National Dialect Theatre Festival «Maschera d'Oro»

A landmark for dialect theatre in Abruzzo

The «Città di Lanciano – Maschera d'Oro» National Dialect Theatre Festival is one of the most deeply rooted cultural events in the municipality of Lanciano, in the heart of the Chieti province in Abruzzo. Conceived in 2003 by the Associazione Amici della Ribalta, with the enthusiastic support of the municipal administration, the festival has grown over the years into a nationally renowned event, attracting amateur companies from many Italian regions.

How the festival works

Performances take place at the Teatro Comunale Fedele Fenaroli, the city's historic Italian-style theatre, on Sunday afternoons at 5:00 PM, from January to April. Each season features a selection of companies—in recent years, six troupes, three from outside the region and three from Abruzzo—who perform brilliant comedies and traditional works strictly in dialect. At the end of the festival, a jury awards the prizes.

The awards

• Maschera d'Oro — Best show in competition
• Maschera d'Argento — Best performance
• Awards for best direction, best supporting actor, and best supporting actress
• Audience award, best set design, and best original script

Cultural value

More than just a competition, the «Maschera d'Oro» serves as a guardian of dialects and popular memory. Vernacular theatre, with its comedies and characters, preserves idioms, trades, and atmospheres that might otherwise disappear. It is no coincidence that the editions often open and close with tributes to great Abruzzese dialect authors, such as the poet Modesto Della Porta from Guardiagrele.

Lanciano and the Teatro Fenaroli

Lanciano, an important city of art in the Abruzzo hinterland, offers festival-goers a historic centre rich in monuments, from the Cathedral of Madonna del Ponte to the Torri Montanare. The Teatro Fedele Fenaroli, named after the Lanciano-born composer, is the ideal setting for a festival that combines tradition, conviviality, and a passion for the stage.