Pop superstar Madonna celebrated her 66th birthday by visiting the ancient city of Pompeii and making a generous donation to a local theatre project for children.
Madonna visited Pompeii on Friday night, accompanied by her team. During her visit, she met with a group of teenagers involved in a theatre project called "Dream of Flying." This project, organized by the Pompeii museum, helps local young people participate in cultural performances.
The Pompeii museum announced that Madonna decided to support the project by funding it for the entire 2024/2025 season. The museum’s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, gave Madonna and her team a private tour of the famous archaeological site. After the tour, some of the young actors performed a part of their work for Madonna and her team.
Fans of Madonna waited for hours outside the entrance to the site, hoping to see the pop icon.
The "Dream of Flying" project has been running for four years and has a budget of about 250,000 euros. So far, it has involved around 300 teenagers and children from the local area. These young people take part as actors, musicians, and writers.
The project had a premiere at Pompeii's large theatre this year, and it has also toured other Italian cities like Bologna and Ravenna. A performance in Vicenza is planned for the fall.
Organisers mentioned that next year's play is still being decided, but it might be a comedy by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. The children involved in the project will adapt the text to include their own experiences, blending classical themes with modern elements and jokes in the Neapolitan dialect.
