Ragazzi in Gamba

A festival dedicated to youth between Carosino and Taranto

Ragazzi in Gamba is an artistic festival that every spring brings the Municipal Theatre of Carosino, in the heart of the Taranto province, to life, before continuing in the regional capital. Promoted by CSV Taranto ETS (Volunteer Service Centre) together with the Ragazzi in Gamba ODV association and in collaboration with the Municipalities of Carosino and Taranto, the event gathers schools, associations, volunteers, and young talents for a programme of musical shows, theatrical plays, and dance performances.

Inclusion, participation, and free access

The core theme of the festival is empowering young people in a non-competitive environment, where there are no winners or rankings, only a shared desire to express talent and grow together. Participation, inclusion, beauty, creativity, peace, and hope are the keywords of a project that also embraces disability: many performances are accompanied by Italian Sign Language (LIS), ensuring the theatre is truly accessible to all.

Schools, third sector, and the Conservatory together

Each edition involves dozens of schools from the Ionian territory — from Carosino to Taranto, from Grottaglie to Manduria, from Massafra to Monteiasi and Montemesola — alongside numerous third-sector entities, the "Giovanni Paisiello" State Conservatory of Taranto, and civil protection and first-aid organizations. The organizational effort also includes students from the local hospitality school, who manage guest services. The Municipal Theatre of Carosino hosts the opening days, while the second part of the programme moves to Taranto, in the evocative Salone degli Specchi of the City Hall, which is dedicated specifically to the musical segment.

A free event open to the community

Ragazzi in Gamba is a free-entry event designed for families, schools, and citizens who wish to support the commitment of the younger generation. Over the years, the festival has expanded its network, involving nearby towns like Crispiano and becoming a benchmark for promoting the values of volunteering and solidarity in the province of Taranto, Puglia.