There exists an island that doesn’t appear on maps, but which nevertheless left a profound mark on the collective imagination of generations of readers. This island is called Stranalandia, and we at Elastica have loved it since we first read about it decades ago. So, when Feltrinelli announced the republication of this beloved book written by Stefano Benni and illustrated by Pirro Cuniberti, there was no doubt about it: we wanted to launch its comeback. And to do it big.

On 11 June we transformed Piazza Maggiore into a space located somewhere between dream and invention. “Viaggio a Stranalandia” proved a magical evening, a fantastical collective journey that paid tribute to two major figures in Italian and Bolognese culture: the writer Stefano Benni and the painter and illustrator Pirro Cuniberti. In order to bring this vision to life, Elastica took care of every aspect of the project: from creative conception to direction, from casting talent to administration and technical production coordination.

We brought writers, actors, musicians, longtime friends and collaborators of the two authors to the stage: Gigio Alberti, Alessandro Baricco, Alessandro Bergonzoni, Claudio Bisio, Valentina Chico, Giacomo Feltrinelli, Angela Finocchiaro, Lodo Guenzi, Roberta Lena, Elisa Marinoni, Romano Montroni, Daniel Pennac, Umberto Petrin on the piano, Lucia Poli, Alice Redini, Paolo Rossi, David Riondino, Luis Sal, Michele Serra, Carla Signoris and Valentina Virando, who lent their voices to Osvaldo, the Three Sirens, the Rigario, the Sbronzolo, the Cagone Mouse the Cloud Tree, the Intelligent Hen and the Go-go Gorilla… to name just a few of the enchanting inhabitants of the mysterious island.

Based on an idea by Francesca Parisini, adapted by Brunella Torresin and directed and staged by Massimo Martelli, “Viaggio a Stranalandia” was presented by the City of Bologna as part of the Bologna Portici Festival in partnership with Feltrinelli. The evening was realised thanks to the support of the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna and the Hera Group. A special thanks to the Pier Achille Cuniberti Archive ‘per Pirro e per Segno’, launched in 2023 precisely on the occasion of the centenary commemorating the artist’s birth.

More than just a cultural project, this event was an act of love for a book that is iconic thanks to the power of its illustrations and the poetry and humour amongst its pages. We had no doubt it would be a success.