Premio Marubium

Premio Marubium, the heart of Apulian amateur theatre

Every year, between winter and spring, the Cineteatro Impero in Maruggio — a small town in the Salento area of the Province of Taranto — becomes the regional hub for amateur dramatics. Premio Marubium is a competitive amateur theatre festival promoted by the Filodrammatica Maruggese APS ETS association in collaboration with the Municipality of Maruggio and supported by FITA Puglia (Italian Federation of Amateur Theatre). The name refers to Marubium, the ancient Latin name of the village, and encapsulates the identity of a community that views theatre as a moment of shared cultural growth.

Six companies, one stage

The festival follows a competition format: from the numerous applications received across the region, a committee selects six companies to perform on the stage of the Impero over the course of as many evenings. Each production is evaluated by a jury that, at the end of the festival, awards prizes for the best performances, direction, and most compelling shows. The competing groups come from various corners of Puglia — in recent years from Santeramo in Colle, Noci, Castellana Grotte, Tuglie, Carosino, and Taranto — bringing to Maruggio a range of genres spanning from brilliant comedy to social drama, and from Shakespearean classics to contemporary playwriting.

More than just a show: a community celebration

Premio Marubium is not just a theatre competition. Each evening concludes with a food and wine tasting offered by local producers, turning the theatre visit into a convivial opportunity to discover the flavours of the Salento area of Taranto. The festival is designed as a true cultural laboratory, capable of nurturing talent, preserving traditions, and providing space for new theatrical works, involving an loyal audience that grows with the event year after year.

An unmissable event for theatre lovers

With a symbolic ticket price and a season pass covering the entire festival, Premio Marubium is one of the most accessible ways to experience theatre in Puglia. Visitors to Maruggio during this period will find an authentic village overlooking the Ionian coast, where the ancient pleasure of live performance is rediscovered in its historic theatre.