“Mask and Commedia dell’Arte. From the Object to Performance Practices and Back Again”
International conference, 21–23 October 2026
From 21 to 23 October 2026, the MUSEC – Museum of Cultures in Lugano and Accademia Teatro Dimitri in Verscio will host the international conference “Mask and Commedia dell’Arte. From the Object to Performance Practices and Back Again”. The event is organized by Accademia Teatro Dimitri and the Swiss Association for Theatre Studies, in collaboration with MUSEC and the research laboratory Scènes du Monde at Université Paris 8 Vincennes–Saint-Denis, with the support of the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences. The conference represents the first stage of a broader international initiative devoted to exploring the transformations and contemporary reactivations of the Commedia dell’Arte mask.
Bringing together perspectives from theatre, museums, and academia, the conference examines the mask as cultural heritage, material object, pedagogical tool, and performative device. Discussions will address its preservation, history, craftsmanship, and scenic use, while exploring its role both in theatre history and in contemporary performance, as well as its connections with new forms of identity representation. The programme will also feature a performance by students of Accademia Teatro Dimitri.
Speakers: Carlo Boso, Gianni Coluzzi, Guy Freixe, Davide Giovanzana, Piercarlo Grimaldi, Stefan Hulfeld, Joël Huthwohl, Clémence Mathieu, Stefano Perocco di Meduna, Brigitte Prost, Colette Roy, Sarah Sartori, Beate Schlichenmaier, Katrien van Beurden, Pier Mario Vescovo and Daniele Vianello.
Conference presentation (Italian, English and French)
Conference programme: download.
Scientific Committee: Francesco Paolo Campione, Giulia Filacanapa, Leone Michelini, Demis Quadri
Organization: Flavia Ambrosetti, Adriana Mazza
🎭 Presentazione della lezione di Recita Maschere degli studenti dell'Accademia 🎭
Docente di maschere: Colette Roy
🗓️ Venerì 11 settembre 2026
13:15 | 15:00
📍 Aula Grande, Verscio
registrations: accademiadimitri@supsi.ch
