Judith Malina founded the Living Theatre with her husband Julian Beck in 1947. The groundbreaking, political, experimental theatre group is currently the longest producing in the United States. Winner of four Obie Awards, the company hijacked the history of American theater in the 20th century, bringing the performances to streets and prisons, standing against the Vietnam War, the death penalty and any form of violence. Decades after their start Julian has long passed away, while 88-year-old Judith kept writing and directing until April 10th, 2015 when she died of respiratory distress caused by her emphysema. Judith was tiny, in her last years she looked frail from a distance, but from her little chair, tinted black hair and bright pink nails, she still had the demeanor and the following of a queen. Working with young company members, her main concern was to pass her message to the following generation, ensuring the survival of the Living Theatre and its values. The collective now goes forward in her memory. If Judith will stay a living symbol of a revolutionary time in theater and politics, I looked at her as a woman, struck by her integrity, her wit and fragilities.
Gaia Squarci
Gaia Squarci is a photographer and cinematographer based between New York City and Milan.