Prendi Posto - Community Theatre Festival

A festival that makes room for the community

Prendi Posto is a community theatre festival that transforms Rome's Ex Campari Cultural Hub into a sprawling artistic laboratory every autumn. Conceived and curated by the Fuori Contesto Cultural Association, under the artistic direction of Emilia Martinelli, the festival debuted in 2024 with a clear mission: to put theatre at the service of the local area, schools, and the younger generation. The very title, «Prendi Posto» (Take Your Seat), is an invitation to occupy a space, to be present, and to participate firsthand.

The Ex Campari Cultural Hub

The festival is held at the former Campari Factory on Piazza Cornelia 23, now returned to the public as a cultural hub for Municipality XIII, located in the western quadrant of the capital between Aurelio, Cornelia, and Montespaccato. This redeveloped industrial space serves as a stage, classroom, rehearsal room, and meeting place in an area of the city often far removed from the major cultural circuits of the center. Bringing high-quality theatrical programming here is an integral part of the project.

A program for schools and new generations

The heart of Prendi Posto is a selection of performances, workshops, and installations aimed at schools of all levels, from primary to secondary. These free, reservation-only events guide children and teenagers through paths that combine storytelling, dance, physical theatre, and visual arts. Many offerings are created by the Fuori Contesto company itself or through co-productions with other Roman and national youth theatre organizations.

Accessibility, inclusion, and gender equality

The festival is built upon four declared values: accessibility, sustainability, gender equality, and active participation. It is no coincidence that many performances are designed for neurodivergent audiences, featuring tactile and sensory installations, animated readings in Italian Sign Language (LIS), and paths inspired by the traditions of shadow theatre and kamishibai. Through co-creation, art becomes a vehicle for dialogue and collective growth.

Fuori Contesto and the local network

Realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture – Directorate General for Entertainment and winner of the «Roma Creativa 365» public call by Rome Capital (Department of Culture and Zètema Progetto Cultura), Prendi Posto is an expression of the work that the Fuori Contesto association has been carrying out for years regarding community theatre. The festival engages with schools, associations, and families in Municipality XIII, involving them in participatory artistic residencies.

Rome and community theatre

In a city like Rome, rich in major theatrical institutions, Prendi Posto represents a precious piece of local theatre: a festival that chooses the suburbs as a place for experimentation and entrusts art with the task of building community. It is an event to follow for anyone in the Lazio region looking for an authentic festival dedicated to young people and the civic value of making theatre together.