Ottobre a Teatro – Amateur Theater Festival

A tradition of Trentino popular theater

Ottobre a Teatro is one of the longest-running amateur theater festivals in Trentino-Alto Adige. Every autumn, between late September and early November, the event brings six evenings of dialect theater performed by local drama groups to Riva del Garda, on the shores of Lake Garda. The festival is organized by the I Sarcaioli company and is sponsored by the Municipality of Riva del Garda and Cofas (Associated Amateur Drama Companies), with the support of the Cassa Rurale Alto Garda-Rovereto.

Six Saturdays of dialect comedy

The heart of Ottobre a Teatro is comedy in the Trentino dialect, a genre cultivated here with passion and affection by the local audience. Each edition features six shows, staged on Saturday nights at 8:45 PM (with the final performance sometimes on a Sunday). The invited companies come from all over the province of Trento and beyond: over the years, groups from Sarche, Cembra, Revò, Fondo, Sopramonte, Gardolo, and Preore have taken the stage, alongside troupes from the neighboring Veneto region. The program alternates between farces, brilliant comedies, and traditional popular plays, showcasing amateur authors and actors who keep the local language and identity alive.

The festival venues

For many years, the festival was held in the Don Bosco parish theater on Viale dei Tigli. Starting with the 2025 edition, the evenings have been split between the oratory and the new Auditorium Hall of the Alto Garda and Ledro Community, a renovated space inaugurated during the event itself. Riva del Garda, an elegant town at the northern tip of Lake Garda, provides the perfect setting for a night of theater, combined with the chance to explore the village and its lakeside promenade.

Supporting amateur drama

Ottobre a Teatro was created to support amateur theater and the small companies of Trentino, offering them a stage and a loyal audience. The festival is a community event that combines the pleasure of dialect comedy with the preservation of a deep-rooted cultural tradition. Affordable pricing—8 euros for a single ticket and 42 euros for a six-show season pass—confirms the festival's inclusive and popular spirit.

An autumn staple in Alto Garda

With nearly thirty years of history, Ottobre a Teatro has become a classic of the cultural autumn in Alto Garda. Every Saturday, the event draws a large and faithful audience that fills the hall to laugh and be moved by the stories told in the local dialect. It is an authentic way to experience Riva del Garda outside the summer tourist season and rediscover the warmth of local village theater.