Maricchia Festival
The theatre festival dedicated to the female universe in Capaci
About Maricchia
A festival dedicated to women in the heart of Sicily
The Maricchia Festival is a theatre and cultural event held in Capaci, a town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily. Established in 2023 under the aegis of UILT Sicilia (Italian Free Theatre Union) and organized by the Il Carro di Tespi Cultural Association of Capaci, the festival dedicates every edition to the female universe, explored through the languages of theatre, photography, and cultural dialogue.
The artistic direction is led by Maria Ansaldi, who has created an event capable of blending high-quality amateur research theatre with social awareness regarding women's issues, standing against stereotypes and gender-based violence.
Three pillars: theatre, photography, and conferences
The festival's identity is built on three pillars that are renewed each year:
- The theatre competition — the heart of the event, reserved for national and international companies performing short plays (lasting approximately fifteen minutes) featuring a female protagonist.
- The photography contest — a visual perspective on the figure of the woman and the feeling of "being a woman".
- The conference — a moment for reflection and debate with experts, psychologists, and artists, dedicated to themes of the female condition, self-determination, and the fight against stereotypes.
A cultural and social vocation
Since its first edition in 2023, hosted at the Castello La Grua Talamanca in Carini to coincide with the anniversary of the Baroness of Carini's murder, Maricchia has linked artistic expression with civil engagement. The festival has since taken root in Capaci, where every spring it transforms the stage into a laboratory for psychological and artistic inquiry into female figures, from the protagonists of the Holy Scriptures to the literary universe of Luigi Pirandello.
A benchmark event for Sicilian amateur theatre and the cultural commitment of UILT, the Maricchia Festival is now a highly anticipated appointment in the cultural landscape of the Palermo province.
Maricchia — edition 2026
The third edition of the Maricchia Festival, hosted in Capaci on May 16-17, 2026, focused on the female universe as interpreted through the genius of Luigi Pirandello. The "Corti di donna" theatre competition invited directors and actors to bring new energy to the protagonists of Pirandello's texts in short plays lasting up to fifteen minutes. Alongside the theatre, the "sentirsi donna" photography contest and a conference explored the relevance of Pirandello's female figures and their ability to anticipate the battles for autonomy and intellectual self-determination.
The festival is organized by the Il Carro di Tespi Cultural Association of Capaci, under the artistic direction of Maria Ansaldi and the aegis of UILT Sicilia.
Programme Maricchia 2026
The "Corti di donna" theatre competition
The heart of the 2026 edition, the competition featured short plays (maximum duration fifteen minutes) starring a female figure from the literary universe of Luigi Pirandello, performed by national and international companies.
The Jury
Chaired by Lillo Ciotta, actor, director, and regional president of UILT Sicilia, with jurors Gianfranco Barbagallo (lawyer and actor), Maria Elisa Aspresso (psychologist and trainer), Biancarossa Castello (trainer), and Vincenzo Costanzo (actor and trainer).
Awards
- Best Show and Critics' Prize: "L'autre fils" by the Collettivo Con-Tatto of Vittoria, written, directed, and performed by Cinzia Aronica and Francesco Savarino.
- Best Supporting Actress: Carmelita Lombardo.
Photography contest and conference
The "sentirsi donna" photography contest and the conference completed the program, analyzing the contemporary relevance of Pirandello's female figures and their influence on modern culture.
Highlights Maricchia 2026
Prices Maricchia 2026
Practical information — Maricchia
Location
The festival takes place in Capaci (PA), Sicily, a few kilometres from Palermo along the Tyrrhenian coast.
How to get there
By car: take the A29 Palermo–Mazara del Vallo motorway, exit at Capaci. By train: the Capaci station is served by the Palermo–Trapani regional line. The nearest airport is Falcone-Borsellino in Palermo (Punta Raisi), located a short distance away.
Admission
Previous editions of the festival have offered free admission to performances and conferences. For competition registration and program updates, it is recommended to check the official channels of UILT Sicilia and the Il Carro di Tespi association.
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Where does it take place — Maricchia
Capaci