Puntini Fest (Priverno stage)

A festival that puts children first

Puntini Fest is a festival entirely dedicated to the world of childhood and adolescence, conceived and organized by the Matutateatro company. Established in 2019 in Sezze, it has gradually expanded to include five municipalities in the Monti Lepini area, in the province of Latina: Bassiano, Priverno, Cori, Norma, and Sezze. Every summer, over thirty theatrical performances bring squares, parks, and historic courtyards to life, bringing some of Italy's most acclaimed children's theatre companies to southern Lazio.

The Priverno stage at Parco di San Martino

In Priverno, the festival takes place in Parco di San Martino, a historic estate owned by the Lazio Region, nestled within the natural monument of the Bosco del Castello di San Martino. It is a location that is worth a visit in its own right: meadows, centuries-old trees, and shaded paths become a small theatre citadel for two days, with open-air stages and workshop spaces. The formula is well-tested: it begins in the late afternoon and continues until evening, allowing even the youngest children to catch a show before dinner.

Shows, workshops, and readings

The program for each stop alternates between different genres and styles, from actor-led theatre to storytelling, and from puppet theatre to modern retellings of classics designed for young audiences. Alongside the performances, the festival offers free activities that have become part of its identity:

• creative workshops for children, often thematically linked to the show just seen;
• readings aloud and book presentations;
• the festival bookstore, stocked with a specialized selection of children's and young adult literature;
• games and entertainment for the whole family;
• a street food corner open during the evenings within the park.

A local cultural project

Puntini Fest is more than just a series of shows: it is a cultural project aimed at bringing high-quality theatre to an inland area of Lazio where offerings for young audiences have historically been limited. The festival is supported by the National Fund for Live Performance (FNSV) of the Ministry of Culture and is part of the Officina Culturale dei Monti Lepini project promoted by the Lazio Region. The itinerant nature of the event allows each municipality to host its own stage, highlighting a symbolic site of the historic center or the surrounding landscape each time.

Priverno and the Monti Lepini

The municipality of Priverno, in the province of Latina, is one of the most interesting centers in the Monti Lepini: it preserves a beautiful medieval historic center with the Piazza del Comune and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, and is famous for the nearby Abbey of Fossanova, a masterpiece of Cistercian architecture in Italy where Saint Thomas Aquinas died. Combining an evening at Puntini Fest with a day exploring the abbey, the Privernum Archaeological Museum, and the forest trails is the best way to discover this corner of Lazio away from the most crowded tourist circuits.

Who it is for

The festival is aimed at children, teenagers, families, teachers, and educators. Shows have recommended age ranges indicated in the program: it is worth checking them when booking to choose the most suitable appointments. The atmosphere is informal and welcoming, with an audience largely made up of local families, joined year after year by more visitors from neighboring towns and the Pontine coast.