attore di teatro e cinema, docente di movimento scenico, maschere di Commedia dell’Arte e tecniche di improvvisazione

Dopo essere stato sostituto di Ferruccio Soleri nel ruolo di Arlecchino nel “Servitore” di Strehler ha continuato a lavorare al Piccolo Teatro di Milano anche sotto la direzione di Luca Ronconi, oltre a numerose tournèe con spettacoli di Commedia dell’Arte e di commedia moderna. Attualmente è direttore artistico della compagnia Skene Company Milano ed insegnante di Movimento e Maschere di Commedia dell’Arte presso la Civica Scuola d’Arte Drammatica “Paolo Grassi”. E’ infine docente in diversi seminari internazionali (USA, Parigi, Berlino,…).

‘Questa tradizione mi è stata consegnata in primis dal Piccolo Teatro di Milano attraverso le tournèe mondiali del “Servitore di due padroni” di Giorgio Strehler; in seguito la curiosità e lo studio, uniti al mio amore per la pedagogia, mi hanno condotto all’esplorazione personale di diversi metodi che con la Commedia avevano attinenza, in particolare con il lavoro di Jaques Lecoq, dandomi la possibilità di sviluppare un metodo pedagogico che metta in stretta relazione le tecniche della commedia con quelle dell’acting teatrale e cinematografico contemporaneo.

Il teatro è un grande gioco di energia, passione e rigore, che sono sicuramente qualità che mi riconosco.

Il Teatro è gioco, sogno e militanza…’ Michele Bottini

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Michele Bottini was born in Varese (northern Italy) in 1968. Completed his art studies in 1990 at the School of Dramatic Arts “Paolo Grassi” in Milan where he actually teaches acting, movement and Commedia dell’Arte. After the graduation worked with some of the most important theatrical vanguard companies in the early 90’s.

Then he became a member of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano Company under Giorgio Strehler’s direction in several shows.

Since 1997 until 2001 at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano he played the title role of the worldwide famous Giorgio Strehler’s “Arlecchino servant of two masters”, side by side with the legendary actor Ferruccio Soleri.

The experience at the Piccolo Teatro continued also under the direction of Luca Ronconi and he had the opportunity to work with some of the most important directors, authors and actors in Italian and European theater.

In the same years, thanks to getting in touch with international artists (like Mario Gonzalez, Carlo Boso and others) he developed a personal vision about Commedia in connection with the modern theater.

The meeting with the Nobel Prize Dario Fo and Franca Rame in 2011 became a strong collaboration during the last years of Maestro’s life. This lead Michele to direct, in collaboration with Massimo Navone, Dario Fo’s “Mistero Buffo and other stories” at the Avignon Festival and to play the title role in “Story of Qu”, directed by Massimo Navone and Fo himself.

At the same time in cinema he played several main roles in Italy and Switzerland, becoming also a dialogue coach for movies, having the opportunity to work with stars like Matthew Modine, the Oscar award Daniela Vega, Giancarlo Giannini and many others.

Michele is an acting teacher since 1998, at the “Paolo Grassi” since 2004. He has been masks teacher at Accademia dell’Arte, a northern American foundation in Arezzo (Tuscany), becoming Head of Acting and Masters’ Director till 2015, collaborating with important USA universities.

Teacher in many workshops and master classes all around the world: USA (Emory University Atlanta GA / Boston University MA / Trinity College Providence RI / Coastal Carolina University SC/ University of Memphis TE/ University of California Irvine CA / University of Michigan IL / Brown University RI / DePaul University IL / William & Mary College VI / & others) Canada , Italy, France , Switzerland, Serbia, Kenya, India and China (Shanghai Theater Academy).