“The Rules of Thirds” at the International Voices Project

THE RULES OF THIRDS
Written by Marco De Simone,

Translated by Caterina Nonis,

Directed by Patrizia Acerra 

Winner of the 2026 In Scena! Playwright Award
In Partnership with In Scena! 

Synopsis – The play is inspired by a real event recounted in the autobiography of Robert Capa. On the night between July 9 and 10, 1943, the renowned war photojournalist was welcomed into a farmer’s home, along with some American soldiers sent to Sicily just before the Allied landing. Disregarding strict realism and overcoming obvious language barriers, the author imagines a dialogue between Capa and the farmer, highlighting the characters as symbols of two worlds meeting on the edge of the abyss opened by war. Two worlds far apart, marked by different experiences, intentions, and perspectives—yet united by a shared reckoning with both war and life.Southeastern Sicilian hinterland, at dawn on Saturday, July 10, 1943. A farmer welcomes war photojournalist Robert Capa into his farmhouse after he parachuted onto the island the night before the Allied landing. Their dialogue highlights the photographer’s strong personality and his wealth of anecdotes, shaped by firsthand experience in war zones. In the background, the farmer becomes the voice of the “thirds”—the vast mass of civilians who remain outsiders to the warring factions. Like the photographic rule suggests, these individuals demand to be brought into focus to tell another story—their own—hidden beneath the Grand Historical Narrative.

The International Voices Project (IVP) champions the work of global playwrights by creating opportunities to experience new and contemporary international plays on Chicago stages. IVP debuts voices from the world’s stages through commissions, translations, and production. We collaborate with consulates, cultural partners, and universities throughout the Chicagoland area and partner with national and international theatres to promote global playwrights in their USA premieres.