The Wizard of Redonda: On the Origins of Umberto Eco’s Playful Soul

A tribute by Lino Guanciale to the writings of Umberto Eco, exploring the origins of his relationship with play, knowledge, and imagination. Marking the anniversary of his passing—and following the ten-year period of silence the author himself had imposed upon his entire body of work—ERT presents Il Mago di Redonda (“The Magician of Redonda”). This theatrical journey seeks to uncover “Eco before he became Eco,” delving into his childhood, his early imaginative world, and the nascent forms of an encyclopedic curiosity, already infused with invention and irony. The piece—a staged reading loosely inspired by Fenomenologia di Umberto Eco by Michele Cogo, who also collaborated on the project—invites us to rediscover the roots of the author’s identity. It portrays an intellectual who, perhaps more than any other, succeeded in bridging the gap between high culture and popular culture. The island of Redonda—a realm of pure fantasy—serves as a symbol for a world suspended between reality and fiction, knowledge and inspiration, rules and creativity. clicca