Over the Rainbow — Theatre Holiday Workshop

A workshop-holiday between theatre and nature

In the village of San Benedetto Belbo, a tiny municipality in the Alta Langa area of the Cuneo province (Piedmont), Over the Rainbow takes the stage every late August. Described by its organizers as "an unusual and curious theatre-holiday workshop open to everyone," it is not a traditional festival, but rather a week-long immersive experience that combines theatrical practice with the slow discovery of the Langhe landscape. It is led by Teatro Caverna APS, a company and association that has chosen the Langhe as its home for artistic research.

The Guide: Damiano Grasselli

The theatrical journey is directed by Damiano Grasselli, an actor, director, and documentary filmmaker who has collaborated with prominent figures in Italian experimental theatre. His work focuses particularly on soundscapes and their evocative power, an element that gives the workshop its unique sensory imprint. The approach is designed to be accessible: the group is intentionally intergenerational, open to people from 6 to 99 years old, regardless of previous theatrical experience.

The Langhe of Beppe Fenoglio

The common thread of the entire experience is the connection to Beppe Fenoglio, the writer who set his novel "La malora" right here in San Benedetto Belbo. The days alternate between stage work and walks or hikes in the countryside, exploring the sites associated with Fenoglio, the Belbo stream, and the trails of the Alta Langa. It is this blend of literature, landscape, and theatre that makes the village, as the organizers write, "the perfect setting to immerse oneself in a fairytale universe."

A Regional Project

Over the Rainbow was born as a shared project between several municipalities in the Alta Langa. Past editions have seen collaboration between San Benedetto Belbo, Arguello, Mombarcaro, and Paroldo, alongside local associations like the Circolo ACLI Agrifoglio, with the support of the Fondazione CRC. It is a cultural initiative that brings life and visitors to tiny villages, enhancing the network of towns in the Cuneo territory.

The Final Performance

The workshop concludes with a public performance of the work created: a show open to the entire village that allows even those who did not participate to witness the results of the week. It is the moment when the group's intimate experience becomes a shared celebration for San Benedetto Belbo and the surrounding towns.