Le Storie degli Altri (Other People’s Stories): An “Extra Moenia” Theatre Project

Abstract

This article examines Le storie degli altri (Other People’s Stories), a theatre project conceived within the partnership between the University for Foreigners of Siena, the Siena University Hospital “Le Scotte” (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese) and Doctors Without Borders-Italy. As part of project THE, Unistrasi, Spoke 3/3-4, and Spoke 10/5, it draws on long-standing experiences in community-based theatre. Grounded on the notion of extra moenia performance, the project explores how narrative and performance can function as tools for reflection, ethical engagement, and the construction of intersubjective spaces beyond traditional theatrical boundaries. The study situates the project within a genealogy of Western theatre, from ritual forms to contemporary performance theory, emphasizing the shift from character-centred representation to collective performativity. Central to the analysis is Arthur Frank’s concept of narrative ethics and the transformative potential of storytelling, particularly in relation to testimonies of suffering collected by humanitarian workers. Through a process of narrative “retelling”, participants – students, healthcare professionals, and community members – become performers who enact empathy and shared responsibility. The project thus reconfigures the actor–audience relationship, fostering a horizontal communicative space where witnessing becomes a collective practice. Ultimately, the article argues that extra moenia theatre can cultivate a participatory ethics capable of strengthening community bonds and expanding the social function of performance.