ICGEB and partners present the play: “The border between skin and heart: the emotions of science in the fight against cancer.” Live theatre performance presented by ICGEB for GO! 2025 Nova Gorica Gorizia European Capital of Culture.
About the play
Despite being constantly traversed by blood, the heart rarely develops tumours. How can this evidence be used to invent a new cancer therapy? Researchers collaborating on the development of a new cancer therapy using wearable robots capable of mimicking the heartbeat recount their experiences in this adventure on stage. They bring the highlights of their project to life, combining passion and scientific expertise with the writer’s ability to describe and excite through words, gestures and music.
With partners: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSM), University of Trieste, University of Siena, Vicino/Lontano Festival and ISISS D’Annunzio, Max Fabiani Gorizia, ICGEB presents five shows funded by the Autonomous Region of FVG for GO!2025.
Live performances in Italian and English, with live sign-language interpretation and a Booklet of the script in Italian and Slovenian.
The Players
Domenico Prattichizzo. Engineer, and Professor of Robotics and Human-Machine Interaction at the University of Siena, where he directs the SIRSLab. He is a senior scientist at the Italian Institute of Technology. His research focuses on wearable tactile and robotic technologies to improve the quality of life. He is co-author of the book Il Corpo Artificiale (The Artificial Body), published by Raffello Cortina Editore. He is the co-founder of the start-ups WEART and EXISTO.
Serena Zacchigna. Medical doctor and researcher, is head of the Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory at ICGEB Trieste and Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Trieste. An expert in the field of cardiovascular disease research, she studies the development of new therapies capable of regenerating the heart and blood vessels. She collaborates on various scientific dissemination initiatives.
Sarita Massai, born in Siena, is a writer and musician, medievalist and teacher. Her first book, La selva del lago, published by Protagon, is a historical reconstruction of an ancient forest around Siena. She has also published books of historical research on Sienese families. In 2019, she contributed to the publication of Una tazzina di caffè (A Cup of Coffee), a winning comedy/theatrical drama inspired by her encounter with the inmates of the Santo Spirito prison in Siena. Also in 2019, she published Oltre la soglia (Beyond the Threshold), nominated for the Napoli Prize.
Alessandra Cotoloni lives and works in Siena. She is a passionate writer and reader. She has published ten novels, one of which was selected for the 2019 Strega Prize, and two collections of poetry, the latest of which, Trame itineranti, was selected for the 2023 Strega Poetry Prize.
Appearances by: Davide Costabile, Giuseppe Di Mauro, Maryen Vasanthakumar, Alberto Villani
Link to the full programme including past events
GORIZIA
Friday, 24 October 2025, 10 am
University of Trieste, Polo Universitario di Gorizia, Aula Magna
via Alviano 18, Gorizia
(in Italian, also for school groups)
Programme
To book, contact: communications@cgeb-org
NOVA GORICA
Friday, 24 October 2025, 6 pm
University of Nova Gorica
Lanthieri Mansion, Glavni trg 8, Vipava, Slovenia
(in English, with printed script of the play in Slovenian and Italian)
Programme
Contact: [email protected]
Curated by ICGEB in collaboration with the University of Trieste, the University of Siena, the Vicino/Lontano Festival, IS/SS G. D’Annunzio – M. Fabiani Gorizia (funded by the Autonomous Region of FVG for GO!2025)
Browse the gallery on:
Video with subtitles in English
Information in Italian
The project has been carried out with the kind support of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia – Regional Law 24/2021, GO! 2025 Call – September 2024, for a total amount of €29,900