To Arms

A ball masked and armed to the teeth. An irreverent musical on the razor's edge. A toy weapon for playing war. And, finally, the desert. A miniature desert. A waiting room desert. A shopping centre, pretend desert, closed up in a box: a children desert, a toy desert. 

To Arms does not speak of this or other wars. To Arms is an experiment. The attempt to focus on the political and economic issue of the international arms market, which, concerns us closely as European and Western countries and which, during the conception of this show, has become dramatically current. And it tries to do it through toys’ lens, contaminating techniques and codes in search of a meeting point between civil and objects theatre. More than a title, To Arms (Alle Armi) is a formula: a declaration of intent, and at the same time a cry of alarm. And perhaps also an exhortation, an appeal. To take up arms, of course: but which ones?

The performance has been staged in Italy, India, Poland, Croatia, Bosnia, and Malaysia, and is continuing to develop into a broader international project.

TheTo Arms project was created in collaboration between the Hombre collective and journalist and performer Leonardo Delfanti. The project aims to promote critical awareness and active audience participation. In addition to the performance, the project also includes research using journalistic practices and the organization of workshops. The content is a means for broader collective reflection on critical awareness of the functioning of the media and their role and power in society.

Hombre Collective founded in 2019 through the Animateria course, which focuses on puppetry techniques, the group has stood out from the beginning for its experimentation and blending of theatrical languages, exploring object theatre, shadow theatre, and storytelling. With Le città indicibili, they began a creative journey that continued with Casa Nostra, which won prestigious awards in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, the group debuted Alle Armi, a performance for adults on the arms industry. In 2024, the company embarked on a successful international tour in Italy, India, Poland, and Malaysia.

Leonardo Delfanti is a freelance journalist specialized in theatre criticism, crisis journalism, and cultural diplomacy. He holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Verona and a diploma in contemporary dance from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire. He also obtained an MA in Crisis and War Journalism. He has collaborated with international organizations such as the European Federation of Journalists, UNESCO, and the Nobel Peace Summit, working as a reporter in Armenia, Georgia, and Colombia. His work has been published by the universities of Bologna and Stanford, and he is a member of the Six Degrees association.