Little Theatres — Puppets and Figure Theatre

A puppet festival in the heart of the Bolognese Apennines

Little Theatres is the historic festival of puppets and figure theatre that every year, between late May and early June, enlivens Sasso Marconi, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna. Reaching its XXVII edition in 2026, the event is entirely dedicated to families and children, and showcases the ancient and poetic art of puppets, marionettes, and shadow play.

The heart of the festival is the Giardino Gimbutas, the green space of the Municipal Library which, on early summer evenings, fills with chairs, lanterns, and laughter. In case of bad weather, the shows move indoors to the Sala Renato Giorgi and the Municipal Theatre.

Evening shows and workshops for children

The program alternates two ingredients that have made the festival famous: five evening shows entrusted to some of the best Italian figure theatre companies, and three afternoon workshops where children, guided by animators, learn to build pocket-sized theatres, masks, and bag puppets. It's the most direct way to introduce children to the puppeteer's craft, using cardboard, fabric, and imagination.

Among the protagonists of recent editions are seven-headed dragons, mischievous gnomes, the famous Fagiolino from the Bolognese puppet tradition, and entire collections of fantastic animals: simple and universal stories, told with the skill and irony of those who make this profession an art.

A tradition signed Teatrino Giullare

The artistic direction is entrusted to Teatrino Giullare, a multi-award-winning company from Sasso Marconi, while the festival is promoted by the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Sasso Marconi and included in the program of Bologna Estate, the summer schedule of the Metropolitan City of Bologna. Admission to the shows is almost always free: only for some limited-seating events is booking required.

For families in the Bolognese Apennines and for those looking for a different evening just a few kilometers from Bologna, Little Theatres is an unmissable event: real theatre, in the open air, capable of speaking to children without boring adults.