*Je Vous Aime* at the Mercadante Theatre in Cerignola

The 2024/2025 season of the Teatro Mercadante in Cerignola comes to a close with its final Accessible Theatre production, scheduled for Saturday, May 10. Doors open at 8:30 PM and the performance begins at 9:00 PM. Je Vous Aime, starring Diana Anselmo and Sara Pranovi (LIS interpreter), is a theatrical piece created for deaf audiences, but designed to be enjoyed by hearing spectators as well. The concept was developed by Diana Anselmo of the Senza Confini Teatro company.

The performance blends sign language with traditional theatrical expression, offering an inclusive experience for all—especially those who cannot hear. The aim is to engage deaf viewers through Italian Sign Language (LIS), as well as through expressive movement, lighting, and visual elements. The story centers on a very short film, lasting just one second: it’s 1891, four years before the Lumière brothers invented cinema, when Georges Demeny created the phonoscope, a device that projected the very first video ever—his own face saying the words “Je vous aime.”

“In Cerignola,” says Deputy Mayor and Cultural Affairs Councillor Maria Dibisceglia, “there is a long-standing community of deaf individuals who have worked tirelessly for equal opportunity. As on previous occasions, the city administration has collaborated with them. Including an inclusive performance in the Mercadante's program was a necessary and shared choice. We are confident that the entire deaf community of Cerignola, along with many spectators from neighboring towns, will appreciate this production.”

For more information: 0885 410251 / 338 4716644