Daniele Finzi Pasca

Daniele Finzi Pasca was born in Lugano in 1964 in a family of photographers. He spent his childhood in the family photo laboratory, used by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him. Daniele was introduced to the circus world through gymnastics, and he set foot onstage for the first time under the guidance of a clown named Fery. In 1983 Daniele left for India where he worked for a volunteer programme helping the terminally ill. Upon his return to Switzerland, together with his brother Marco and Maria Bonzanigo he founded the Teatro Sunil, its productions combining acting, buffonade and dance. The founders call this theatre technique “theatre of the caress.”

Finzi Pasca was sentenced to a brief term of imprisonment for acting as a conscientious objector. While in jail he put the final touch to Icaro, a monologue conceived for a single spectator. Performed by Pasca himself over seven hundred times in six languages over the past twenty years, Icaro has delighted audiences throughout the world. In this early work one can already observe the company’s emergent style and aesthetics.