The Trojan Women

In a single night in October 2018, rain and wind brought down 14 million trees, transforming a lush mountain landscape in northern Italy into a site of utter devastation. The environmental consequences of this event will continue to impact life in the region for decades to come. In Carnia, one of the worst affected regions, 400 of these fallen tree trunks were collected and taken to Syracuse on the other side of Italy. There, they became part of the set of Euripides’ tragedy The Trojan Women, designed by renowned Milan architect and urban planner Stefano Boeri. On the stage of an ancient Greek theatre, the trees, felled by the wind, took on their final role as silent witnesses to twin tragedies. The voyage is presented here from the perspective of the trees themselves as they are transported over 1,500 km of diverse landscapes, rich with colours and sounds.