Pirandelliana

Pirandelliana: thirty years of theatre under the Roman stars

Pirandelliana is one of the longest-running and most beloved summer theatre festivals in the Capital. Entirely dedicated to the work of Luigi Pirandello, it is staged every summer in the evocative Garden of the Basilica of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio, on the Aventine Hill, in the heart of Rome's Municipio I. Conceived and directed by Marcello Amici with the La Bottega delle Maschere company, the event began in 1997 at the Roman Theatre of Ostia Antica and, since 1999, has found its permanent home in the quiet greenery of the Aventine, one of the city's most poetic corners.

The 2026 edition: the thirtieth

From July 2 to August 2, 2026, Pirandelliana celebrates the milestone of its 30th edition, confirming its status as a pillar of the Roman Summer. Every evening, starting at 9:15 PM, the audience can immerse themselves in the Pirandellian universe following a weekly rotating schedule. The bill includes Tonight We Improvise (Questa sera si recita a soggetto), a powerful metatheatrical reflection on the relationship between author, actors, and reality; the Four One-Act Plays (Quattro Atti Unici), which brings together The Man with the Flower in His Mouth, At the Exit, The Vise, and The License; and the rare Sagra del Signore della Nave, performed on select Monday evenings.

A venue that is a show in itself

The strength of Pirandelliana also lies in its setting. The basilica's garden, enclosed by ancient walls and overlooking the pines of the Aventine, offers an intimate and secluded atmosphere, far from the city's bustle. Performing outdoors, under the summer sky of Rome, restores to Pirandello's theatre that dimension of suspension between fiction and truth that is the heart of the Sicilian author's poetics. It is an experience that combines great dramaturgy, commedia dell'arte, the use of masks and puppets, and a strong rooting in the cultural tradition of the Lazio Region.

The La Bottega delle Maschere company

The guardian of this adventure is La Bottega delle Maschere, a company that has been bringing Pirandello to Roman audiences for thirty years. The 2026 production brings together sixteen performers and meticulous craftsmanship: the sets are designed by Marcello de Lu Vrau, the masks and puppets by Livia Ciuco, and the costumes by Felicia Crisan. The festival is promoted as part of the cultural initiatives of Roma Capitale and is fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Why you shouldn't miss it

• One of Rome's most historic outdoor theatre festivals, now in its 30th edition.
• A full month dedicated to Pirandello, with three different shows in weekly rotation.
• The unique setting of the Sant'Alessio Garden on the Aventine, nestled between the basilica and ancient pines.
• An opportunity for high-quality theatre just a stone's throw from the city centre, during the Capital's summer evenings.