Happiness in Work: The Blurred Lines of Modern Labor

"Only when I work am I happy" is the fourth show of the series "The Being & The Human" by Artenauta Theater, which bears the signature of the artistic director, Simona Tortora, on stage Friday, March 22 at 8:45 PM at the Diana Theater in Nocera Inferiore. The performance features Lorenzo Maragoni and Niccolò Fettarappa (production residency Carrozzerie | n.o.t/production La Corte Ospitale, with the support of MiC, Emilia-Romagna Region, Ferrara Off APS), and revolves entirely around the world of work, which has profoundly changed: after precariousness, the new toxic frontier corresponds to a continuous state of self-exploitation, difficult to recognize and to interrupt because we are always connected and therefore operational all day, every day. The boundary between work and private life no longer exists. On stage, the actors are character/doubles: Lorenzo Maragoni's boss is named Lorenzo Maragoni and demands from himself absolute availability: he must respond to work emails even on Friday evening, in the midst of a conversation that happened by chance in a bar. Lorenzo loves himself, but only as a colleague. Sometimes they like each other, sometimes less. Niccolò Fettarappa's boss is named Niccolò Fettarappa and sleeps until eleven-thirty, but then he/himself scolds him. Niccolò Fettarappa, the boss of Niccolò Fettarappa, dreams of success but the other self, instead, would gladly give up anything, just to be able to continue sleeping. "Only when I work am I happy" received a Special Mention at Forever Young 2021/2022 - La Corte Ospitale: "for the ability to address urgent contemporary issues, such as the relationship between work and happiness, with a transgenerational language conducted with dramaturgical and performative clarity."