The Myth of Elizabeth I at the Pirandello Theatre: the show 'The Bodies of Elizabeth' on stage

As Agrigento revs up for the imminent explosion of colors and traditions of the Almond Blossom Festival, the Teatro Luigi Pirandello chooses to shine a spotlight on one of the most iconic, enigmatic, and powerful figures in European history: Elizabeth I of England. On Saturday, March 7 (at 9:00 PM) and Sunday, March 8 (at 5:30 PM), the curtain will rise on "The Bodies of Elizabeth", a work by the award-winning British author Ella Hickson that arrives in Italy thanks to the prestigious production of the Teatro dell’Elfo and the Teatro Stabile del Veneto.

The show, directed by Cristina Crippa and Elio De Capitani, is not the classic costume drama, but a gripping narrative that is surprisingly contemporary. At the center of the stage is not just a queen, but the eternal conflict between the political body — the instrument of power with which Elizabeth built a 44-year reign — and the private body, pulsating with desires and human fragility.

The directorial choice focuses on a suggestive doubling: the queen is portrayed by two actresses. Elena Russo Arman plays the role of the mature and aware sovereign (also portraying Catherine Parr and Mary Tudor), while Maria Caggianelli Villani gives voice and face to the princess Elizabeth. Alongside them, an excellent cast featuring Cristian Giammarini as the intriguing Cecil and Enzo Curcurù as the charismatic Thomas Seymour and Robert Dudley.

Set in a scenography curated by Carlo Sala, where the throne emerges among veils embroidered with Tudor symbols, the show investigates how a woman, in a fiercely patriarchal society, managed to transform her "virginity" into an unbeatable strategy of governance. The costumes by Ferdinando Bruni complete a visual picture that blends historical elegance with a contemporary pop taste.

From early youthful passions to the clash with rival Mary Stuart, "The Bodies of Elizabeth" promises to be a captivating theatrical fresco on the price of power. An unmissable appointment for those who want to discover the strength of a woman destined to change history, told with the sharp language of today's English dramaturgy.