The musical in Rome "Bernadette de Lourdes"

After the enormous success achieved in France, “Bernadette De Lourdes” arrives in Italy for the first time, the musical which, with its modern and universal language, tells the true story of the young French girl Bernadette Soubirous.

The Italian version will be on stage from 16 January to 16 February at the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome, to then continue on 8 March at the PalaPartenope Theater in Naples, on 15 and 16 March at the Team Theater in Bari and on 28, 29 and 30 March at the Alfieri Theater in Turin. Set in the south-west of France in the nineteenth century, “Bernadette De Lourdes” tells the extraordinary story of a fourteen-year-old who – despite living in the most destitute family of the French village in difficult conditions, illiteracy and extreme poverty – becomes a figure capable of still inspire millions of people today.

A story that goes beyond religious belief and which tells of the courage and strength of spirit of those who live on the margins of society, celebrating the resilience of a young woman who, despite the aversions and pressures of the world, remains true to herself. THEthe musical, included in the official Jubilee programmeaddresses universal themes that speak to everyone, especially young people who will be able to recognize themselves in the protagonist, a teenager who demonstrates that even those who seem to have no voice can profoundly influence society.

Acclaimed for its high artistic quality, the show has fully entered the tradition of the great French musicals such as “Notre Dame de Paris” and “Les Misèrables” thanks to its intense plot, music and immersive scenography which, since its first performance, in 2019 they won over spectators of all ages, origins and faiths.

Scenography, costumes and arrangements are handled respectively by Stèphane Roy, Mèrédith Caron and Scott Price. Produced by E’le’onore de Galard and Roberto Ciurleo (creators of great shows such as “The Three Musketeers”, “Saturday Night Fever” and “Robin Hood” in France) and by Gad Elmaleh and Fatima Lucarini, the musical is based exclusively on authentic and verbal documents of the time.

The executive production is by Coesioni. Furthermore, in 2026 the film of the original French show will arrive in cinemas in over 100 countries, while the musical will arrive on Broadway and other US theaters.

Bernadette Soubirous was a 14-year-old girl when she found herself near the Massabielle cave, along the banks of the Gave river, and for the first time, she saw a Lady dressed in white, an apparition that would arouse disbelief and debate. The story of Saint Bernadette begins from this event. One hundred and sixty years ago, Bernadette lived in extreme poverty.

His family lived in the cachot, a former prison. He suffered from asthma and had not had the opportunity to learn to read or write. On February 11, 1858, his life changed forever. Going out to look for wood, a sudden gust of wind drew her attention towards the Massabielle cave. It was then that he saw a Lady dressed in white.

Bernadette described her thus: “She wore a white dress, a white veil, a blue belt and a yellow rose on each foot, the same color as her rosary chain.”

Struck by this vision, Bernadette began to refer to her with the Occitan term Aquero (“That one over there”). Over the next five months, the young woman had 18 apparitions of the Ladywhich eventually presented itself as the Immaculate Conception. During the apparitions, Bernadette performed unusual gestures, such as digging with her hands in the earth of the cave to discover a source of muddy water with which she washed her face.

On March 2, the Lady asked her: “Go and tell the priests to come here in procession and to build a chapel”. These events caused a great stir, prompting the Bishop of Tarbes to form a commission of inquiry made up of priests and men of science. Bernadette had to face long and demanding interrogations by both civil and ecclesiastical authorities.

Was she a visionary? A liar? A manipulator? Despite his young age, Bernadette replied with serenity and determination, demonstrating a strength of mind that convinced the commission and the Bishop. In 1862, it was declared that the apparitions had “all the hallmarks of truth” and that the faithful could consider them authentic. On 4 July 1866, Bernadette left Lourdes to enter the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity in Nevers.

In 1867, he took religious vows and began caring for the sick at the convent infirmary. However, she too suffered because of a serious lung disease that accompanied her until her death on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35.

Her last words were: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.” In 1933, Pope Pius XI canonized her for the exemplary nature of her religious life. Today his body rests in the chapel of the Sisters of Charity in Nevers. After Bernadette’s death, Lourdes became one of the main places of Marian pilgrimage for Christians around the world, attracting millions of faithful every year, including many Italians.