The Compagnia della Fortezza Historical Archive: Metadata Management and the Audiovisual Document as a Historiographical Object

The historical archive of the Compagnia della Fortezza stands as a significant case of audiovisual documentation in contemporary theatre, comprising a collection of over 1,300 digitized videos preserved in duplicate at the Carte Blanche office (Volterra) and the Library of Arts of the University of Bologna. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines theatre studies and Digital Humanities, this research has advanced the state of the art in two main directions: the enrichment of the archival heritage and the in-depth analysis of the role of video in Armando Punzo’s creative process.

The first direction focuses on the metadata structuring of the audiovisual collection, implementing descriptive standards for archival units and creating xml files for preservation. The second explores the use of video as an active tool in the genesis of performances, highlighting how video recording, ever since the company’s early years, has not only served as a means of documentation but has also played a crucial role in both acting and directing practices. The analysis has revealed the function of video in shaping performative memory, facilitating actors’ self-observation, and contributing to the dramaturgical structuring of performances.
Finally, the project led to the creation of a searchable database and a website for metadata consultation. By implementing a descriptive standard for archival units and an accessible consultation system, this research has enriched the available archival resources for studying the Compagnia della Fortezza, while also opening new perspectives on Armando Punzo’s methodology.