Ascanio Celestini was born in Rome in 1972. Rooted in field research, his works explore the memory of recent history events that touched the collective imagination. Among his most recent theatre productions, Laika (2015), Pueblo (2017) and Rumba (2023) form part of the trilogy that inspired Poveri Cristi (Poor Christs). Celestini directed these productions in Belgium and France with the actor David Murgia, and in Sweden with Özz Nûjen. He also directed two films: La pecora nera (The Black Sheep, 2010), which competed at the 67th Venice Film Festival, and Viva la sposa (Long Live the Bride, 2015), which was in competition at the Venice Days section. His Parole sante (Holy Words) album won the Ciampi Prize for Best Debut Album of the Year and the ‘On the good side of music’ Prize from Arci. His published novels include Storie di uno scemo di guerra (Stories of a Wartime Fool, 2005), La pecora nera (The Black Sheep, 2006), Lotta di classe (Class Struggle, 2009), Io cammino in fila indiana (I Walk in Single File, 2011), Pro patria ( For the Homeland, 2012), Barzellette (Jokes, 2019), Radio clandestina (Pirate Radio, 2020), I parassiti (Parasites, 2021) and Poveri cristi (Poor Christs, 2025), all published by Einaudi. His latest book is Pasolini. Una vita, anzi due (Pasolini: One Life, or Rather Two, Laterza, 2026).
Pic Pasqualini/MUSA
