Brokeback Mountain - A Play With Music on Italian Stages: Love Always Finds a Way

Some stories never stop moving us, even when we think we know them by heart. Brokeback Mountain is one of those. A love story that crosses time, borders, and fear, now finds a new form of intimacy and truth on stage. The iconic tale of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist comes to Italian theaters in “Brokeback Mountain - A Play With Music,” a production that blends dialogue and live music to convey the fragility and power of a timeless love.

The production, adapted from Annie Proulx’s story and made famous by Ang Lee’s film, arrives in Italy with a wide-ranging tour. Edoardo Purgatori and Filippo Contri take on the roles of the two leads, supported by the evocative voice of Malika Ayane, who performs live alongside a band, weaving music seamlessly into the storytelling. Not a traditional musical, but a “play with music,” where the score becomes an emotional language, amplifying what words alone cannot express.

An Ennis Defined by Silence and Fragility

Edoardo Purgatori portrays Ennis Del Mar, the most introverted and tormented character in the story. A man unable to fully embrace the love he feels, weighed down by societal expectations and the fear of judgment. In multiple interviews, Purgatori has described how challenging this role has been, calling Brokeback Mountain “a test of truth and vulnerability,” because on stage, every gesture and every silence is inevitably visible.

His performance is built on understated intensity: a lowered gaze, words held back, emotions spoken in silences. It is a finely tuned emotional work that presents the audience with an Ennis who is deeply human, fragile, and full of contradictions.

Between Prose and Music: An Emotional Journey

The story originates from Annie Proulx’s narrative and is reshaped under the direction of Giancarlo Nicoletti, who opts for a minimal staging that gives space to the actors and their emotions. Dan Gillespie Sells’ original music, performed by Malika Ayane, does not interrupt the narrative but flows through it, becoming an inner voice that carries the story from beginning to end.

The live score creates a soundscape evoking the vastness of Wyoming, the solitude of the characters, and the relentless passage of time. It is precisely this continuous interplay between words and music that makes the production an immersive experience, capable of drawing the audience deeply into the story.

Set between the 1960s and 1980s, Brokeback Mountain tells of a love that finds no place in the world it is born into. A story of identity, desire, and sacrifice that still resonates with remarkable intensity today. Theater proves to be the perfect medium to convey the intimacy of this bond, turning Ennis and Jack’s story into a universal reflection on the courage to be oneself.

The Italian Tour

Brokeback Mountain - A Play With Music is touring major Italian theaters during the 2025/2026 season. Confirmed stops include Faenza, Figline Valdarno, and Rome, where the production will run at Teatro Quirino from January 13 to 18, 2026, with multiple performances.

Ticket Information

Tickets are available through the official websites of the hosting theaters and major online platforms dedicated to theater ticket sales. Prices vary depending on the city and seating, with discounts for under-26s and other eligible categories. Advance booking is recommended for performances in larger cities due to high demand.

For Teatro Quirino tickets, click here, for other tour dates, click here.

Cover Photo: @Serena Serrani