International Ave Ninchi Festival – Theatre in the Dialects of Triveneto and Istria

Theatre that Speaks in Dialect

Born in 1993 as the Festival of Theatre in the Dialects of Triveneto and Istria, this Trieste event is one of the longest-running and most distinctive festivals in the region. Its mission is clear: to stage dialect theatre, promoting what is Italy's most significant dialectal community, from Triestine to Venetian and the dialects of Istria.

Dedicated to Ave Ninchi

In 1997, at the city's request, the festival was named after Ave Ninchi, an unforgettable figure in Italian theatre and cinema who chose Trieste as her home after retiring from the stage. The festival preserves her memory and embodies her spirit, a spirit of popular passion and love for the language of the stage.

Companies from all over Triveneto and Istria

The programme brings together theatre groups from Trieste, Treviso, Venice, Vicenza, and Istria, who perform in various Venetian dialectal variations. The performances are held in city theatres and the evocative Sala Luttazzi at Magazzino 26, in the Old Port of Trieste. Alongside the festival are historical initiatives such as the Teatrino, dedicated to schools, and the Salotto Giotti, which explores dialectal artistic expression.

A Living Language

Organised by the association L'Armonia APS, which brings together Triestine theatre companies, with the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the festival is a cultural stronghold that keeps a precious tradition alive. Attending a performance means rediscovering dialect not as a relic of the past, but as a vital and contemporary expressive tool.