ExtraOrdinario (Live) Festival

A festival bringing the arts to where they are usually absent

ExtraOrdinario (Live) Festival is a multidisciplinary and inclusive arts event held in Rome, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio. Conceived and directed by Compagnia Controtempo ETS, the project stems from the idea that live art should not be confined to city-centre venues, but should inhabit the peripheral neighbourhoods, villages, streets, squares, parks, and green spaces of the Capital. This is how theatre, circus, and musical performances reach an audience that rarely frequents traditional theatres.

The origins: from Pinerolo to Rome

The ExtraOrdinario project was born in 2021 on the initiative of Compagnia Controtempo, which held its first editions in Pinerolo, Piedmont. In 2024, the formula arrived in the Capital with its first Roman edition, named ExtraOrdinario Live Festival, hosted in the spaces of Municipio XV and various neighbourhood theatres. Since then, the festival has become a permanent fixture in the Roman cultural calendar, supported by the cultural funding programmes of Roma Capitale.

A truly multidisciplinary programme

What sets ExtraOrdinario apart is the breadth of artistic languages it employs. The bill typically features:

• theatrical performances, including itinerant versions and commedia dell'arte;
• contemporary circus, clowning, and aerial acrobatics;
• dance and hip-hop performances;
• concerts and musical ensembles with Balkan and folk repertoires;
• stand-up comedy, with open mics for emerging artists;
• workshops in performing arts: music, circus techniques, playwriting, acting, theatrical clowning, stage combat choreography, as well as scientific and eco-sustainability workshops.

Themes: diversity, inclusion, environment

The festival is more than just a showcase of performances. Each edition revolves around precise themes: social, cultural, gender, and philosophical diversity; disability, with workshops designed for people with disabilities; women's empowerment; and the environment and eco-sustainability. Live performance thus becomes a tool for dialogue, with public readings, meetings, and presentations accompanying the artistic programme.

The festival locations

The festival's geography is one of its most recognisable features. The heart of the event remains Municipio XV, in the northern quadrant of the city, with events in Isola Farnese, the village of Cesano, the Anfiteatro delle Galline Bianche in Labaro, Parco Papacci, and Parco della Rimessola. These are joined by theatres in other areas of Rome: Teatro San Gaspare in the Arco di Travertino area and Fortezza Est in Torpignattara, both highly active cultural hubs, as well as Teatro Tor Bella Monaca in Municipio VII.

Why it's worth visiting

ExtraOrdinario is an excellent gateway to the Rome that doesn't appear in tourist guides: that of the agricultural villages on the outskirts of the city, neighbourhood parks, and independent theatres. The formula, with almost all events free of charge, makes it suitable for families and those who want to experience theatre and contemporary circus without economic barriers. The workshops, often free upon reservation, also allow you to step onto the stage and try the artists' techniques firsthand.