Fiorenza Menni in "The Story of a New Name" @Umbria Libri - Terni

Friday 20 November at 9 pm
Umbria Libri – Teatro Secci, Terni
Fanny & Alexander
The Story of a New Name. My Brilliant Friend in Comics – Volume 2
A stage adaptation of the second volume of Chiara Lagani and Mara Cerri’s graphic novel based on Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend (Coconino Press)

The Story of a New Name is the new stage production by Fanny & Alexander, adapted from the graphic novel illustrated by Mara Cerri and scripted by Chiara Lagani (Coconino Press, 2026), based on the second volume of Elena Ferrante’s quartet. On stage, Chiara Lagani and Fiorenza Menni play Lila and Lenù, who face new challenges as they come of age. Lila finds herself in an unhappy marriage at a young age, while Lenù sees her studies as her only chance to make a different life for herself.

Directed by Luigi Noah De Angelis, the production unfolds around a large collage that the two protagonists make together. The story takes shape before our eyes as Mara Cerri’s landscapes and characters build up layer by layer, stepping as if by magic off the page and coming to life on stage. The result is a celebration of friendship, of breaking free from prejudice and of the power of imagination.

Performed by Chiara Lagani and Fiorenza Menni
Voice of Nino Sarratore Andrea Mochi Sismondi
Voice of Donato Sarratore Lorenzo Gleijeses
Lyrics Emanuele Wiltsch Barberio
Percussion Cristiano De Fabritiis

Illustrations Mara Cerri
Direction, set, lighting, video and music Luigi Noah De Angelis
Dramaturgy and costumes Chiara Lagani
Multimedia installation Voxel
Sound Vincenzo Scorza
Technical supervision Gianni Gamberini, Vincenzo Scorza

Production coordination and promotion Andrea Martelli, Marco Molduzzi
Administration Stefano Toma
Produced by E Production/Fanny & Alexander
In collaboration with Ravenna Festival