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Chille de la balanza is a historic experimental theatre company founded in Naples in September 1973. It is recognized and funded by the Ministry of Culture, the Tuscany Region (as an Artistic and Cultural Residency), the Municipality of Florence, and the Metropolitan City of Florence.
Since 1998, the company has been based in San Salvi, the former psychiatric hospital of Florence. This decision was made by the hospital’s last director, Dr. Pellicanò, who sought to symbolize the transition from the departure of psychiatric patients to the integration of the city into the former asylum’s space. To facilitate this process, he invited the company to establish its residency in one of the pavilions and to develop a long-term and multy-disciplinary cultural project (theatre, visual arts, dance, music), “San Salvi Città Aperta.” This initiative has since engaged approximately 600,000 people.
San Salvi has also been one of the venues of the Estate Fiorentina (Florentine Summer Festival) since its first edition.
Chille de la Balanza was founded by Claudio Ascoli, whose artistic vision and career have shaped much of the company’s identity.
Ascoli was born into a family of Neapolitan actors and theatre professionals spanning three generations. The Ascoli family, alongside the Maggio, Scarpetta, and De Filippo families, forms the historical backbone of Neapolitan theatre between the 19th and 20th centuries. Ascoli pursued theatre as a teenager. He was admitted to the Silvio d’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts as both an actor and a director. However, he left soon after, seeking greater artistic autonomy. He returned to Naples and founded the group Chille de la balanza, which made its debut at the Teatro, Comunque on Via dei Librai in Port’Alba.
The name Chille de la balanza refers to the ancient fruit and vegetable sellers who, between the late 1600s and early 1700s, would roam the streets of the historic center, selling their goods and collecting stories and anecdotes that they would later recount in taverns over a glass of wine.
Initially, the company focused on reviving Neapolitan theatrical traditions with a rigorous approach. However, it soon became captivated by the avant-garde movements of the 20th century, eventually becoming one of the most dedicated followers of these movements in Europe. By the late 1970s, they had begun research on Apollinaire, Tzara, and other avant-garde figures. During this time, they also forged collaborations and friendships with prominent scholars such as Henri Béhar, Michel Décaudin, and Pierre Caizergues.
Simultaneously, Ascoli developed a strong interest in street theatre and performance, traditionally regarded as unstructured, closer to clowning and improvisation than to conventional theatre.
The company gained significant recognition in Germany, Spain, and especially France, where they met Mario Dondero, the renowned photographer. Their collaboration would resume thirty years later in projects on Pavese and Pasolini. Another major influence on the company was Hans Walter Müller, an extraordinary artist whose innovative inflatable architectures became a central feature of Chille’s performances for over 15 years.
In the mid-1980s, the company moved to Tuscany, specifically to Pontassieve near Florence, where they built a unique theatre complex featuring a Laboratory, a Residential House, and, most notably, Teatro d’Aria.
This innovative structure was entirely empty and reconfigurable for each event. The concept was a success. The company continued its exploration of avant-garde theatre, staging productions of works by Vitrac, Tzara, Malespine, Ribemont-Dessaignes, and Artaud in the art-déco theatre Teatro 13, in collaboration with the City of Florence and the 2nd District.
creation by Hans Walter Müller
The turning point came in 1998 with the arrival at the former psychiatric city of Florence, SAN SALVI. Here, the company launched an ongoing project of THEATRE OF PLACE, open to contemporary art, cultures, and languages.
This project is returning to the Florentines an area of nearly 33 hectares in the Campo di Marte district, also thanks to Passeggiando nella notte di San Salvi by and with Claudio Ascoli, which has been held continuously since 1999 with over 600 performances, all sold out! Passeggiando… is recognized by UNESCO and the Council of Europe as an example of Heritage Walk.