LA REGINA DELLA NEVE - LIBRO PERFORMATICO
DIE SCHNEEKÖNIGIN - EIN PERFORMATIVES BUCH


Rethinking the classic 'children's book' format and finding new ways to tell stories

​Eva Costa Concept, Direction, Voice
Dromoscope Studio Sound Design (Title song & Chapter 1) 
Luca Mucci Sound design
Sylvie McGowan Book design and Illustration with Eva Costa (inside)
Klünder Buchbinderei Book box with Eva Costa 
Tolja Djokovic dramaturgy consulting

Cooperation within the practical research of the Book 2021/22:
FH Potsdam, Design department, with Prof. Christina Poth, Friederike Goll, 26 Design Students FH Potsdam.

Production: Theresa Boock, Nicola Angelillis
Project Assistance: Etienna Schulz
Technical Assistance/sound design (show): Giorgio De Santis
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A project that explores the intersection of storytelling, theatre and publishing, for an INNOVATIVE, MORE ACCESSIBLE and MORE ECO-FRIENDLY BOOK FORMAT.
The fairy tale, in seven episodes as in the original text, is from "The Snow Queen" by H. C. Andersen, a great classic of children's literature full of magic. The work gives the story a new twist that underlines important themes: breaking the gender stereotype and promoting a respectful and collaborative relationship with nature.
1.The project uses analogue and digital methods of fruition: on the one hand the book is designed to encourage touching, trying and playing, on the other hand it is enriched by an audio story with 3D technology. For the sound production was used a mixed technique to create three-dimensionality, which also relies on binaural technology.
2. With their fingers the listener follows the story, then composes landscapes, sets and characters give endless possibilities for play. The idea of the tactile object book arises from the need to make available to the listener a material form (low-tech), to which the imaginative experience is bound. More and more in the digital era, the ability to touch and manipulate is lost. In addition, with the pandemic, physical contact was discouraged and the cognitive experience of touch was inhibited. On a formal level, the project works with two increasingly less stimulated senses: hearing and touch. 

La regina della neve - libro performatico is conceived as a hybrid sensory experience in remoteness and in presence. Thanks to its crossover format, it is extremely flexible: The audio part was presented in the form of a theatre installation with spatial sound under the name "Warten auf die Schneekönigin"(waiting for the snow queen), and then proposed in radio form for an immersive collective experience "la regina della neve - racconto performatico" (the snow queen - a performative Tell"). Audio and book were tested and played together at school for a pedagogical experience (workshop). The project was nominated for the Gmund Award and the Innovation Green award 2023 and exhibited at the UNFOLDED Festival 2023 (Gmund, Germany).

The project started as a research topic in 2020, gained the support of different institutions in its various phases and the cooperation of the Faculty of Design at FH Potsdam in 2021. Since 2023, GMUND PAPIER has been a cooperation partner.  
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DIE SCHNEEKÖNIGIN - Cooperation with the Faculty of Design - FH POTSDAM, Berlin
October 2021/July 2022

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WORKSHOP - Cooperation with the Finow Grundschule (bilingual German/Italian primary school) Berlin
November 2022

​WARTEN AUF DIE SCHNEEKÖNIGIN
is the theatrical format: an immersive sound installation, staging the audio part of the project. The audience is immersed in a virtual sound environment. The set design and lighting are minimal to leave as much room as possible for the listener's imagination. The stage, which coincides with the space of the audience, is free and without barriers. At the centre of the stage the only performing element is a large block of ice.
The sound installation was performed and presented for the first time in Berlin in Winter 2022. Within the event, the book was also presented and promoted for the first time.
17. & 18.11.2022 Fliegendes Theater
10. & 11.12.2022 Orankelichter

Photo credits: Giorgio De Santis, Yannik Hornbostel, Ella Geffert, Eva Costa
LA REGINA DELLA NEVE - RACCONTO PERFORMATICO una fiaba in sette storie
is the audio design for radio (italian version). It was broadcasted by RADIO RAI 3 in four episodes with interview.
12 & 13.01.2023
02 & 09.02.2023