Formia Classical Theatre Festival

Ancient theatre comes to life in Formia

Established in 2016, the Formia Classical Theatre Festival has quickly become one of the most solid theatrical events of the summer in the municipality of Formia, in the province of Latina, southern Lazio. The formula is simple and successful: bringing masterpieces of ancient and modern theatre to a venue that is a spectacle in itself, the Caposele Archaeological Area, where Roman ruins overlook the sea of the Gulf of Gaeta.

The artistic direction is entrusted to Vincenzo Zingaro, a director and actor who has worked for over thirty years on the promotion and enhancement of classical theatre, for which he has also been recognized by the Chamber of Deputies. Alongside him, the Castalia Cultural Association and the Teatro Arcobaleno of Rome, a permanent centre for classical theatre, ensure professional companies and meticulously curated productions.

A programme that spans the centuries

The festival is not limited to Greek tragedy: the programme alternates with balance between the Latin comedy of Plautus, the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, the satire of Aristophanes, but also Machiavelli, Ben Jonson, Manzoni, Molière, and even forays into 20th-century literature such as Hemingway. It is this variety that makes the programme accessible even to those who do not habitually attend classical theatre: one can move from an evening of laughter to one of great dramatic intensity.

• Latin comedy: Plautus is a regular presence, with brilliant and rhythmic adaptations.
• Greek tragedy: Medea, Antigone, Electra, and Orestes return regularly to the programme.
• Modern classics: Molière, Manzoni, Machiavelli, Ben Jonson.
• Narration and live music: some performances combine acting, singing, and live instrumental music.

The Caposele Archaeological Area

The venue is an integral part of the experience. Caposele preserves the traces of ancient Formiae, a Roman city beloved by the republican and imperial aristocracy — Cicero had one of his villas here, and his famous mausoleum is located within the Formia territory. Performing Plautus or Seneca a few metres from two-thousand-year-old walls, with the sound of the sea in the background, restores a dimension to the text that no indoor theatre can replicate.

The auditorium, initially with about 200 seats, has been expanded to 300 to meet the constant growth of the audience: a figure that tells the story of the event's success better than any press release.

A public and popular project

The Festival is produced by the Municipality of Formia with the support of the Lazio Region, and this public nature is reflected in the pricing policy: affordable full-price tickets, free admission for under-18s and wheelchair users, and subscriptions that further reduce the cost per evening. The stated goal is to bring a wide audience closer to classical theatre, including families and tourists on holiday along the Riviera of Ulysses.

When to go and what to expect

Performances are concentrated between the second half of July and the first days of August, always starting at 9:30 PM. The evenings are outdoors: it is advisable to bring a light jumper because, even in mid-summer, after 11:00 PM, the breeze rising from the gulf can be felt. The box office opens on-site on the evening of the performance, but on August weekends, it is prudent to purchase tickets online in advance.

For those visiting lower Lazio, the festival combines well with a day at the beach in Formia or Gaeta and with discovering the local archaeological heritage: the National Archaeological Museum of Formia, the Tomb of Cicero, and the hilltop villages of the Aurunci Mountains are all reachable in a few minutes.