little by little, hesitation gives way to curiosity and the joy of exploring together.
Curiosity begins when someone gives us the time to open a box.
Information
Audience: Child Care Centers and Early Preschool Programs
Estimated Running Time: 30 minutes
Credits
Dramaturgy: Mirko Rizzi and Noemi Radice
Performed by: Mirko Rizzi and Noemi Radice
Production: LAG teatro
The Production
The stage is pared down to its essentials: a natural-fiber rug and seven entirely white boxes. Beside them, a character sleeps. She waits for him to wake, then gently guides him toward his first discovery without rushing him.
Each box, in turn, reveals scents, textures, sounds, lights, and small objects to explore. At first, he watches and draws back; then he begins to feel at ease—trying, repeating, and finally choosing for himself which box to open.
Their relationship develops without words, through gestures, glances, vocal sounds, and exclamations. In the final part, the children themselves are welcomed into the performance space: the rug becomes a shared place of play and wonder.
Why This Production
Boxes / Scatole grew out of theatrical experimentation for very young children and a search for a form of dramaturgy capable of communicating before words. In the first years of life, children come to know the world primarily by looking, listening, touching, smelling, and moving.
The structure alternates repetition and surprise: the act of opening a box returns, while what happens changes each time. The familiar rhythm provides a sense of security; each new discovery holds the children’s attention and invites them to explore.
The figure guiding him neither pushes nor rushes ahead. She offers an example, waits, and gives him room to proceed at his own pace. Curiosity can then emerge within a relationship of trust and, in the final moments, become an experience shared with the children.