Amateur Theatre Festival — City of Grammichele

A theatre festival in the hexagonal heart of Grammichele

The Amateur Theatre Festival — City of Grammichele is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the Grammichele summer. Promoted by the Gruppo Teatrale Mario Grosso with the support of the Municipality of Grammichele and the Sicilian Region, the festival transforms the evocative Piazza Carlo Maria Carafa into a grand open-air stage, where local amateur companies perform over several evenings.

The spirit of the event

The festival is driven by a desire to showcase the passion for amateur theatre and foster a lively exchange between companies from different Sicilian provinces. Each evening, a different group takes the stage with their own play, often in the Sicilian vernacular, offering the local audience nights of culture, laughter, and social connection. Free admission makes the festival a popular and inclusive event, bringing together families, enthusiasts, and curious visitors in the city's urban living room.

The setting: Grammichele, the hexagonal city

The festival takes place in Grammichele, in the Province of Catania, a town famous for its hexagonal urban layout, designed and founded in 1693 by Prince Carlo Maria Carafa following the Val di Noto earthquake. The central square bearing his name, the authentic geometric heart of the town, provides an ideal scenic backdrop for the evening performances, which begin after sunset when the summer temperature becomes milder.

Program and atmosphere

• Multiple evenings of theatrical performances, typically starting at 8:30 PM
• Comedies and plays from the amateur repertoire, often in Sicilian dialect
• Guest companies from various provinces of the island
• Closing night with an awards ceremony

The Amateur Theatre Festival confirms Grammichele's role as a reference point for popular theatrical culture in the Calatino area, within a rich summer calendar that enlivens the historic centre during the months of July and August.