In the heart of Campi Salentina, Teatro Excelsior Carmelo Bene opens its doors to a special kind of magic: the unbridled imagination of children aged 6 to 10 taking the stage. SELVAGGI marks the culmination of a theatrical workshop that has transformed young participants into performers, guided by director Ilaria Carlucci through a free adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved "Where the Wild Things Are".
Where Young Imagination Takes Flight
This isn't professional theatre—it's something rarer and more honest. Children who have spent weeks exploring movement, voice, and storytelling now inhabit a world where bedroom walls dissolve into wild forests and ordinary kids become crowned rulers of fantastical creatures. The performance captures that delicate moment when play becomes art, when rehearsed scenes give way to genuine wonder.
The adaptation stays true to Sendak's spirit: the journey of Max, who sails away to an island of wild things, becomes a vessel for exploring emotions that every child knows. Anger, loneliness, the need to be understood—all find expression through costume, gesture, and the raw honesty only child performers can deliver.
The Theatre That Carries a Legend's Name
Teatro Excelsior Carmelo Bene bears the name of one of Italy's most revolutionary theatre artists, a fitting home for experimental and boundary-pushing work. The venue maintains an intimate scale that draws audiences into the action, perfect for witnessing the concentration on young faces as they navigate their roles.
Campi Salentina itself enriches the experience—a town where baroque architecture meets everyday Pugliese life, where theatre is woven into community fabric rather than set apart from it. Arriving early lets you wander streets where locals gather in piazzas, where the scent of fresh pasticciotto drifts from bakery windows.
What Makes This Performance Special
- Authentic child-led storytelling that captures spontaneity alongside rehearsed moments
- Free adaptation that honors Sendak's themes while making space for young creativity
- Intimate theatre setting where every expression and movement feels immediate
- Community celebration of arts education and children's voices in Puglia
- Ilaria Carlucci's direction balancing structure with room for discovery
Beyond the Stage
Plan to arrive with time to spare—parking in Campi Salentina's historic center can require a short walk, but the stroll through town becomes part of the evening's rhythm. The performance typically runs shorter than professional theatre, respecting young attention spans while delivering emotional completeness.
After the show, the nearby centro storico offers family-friendly trattorie where excitement can spill over into animated dinner conversation. Consider combining your visit with a daytime exploration of Lecce, just fifteen minutes away, where baroque churches and Roman amphitheatres provide context for Puglia's deep theatrical traditions.
This is theatre as it should be: immediate, honest, and alive with the kind of risk that comes when performers are still learning what's possible. SELVAGGI reminds us that wildness lives close to home, waiting to be discovered.