Scenography graduate wins prestigious young artist place

Soon-to-be Central graduate Chiara La-Ferlita has won a place on the young artist program of one of Italy’s premier opera houses.

From January 2018, Chiara will be the set designer for ‘Fabbrica’, the scheme of the prestigious Teatro dell’opera di Roma.

A highly competitive prize, Chiara competed with young designers from all over Europe for a place on Fabbrica; producing a portfolio of all her undergraduate and postgraduate work as well as completing her Sustained Independent Project at Central in the summer.

The scheme is the first Young Artist Program in Italy to give an opportunity to talented new directors, designers and performers from Italy and beyond who have already completed their conservatory and academy training, and are ready to embark on an international career.

As assistant set-designer for the theatre’s main designers, Chiara will also be working on new productions with the other members of the young artist program (including a director, costume designer, lighting designer, 9 singers/actors, and 3 répétiteurs). From June 2018 she will be working at Terme di Caracalla, the Roman springs where Teatro dell’Opera di Roma holds its summer season.

Chiara will be joining a host of Central alumni now working in opera, including Leanne Vandenbusshe who is assisting acclaimed director Katie Mitchell on a new production of Jenufa and is also competing in the European Opera Prize and Lauren Tata who is designing an upcoming opera by Michael Nyman at the ICA.

Having studied Civil Architecture specializing in Interior Design and Setting, followed by Theatre Design Scenography in Milan, Chiara will soon be graduating with distinction from the specialist MA Scenography at Central.

She commented, “Studying at Central stimulated me to investigate further the fundamental interaction between body, time and space in Scenography. I have constantly been motivated by the teaching staff to question my practice and to demonstrate intellectual rigour during the theoretical researches. Equally, the collaboration with my fellow students incited me to be deeply aware of every decision I make in my work. All these aspects will support me when dealing with professional challenges at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and in my future career.”

Originally opened in 1880, the 1,600 seat Teatro dell’opera di Roma is one of the most well-known opera venues in Italy, and in 1958 was the venue for a controversial performance of Norma starring Maria Callas. Artists and set designers that have worked for Teatro dell’Opera di Roma include De Chirico, Picasso, Guttuso, Chagall, Zeffirelli, Pizzi among others.

Watch Chiara’s video ‘Humanscape’ resulting from the 2017 MA Scenography exhibition.