Emersioni

A summer of theatre in the heart of Ciociaria

Emersioni is the summer cultural festival that brings Fiuggi, in the province of Frosinone, Southern Lazio, to life. Created to give space to what usually remains submerged—minor languages, young voices, and oral traditions—the event has established itself over time as one of the most anticipated appointments of the Ciociarian summer, reaching its ninth edition in 2026.

The festival is curated by TDO Compagnia Teatrale, the resident company of Fiuggi, together with Fiuggi Teatro Scuola, and runs from June to September with a calendar alternating evening shows, readings, meetings, and screenings.

Theatre, poetry, and cinema under the stars

The programming is deliberately multidisciplinary. Alongside classic theatrical repertoire, there are new narratives and original productions by the company, often created in collaboration with national institutions. A significant part of the programme is dedicated to poetry, with the historic Night of the Poets, and to open-air cinema, with free screenings that also involve young authors and travelling festivals.

• Theatrical performances, usually starting at 9:00 PM
• Staged readings and poetry recitals, often with free admission
• Open-air film screenings
• Closing medieval feast on the staircase of the Teatro Comunale

The venues: the Teatro Comunale and the historic centre

The heart of the festival is the Teatro Comunale of Fiuggi, in Piazza Trento e Trieste, but Emersioni frequently steps outside the theatre: the grand theatre staircase becomes a natural amphitheatre for open-air shows, while the alleys and small squares of Fiuggi Città—the upper, medieval part of the village—host narrative paths and itinerant moments. It is a way to help residents and spa tourists rediscover an urban fabric made of arches, staircases, and sudden open spaces.

Folk roots and dialect

One of the festival's hallmarks is its focus on folk culture and the oral traditions of Lazio. The 2026 edition is particularly dedicated to Italian vernacular poetry, with a selection curated by artistic director Antonello Bianchi that combines literary rigour with the expressive power of dialects. Here, dialect is not postcard folklore, but living stage material: it is the language in which the communities of the Lazio hinterland have told their stories for centuries.

The medieval finale

The festival traditionally concludes in early September with In Taberna Quando Sumus, a free medieval feast that transforms the theatre staircase into a period tavern, filled with songs, playful sonnets, and troubadour music. The title references a famous medieval song featured in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. The protagonists are the young performers of the Fiuggi Teatro Scuola, confirming the project's educational vocation.

Why visit

Emersioni is a festival tailored to the town, without big-name headliners but with a rare coherence: well-executed theatre, often free, in beautiful locations just a stone's throw from the famous Fiuggi Springs. For those staying in the spa town during the summer, it is the natural choice for an evening outdoors; for those arriving from Rome or Frosinone, it is a great reason to stop for dinner in the historic centre before the show.