Paolo Mazzarelli

Paolo Mazzarelli (born 21 January 1975 in Milan, Italy) is a versatile Italian performer whose career spans theatre, film and experimental writing. After completing his formal training at the prestigious Paolo Grassi School of Acting in July 1999, he quickly immersed himself in the avant‑garde theatre scene, co‑founding the collective Vulesse fa'mmore co' Dioniso! in 1997 and producing two daring productions until the group dissolved in September 2000. His early stage work included a touring production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull during the 2001‑2002 season, where his nuanced interpretation of the ensemble earned critical praise. Mazzarelli’s curiosity for direction emerged when he staged a project based on excerpts from Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Bestia da stile for the Academie internationale des Theatres, presenting the work in both Paris and Brussels under the guidance of Michelle Kokosowski. As a playwright, he authored the text Hansel and Gretel – At the end of the night, morning, a finalist for the Riccione Prize in 2001, which later premiered at Milan’s Art Theatre, showcasing his talent for blending folklore with contemporary concerns. Between 2001 and 2005 he conceived three original spectacles—Pasolini, Pasolini! (2001), Jules Caesar (2003) and Death by Water (2005)—each reflecting his proclivity for re‑imagining classic narratives through a modern, often visceral lens. In cinema, Mazzarelli made his debut in the 2010 film Nauta and subsequently appeared in Vallanzasca – Gli angeli del male (2010) and L’ultimo terrestre (2011), expanding his reputation beyond the stage. More recent screen work includes a role in Parents in Progress (2019), confirming his continued relevance in Italian popular culture. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with notable artists such as Cesar Brie, Davide Enia, Serena Sinigaglia, Pippo Delbono and the experimental company Fura dels Baus, affirming his status as a collaborative force in contemporary performance art.