Diffusioni Teatrali
The itinerant theatre festival bringing the stage to the villages of the Ossola Valley
About Diffusioni Teatrali
Theatre beyond the stage
Diffusioni Teatrali is a festival of itinerant theatre conceived and organized by Compagnia dell'Ozio, a cultural group based in Bannio Anzino, a small town in the Anzasca Valley, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (Piedmont). The concept is as simple as it is ambitious: to bring high-quality theatre to places where it rarely reaches—villages, hamlets, and valleys of the Ossola region—where large venues may be lacking, but audiences are not. The company's motto says it all: «Theatre always, everywhere, and for everyone».
A season travelling through the Ossola villages
The heart of Diffusioni Teatrali lies in its itinerant nature. Performances do not take place in a single venue but move from town to town, transforming unusual and evocative spaces into stages: churches and sanctuaries, parish theatres, historic halls, castles, and courtyards. Over the years, the festival has involved numerous municipalities in the Ossola region, including Varzo (with the Teatro Alveare and the Church of San Giorgio), Vogogna (with the Visconti Castle), Domodossola, Macugnaga, Cuzzego, and Bannio Anzino itself, with the hamlet of Anzino and its Sanctuary of Saint Anthony of Padua.
A programme for every taste
The schedule covers a wide range of genres to engage a diverse audience of all ages: brilliant comedies, dramas, musicals, social and political theatre, storytelling, and musical performances. The festival stages have hosted prominent names from the Italian scene alongside independent productions and young companies, always with the goal of offering quality theatre that is accessible and deeply connected to local communities.
Deeply rooted in the territory
Founded in 2024 and growing with every edition, Diffusioni Teatrali has become a highly anticipated event in the Ossola spring calendar. The festival is supported by local institutions and organizations—including the Fondazione Comunitaria del VCO, Fondazione CRT, local Pro Loco associations, and the participating municipalities—representing a virtuous example of how culture can enliven even small mountain towns, strengthening the bond between the valleys and their identity.
Diffusioni Teatrali — edition 2026
The third edition of Diffusioni Teatrali, titled «Fo and Francis - the church and the square», focused on two iconic figures of 2026: Saint Francis of Assisi, marking 800 years since his death, and Dario Fo, celebrating the centenary of his birth. The festival, organized by Compagnia dell'Ozio in the Ossola region, offered fourteen shows for all ages and genres, ranging from social theatre to comedy, musicals, and storytelling.
Programme Diffusioni Teatrali 2026
The third edition of Diffusioni Teatrali took place from April 24 to June 12, 2026, with fourteen performances spread across the Ossola villages, particularly at the Teatro Alveare in Varzo and the Visconti Castle in Vogogna, as well as other locations in the valley.
Inauguration — April 24, Domodossola
- 21:00 — «Mistero Buffo» by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, with Matthias Martelli, directed by Eugenio Allegri. Auditorium Tullio Bertamini, Collegio Mellerio Rosmini.
May 9 — Anzino (Bannio Anzino)
- 21:00 — «Io, Francesco», written and performed by Matteo Minetti, with Matteo Riva and Siria Giraldo. A portrait of Saint Francis far from the «sanctified» image, grappling with doubts and questions in dialogue with Clare, Leo, Elias, Bernardone, and Pica. Sanctuary of Saint Anthony of Padua.
May 30 — Varzo
- 21:00 — «Tap the Mask», a show weaving together theatre and rhythm.
Closing performance — June 12, Domodossola
- 21:00 — «S (Messing with Stravinskij)», a Parpignol production, an atypical, playful, and «punk» theatrical experience reworking Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, with the Devil as a shapeshifting figure. Cavea of the medieval tower.
The programme included comedies, dramas, musicals, and social theatre for all ages. For the full list of the fourteen events, please refer to the official Compagnia dell'Ozio website.
Highlights Diffusioni Teatrali 2026
- «Mistero Buffo» with Matthias Martelli (directed by Eugenio Allegri) for the opening
- «Io, Francesco» by and with Matteo Minetti, at the Sanctuary of Anzino
- «S (Messing with Stravinskij)», Parpignol production, for the closing in Domodossola
- Edition theme: 800 years of Saint Francis and the centenary of Dario Fo
Prices Diffusioni Teatrali 2026
Practical information — Diffusioni Teatrali
How to get there
The Ossola region is accessible by train via the Domodossola–Milan line (and from Switzerland via the Simplon Pass). From Domodossola, the festival's main hub, other villages (Varzo, Vogogna, Bannio Anzino, Macugnaga) can be reached by car or local bus services.
Tickets
Tickets for individual shows are available for pre-sale on ticketsms.it, with discounted rates for those under 18 and members of partner associations. Some events are free or based on voluntary donations.
Information
For the complete and updated programme, show times, and locations, please consult the official website of Compagnia dell'Ozio and their social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Diffusioni Teatrali
Compagnia dell'Ozio
Via del Ri 2, 28871 Bannio Anzino