Herencias – Writings of Memory and Identity

A civil theatre festival in Rome

Herencias – Writings of Memory and Identity is the annual festival that brings the best of Spanish-language civil dramaturgy to the Teatro Palladium in Rome. Born as a project of Roma Tre University, the event reflects on forms of creative writing in the Hispanic world that address the construction of identity through collective memory, creating a dialogue between a past often marked by trauma and the challenges of the present. Now in its fifth edition in 2026, Herencias has established itself as one of the most original fixtures of the capital's spring theatre season.

The language of memory

Each edition revolves around a lexicon of testimony. In 2026, the programme is structured around seven keywords – victim, waiting, witness, terrorism, education, mass graves, body – guiding the spectator on a journey through Francoist Spain, the Argentina of the military dictatorship, and contemporary Mexico. This is not merely about historical memory: the festival contrasts the traumas of the past with a present still affected by discrimination, violence, and marginalisation, offering the Roman public a clear-eyed and engaged look at civil rights.

Theatre and dialogue

The Herencias formula combines performance with reflection. At the end of each evening, spectators meet authors, directors, translators, and performers to delve into the themes explored and the creative processes behind the productions. The texts, many of which are presented in Italian translation for the first time, come from Spanish authors – from Madrid to Andalusia, from the Basque Country to Valencia – as well as from Argentina and Mexico, and are adapted for the stage by a group of directors and professors from the Roman university.

The Teatro Palladium, home of the festival

The heart of the event is the Teatro Palladium, a historic rationalist building overlooking Piazza Bartolomeo Romano in the Garbatella district (Municipality VIII of Rome). Restored and managed by Roma Tre University, the Palladium is today one of the city's most vibrant cultural spaces, a meeting point for academic research, live performance, and neighbourhood life. Some preview events are also held at the Real Academia de España in Rome, on the Janiculum Hill.

An international project in the Lazio region

Herencias is born from the collaboration between the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures of Roma Tre University, the Real Academia de España in Rome, and the Instituto Cervantes, with the support of Acción Cultural Española and the embassies of Spain and Mexico in Italy. For the city of Rome and the entire Lazio region, the festival represents a rare bridge between the Ibero-American theatre scene and the Italian public, capable of transforming civil theatre into an opportunity for intercultural encounter. Admission to all performances is free.