Biography

Vanda Monaco is an actor, director, and writer whose work moves between theatre, philosophy, voice, and human emotions. Born in Naples and now based in Stockholm, she works internationally across Sweden, Italy, and the United States.

Her artistic path began early through music and dance. She studied classical piano and dance while attending the French school in Naples before moving to Rome to pursue theatre. There she worked with the acclaimed actor Gian Maria Volonté while studying drama at La Sapienza University.

Alongside her work as an actor, Monaco developed an academic career focused on theatre, opera, and the relationship between performance and the human condition. Her research included a critical examination of the methods of Jerzy Grotowski, questioning approaches that relied heavily on physical and psychological endurance. She eventually earned a PhD and taught at several Italian universities.

Despite a successful academic career, Monaco chose to leave both academia and Italy in search of a wider artistic life.

That decision became a turning point.

After moving to Sweden with her husband, philosopher and logician Dag Westerståhl, Monaco continued developing an international theatre practice while living and working in countries including the United States, China, and Brazil.

In Sweden she was mentored by Erland Josephson and Gunnel Lindblom, two of Ingmar Bergman’s closest artistic collaborators. During this period she founded Tensta TeaterEnsemble, Sweden’s first multi-ethnic theatre ensemble.

Her work later expanded into collaborations that bridge theatre, science, and medicine. In the United States she co-founded Emotion Theatre (EMTH) together with scientist Federica Raia, physician Mario Deng, and playwright/director John Henry Davis. The project explores the role of emotion in the relationship between doctors and patients in an increasingly technological medical world.

For EMTH, playwright Craig Lucas wrote The Catherine Wheel, in which Monaco created the role of The Donor. Davis later directed both The Catherine Wheel and Waiting Room in New York and Los Angeles, where Monaco created the role of The Conductor.

Language, character, and dramatic text remain central to her artistic work. Voice training also continues to play a vital role in her process. She studies at the Kristin Linklater Voice Centre in New York, one of the most influential approaches to voice work in contemporary theatre.

As Monaco describes it:

“If I give a voice too early to the character I am creating, I lose it — and it will not come back to me.”

Outside the theatre, she trains in boxing at Hammarby Boxing Club in Stockholm.

Current Work

Monaco is currently developing the project Technology, Spoken Theatre, Emotions in collaboration with Tekniska Museet in Stockholm.

She serves as Artistic Director of the Relational Medicine Foundation in Los Angeles.

She also leads the international project Italy–Sweden 2-2 as both performer and director.

In 2013, she directed Stadsteater between Art and Science – Acting in the Neuroscience Era at Stockholm Stadsteater.

Academic Background

Earlier in her career, Monaco held academic positions as Associate Professor of Acting and Drama at:

• Università Orientale di Napoli

• Università di Bologna

• Università di Ferrara

• Università Suor Orsola Benincasa

She has also been Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Monaco is the author of numerous essays, theatre scripts, and plays.