The Compagnie della Calza were theatrical associations in
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...
in the 15th and 16th centuries. The members wore distinctive
hosiery
Hosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as ...
which gave them their name (calza means sock in Italian) and met to arrange entertainments such as feasts and games.
They were founded around the mid 15th century in Venice where they organised the ''spettacoli cittadin'' (spectacles of the citizens). At the annual
Carnival of Venice
The Carnival of Venice ( it, Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. The carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday (''Martedì Grasso'' or Mardi Gras), which is the day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The festival is ...
, they arranged a series of performances for the Venetian nobility for which famous
jesters
A jester, court jester, fool or joker was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Jesters were also itinerant performers who entertained common folk at fairs and ...
of the time were hired. They also produced plays by famous playwrights such as
Angelo Beolco
Angelo Beolco (c. 1496 – March 17, 1542), better known by the nickname Ruzzante or Ruzante, was an Italian (Venetian) actor and playwright.
He is famous for his rustic comedies, written mostly in the Paduan dialect of the Venetian language,And ...
and
Pietro Aretino
Pietro Aretino (, ; 19 or 20 April 1492 – 21 October 1556) was an Italian author, playwright, poet, satire, satirist and blackmailer, who wielded influence on contemporary art and politics. He was one of the most influential writers of his tim ...
. They subsequently divided into separate companies. Some were named after
virtue
Virtue ( la, virtus) is morality, moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is Value (ethics), valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. In other words, it is a behavior that sh ...
s, such as the ''Floridi'', the ''Uniti'' or the ''Concordi'' while others were named after
guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
s such as the ''Ortolani'' (greengrocers) and the ''Zardinieri'' (gardeners). They distinguished themselves by the colour of their stockings and
embroidery
Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen ...
with the name or initials of the company.
[
Among the principal spectacles promoted by the companies were the ''momaria'' — masked processions held along the canals — ]boat
A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, or its ability to carry boats.
Small boats are typically found on i ...
races, mock naval battles and theatrical performances held on floating theatres. During the ''festa della Sensa'', which celebrated the marriage of the city to the sea, elaborate rituals were performed with foreign ambassadors and dignitaries in attendance.
Accounts of the companies appear in the diaries of Marino Sanuto the Younger Marin Sanudo, italianised as Marino Sanuto or Sanuto the Younger (May 22, 1466 – 1536), was a Venetian historian and diarist. His most significant work is his ''Diarii'', which he had intended to write up into a history of Venice.
Biography
...
.
References
Theatre companies in Italy
Culture in Venice
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