Marchigiano Dialects Festival in Comparison

Dialect theatre, the heart of Marchigiano tradition

The Marchigiano Dialects Festival in Comparison is one of the most followed dialect theatre reviews in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino. It takes place at the Giovanni Branca Cinema Theatre in Sant'Angelo in Lizzola, a hamlet of the Municipality of Vallefoglia, and for five Sunday afternoons between January and February, it stages comedies in the local dialect, pitting amateur companies from the area against each other in a true contest of skill and charm.

The initiative was created to preserve the dialects of the Marche region, considered by the organizers to be a fundamental heritage for passing on the popular culture and tradition of the Marche to younger generations. Different dialects are showcased on stage—from Fano to Urbino—telling the story of a territory made up of unique linguistic nuances, each with its own rhythm and flavour.

A competition review

The festival is structured as a competition between companies: every Sunday a different company presents its dialect comedy, while the final evening hosts a non-competitive performance and the announcement of the winning company. The jury is drawn from FITA Marche (Italian Federation of Amateur Theatre), which co-organizes the event together with the Municipal Administration of Vallefoglia.

The performances begin in the late afternoon, at 5:15 PM, a time designed for families and for those who want to spend a winter Sunday filled with laughter and culture. The comedies range from farce to comic mystery, always with that popular flavour and comedic wit that characterize vernacular theatre.

An event rooted in the territory

Over the years, the review has become a reference point for amateur theatre enthusiasts throughout the Marche Region and ideally paves the way for other dialect initiatives in the area. The consistent public success from one edition to the next confirms how much dialect comedy remains alive and beloved, capable of filling the hall of the Branca Theatre for every event.

Where it is held

The Giovanni Branca Cinema Theatre is located in Sant'Angelo in Lizzola, one of the historic hamlets of Vallefoglia, a municipality formed by the merger of Sant'Angelo in Lizzola and Colbordolo in the Foglia river valley, in the hinterland of Pesaro. A secluded and welcoming setting, perfect for a dialect performance.