Col Teatro si diventa grandi

Returning to Grottaglie, with three new shows, is the 2026 season for children and young people called "La scena dei ragazzi - With Theatre, We Grow Up," organized by the Municipality of Grottaglie - Cultural Department, in collaboration with Puglia Culture at the Teatro Monticello in Grottaglie. The performances are aimed at preschool, primary, and first-grade secondary schools. In this edition, the second show of the season, which focuses on the figure of Giuseppe Garibaldi, is also aimed at second-grade secondary schools.

The children's theatre season 2026 kicks off on February 23 with the play "Beauty and the Beast" by Il baule volante, a theatre company from Ferrara. The performance is targeted at children and young people from 7 to 12 years old (two performances, at 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM, a show by Roberto Anglisani and Liliana Letterese, featuring Liliana Letterese and Andrea Lugli, directed by Roberto Anglisani, with stage movements curated by Caterina Tavolini, based on the text by M.me Leprince de Beaumont). This actor and dance theatre show explores themes of diversity, overcoming fears, and love. Through the captivating intertwining of this classic fairy tale, the aim is to reflect on current issues and universal values. Thus, a story rich in charm and emotion is created, with hidden meanings revealed through words and movement.

The schedule continues on March 4 and 5 with "Garibaldi Swing - A Semiserious History of a Country and Its Heroes" (for ages 11 and up, at 10:30 AM), by the Crest company from Taranto (text and direction by Giuseppe Ciciriello, music by Piero Santoro, featuring Giuseppe Ciciriello as narrator and mandolin, Loris Leoci as narrator, double bass, and guitar, Piero Santoro on accordion, costumes by Maria Martinese, lighting by Walter Mirabile). It is a moment to narrate on stage the story of a national hero with irony and youthful passion, linking the past to the present and reflecting on the importance of historical knowledge and civic and social values.

The season concludes on April 15 and 16 with "The Forgetful Elephant and the Nosy Duck" by Burambò (for ages 3 to 7, at 10:30 AM), a poetic and adventurous show that tells the story of an elephant who, having freed himself from his bad memories, risks losing himself, becoming light but forgetful. Thanks to his encounter with the lively Duck Teresina, he will discover that memory and friendship are the keys to identity and freedom: an exciting fairy tale about growing up and the courage to be oneself while maintaining one's values.

"We are proud to present a new season of theatre for children and young people in collaboration with Puglia Culture and with the participation of local schools, which we thank," declares the Councillor for Culture and Public Education Raffaella Capriglia. "Theatre represents, in this case, a privileged space for growth, discussion, and the formation of critical thinking. The schedule is designed to offer young people not only moments of quality entertainment but also opportunities for deep reflection on themselves and the community in which they live. The selected shows address, in forms and languages suitable for different ages, themes of strong civic, social, psychological, and human relevance: respect for others, individual and collective responsibility, emotional listening, and the construction of identity. Theatre becomes an educational tool capable of stimulating empathy, awareness, and active participation. Investing in a cultural proposal aimed at young people means investing in the future of our community. As an Administration, we believe that culture should be accessible, inclusive, and able to engage with the challenges of the present, guiding children and young people on a journey of discovery, imagination, and conscious citizenship."