Interpretare l'Antico

A festival that makes the classics speak

Interpretare l'Antico is one of the most anticipated cultural events at the end of summer in Giardini-Naxos, in the province of Messina, in the heart of the Ionian Sicily. The festival was born from a clear vision: to bring the myths, tragedies, and comedies of antiquity back to the stage, not as dusty relics, but as living tools to interpret the present. Each edition selects a thematic thread and entrusts directors and companies with the task of reinterpreting the classical heritage using the languages of contemporary theatre.

The Teatro della Nike, a stage between archaeology and the sea

The performances take place at the Teatro della Nike, an open-air stage set up within the Naxos Archaeological Park, the first Greek colony in Sicily. Performing among the excavations of the island's oldest Greek city, with the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna in the background, gives every performance a unique evocative power: the myth returns home, to the places that gave it birth.

Direction and partner network

The festival is directed by Gigi Spedale and promoted by Rete Latitudini, the Sicilian theatre network. It is supported by the Municipality of Giardini-Naxos and benefits from the collaboration of ERSU Messina, the DAMS/COSPECS course of the University of Messina, the Naxos Archaeological Park, and the NaxosLegge festival, with which it shares a common perspective on myth and the spoken word.

Performances and awards

The programme alternates between adaptations of Greek tragedies and comedies, original plays inspired by mythological figures, and productions from the Sicilian and national theatre scene. At the end of the festival, the L'Ombra di Dioniso prize is awarded, a recognition dedicated to those who, through their work, keep the dialogue between ancient and contemporary theatre alive.

When it takes place

Interpretare l'Antico is traditionally held in September, over the course of several evenings spread across a week. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced, but the festival is now a well-established and annual appointment in Giardini-Naxos: director Gigi Spedale has confirmed its continuity during the "Aspettando NaxosLegge 2026" meetings.