Paolo Grassi Municipal Theatre Season

The return of the Paolo Grassi Theatre to Cisternino

After five years of silence, the Paolo Grassi Municipal Theatre in Cisternino has finally lit up its stage once again. Located in Largo dei Navigatori, in the heart of one of the most beautiful villages in the Itria Valley, this historic venue has reclaimed its role as a cultural landmark for the Municipality of Cisternino, the province of Brindisi, and the entire Puglia region. This theatre season represents the first step in this rebirth: a curated programme designed to showcase the best of contemporary theatre from both the local Apulian scene and the national stage.

A signature series in the Itria Valley

The season is curated by the Municipality of Cisternino in collaboration with Puglia Culture, the regional consortium that manages the theatre circuit of the Puglia Region, of which the Municipality is a member. The central theme of the programme focuses on language, bonds, and memory: the stage becomes a lens through which to explore relationships, Italian music, literature, silence, and the cinematic imagination. The performances range from prose and live music to poetic, wordless contemporary circus, creating a journey that speaks to a broad and diverse audience.

The Programme

The season features six signature performances, starting at 9:00 PM, with doors opening at 8:30 PM. The lineup includes renowned names from the theatre and the Apulian scene:

• SPOS(s)ATI with Antonio Stornaiolo and Daniela Baldassarra, an ironic deconstruction of the epic of the couple;
• Lucio incontra Lucio, with Sebastiano Somma and the Orchestra da Camera della Campania, a musical dialogue between Lucio Battisti and Lucio Dalla;
• Il riso e la peste by Teatro delle Forche, based on Boccaccio's Decameron;
• Quanto basta, written and directed by Alessandro Piva, starring Paolo Sassanelli and Lucia Zotti;
• The Barnard Loop by DispensaBarzotti / Teatro Necessario Circo, a blend of clowning and wordless magic;
• FELLINIROTA, a concert-narrative by Maestro Mario Margiotta exploring the world of Federico Fellini and Nino Rota.

Tickets and Information

The season offers full-season subscriptions as well as individual tickets, with discounted rates for young people and groups. Tickets are available at the theatre box office, online via the Vivaticket network, and at authorized retailers. Attending a show at the Paolo Grassi is also a perfect opportunity to rediscover Cisternino, the white village of the Itria Valley, famous for its trulli, winding historic alleys, and traditional Apulian gastronomy.