THE STORY
AN INTERVIEW. AN ABANDONED WAREHOUSE. A TRUTH WAITING TO BE UNCOVERED.
Inside a bare room in an abandoned warehouse, the powerful owner of Europe’s largest arms company agrees to be interviewed by a young journalist.
But what should have been a formal conversation soon takes an unexpected turn. The interview becomes an increasingly tense, intimate and violent confrontation, in which every certainty begins to collapse.
As the past of both men slowly comes to light, the roles of victim and perpetrator are constantly reversed—until a final revelation changes everything.
AT THE HEART OF THE PLAY
WHO IS THE CRUELEST MAN IN THE WORLD?
How far can human cruelty go?
Where does reason end and instinct begin?
And who can truly claim to be innocent?
The Cruelest Man in the World is a theatrical investigation into the fragile boundary between humanity and brutality, individual responsibility and power.
A dark and disorienting journey that asks the audience to observe, doubt and constantly shift perspective. By the end, the title is no longer a statement—it becomes a question.
THE STAGING
ONE HOUR OF TENSION
Stripped-back direction, a bare stage, cold lighting and two actors with nowhere to hide.
The production removes everything unnecessary to focus entirely on the confrontation between the two protagonists: their words, silences, bodies and the sudden shifts in power between them.
Running time: 60 minutes
Language: Italian
Surtitles: Available in the language specified for each tour date
Cast & Creative Team
Davide Sacco
Writer & Director
Playwright and theatre director Davide Sacco has created a production built on ambiguity and the constant reversal of perspective.
Through sharp, fast-paced writing and stripped-back direction, he leads the actors and the audience into a world where no one can be seen as entirely victim, perpetrator or innocent.
Lino Guanciale
Actor
An acclaimed actor across theatre, film and television, Lino Guanciale trained at the Silvio d’Amico National Academy of Dramatic Arts and has worked with some of Italy’s most distinguished theatre directors.
Winner of both the Ubu Award and the ANCT Award, he is widely regarded as one of the leading Italian performers of his generation.
Francesco Montanari
Actor
An actor of theatre, film and television, Francesco Montanari trained at the Silvio d’Amico National Academy of Dramatic Arts.
From his breakthrough role in Romanzo criminale – La serie to winning Best Actor at the Cannes International Series Festival, his career has been defined by intense, complex and strikingly different performances.
WHAT THE PRESS SAYS
“An infernal duel, a morbid trap, a brutal competition.”
Rodolfo Di Giammarco — la Repubblica
“The Guanciale–Montanari duo works perfectly.”
Emilia Costantini — Corriere della Sera
“A gripping, brilliantly acted and expertly directed production.”
Katia Ippaso - Liminateatri
Credits
THE CRUELEST MAN IN THE WORLD
Written and directed by Davide Sacco
Starring Lino Guanciale and Francesco Montanari
Set design Luigi Sacco
Lighting design Luigi Della Monica
Producer Ilaria Ceci
Project Manager Riccardo Sinibaldi
Organisation Luigi Cosimelli
Produced by
Fondazione Teatro di Napoli – Teatro Nazionale del Mediterraneo | LVF | Teatro Manini di Narni
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