Floriana Frassetto was born in 1950 to Italian emigrants in the States (Norfolk, Virginia). She studied at Alessandro Fersen’s Theatre Academia in Rome from 1967 to 1969 and completed her training as actress attending a comprehensive course (mime, acrobatics, dance) at Roy Bosier’s Teatro Studio.
Having worked in Rome in several pantomime and theatre productions, the idea of founding MUMMENSCHANZ resulted from meeting Andres Bossard and Bernie Schürch: two young Swiss clowns called Before and Lost in 1972.
Floriana has since co-invented the repertoire of MUMMENSCHANZ and played in each performance. The creation of costumes, the choreography of Giancarlo Sbragia “Faust” played in the Roman amphitheatre of Taormina (Sicily), the staging of some MUMMENSCHANZ scenes for André Heller’s musical Body and Soul, the artistic collaboration with Isabelle Baudet for the children musical Oliver Twist in Lausanne (Switzerland) all rank among her greatest individual achievements.
When did you begin performing, where and why?
As a very shy child I loved to express myself through movement, clown and mime: my inner world. I started performing when I was 17 in Rome, Italy.
What were your early years of performing like?
As a youngster I was full of dreams, criticism against part of the society which I did not agree with. I was, of course, a ’68 flower child. I performed in schools, in warehouses and in the streets of Rome.
With whom and where did you train?
I trained with Alexandro Fersen, a private acting school in Rome and with Roy Bosier, a Swiss Mime in Rome.
What is a typical day like now?
Doing some office work and maintaining the materials, the masks, the costumes, the shapes. Occasionally creating a new sketch.
How do you maintain your technique?
If there is the occasion I would love to [take class]. I keep on top of my technique by training.
What’s the best part about performing?
The interaction with the audience.
What would you say was your greatest achievement to date?
Having co-created more than a 100 sketches in 40 years and wakened that innocent child which is the same all over the world.
Which part of dance do you enjoy most?
I am not really a dancer but I love when dancers truly dance with passion and a baggage full of technique
What’s next for you?
To study and to sacrifice until they achieve and find their own language.