Resistenza Teatro Festival
Museo Cervi Award — Theatre for Memory, in the spaces of Casa Cervi in Gattatico
About Resistenza Festival
Theatre that guards memory
The Resistenza Teatro Festival is one of the most important Italian reviews of civil theatre. It takes place every year in July in the outdoor spaces of Casa Cervi, in the hamlet of Praticello di Gattatico, in the lower Reggio Emilia area, in Emilia-Romagna. Promoted by the Istituto Alcide Cervi in collaboration with the Cooperativa Boorea, the festival transforms the courtyard of the farmhouse of the seven Cervi brothers — a symbol of the Italian Resistance — into an open-air stage where memory becomes civil and contemporary vision.
The Museo Cervi Award — Theatre for Memory
The heart of the event is the Museo Cervi Award — Theatre for Memory, a national competition that each year selects companies called to engage with the themes of the Resistance, rights, freedom, and social justice. A jury of theatre professionals, scholars, and critics awards the main prize to the winning performance, while the Gigi Dall'Aglio Award is given by a jury of young people under 30, demonstrating the festival's commitment to engaging with new generations.
A festival under the stars of the Cervi courtyard
The performances take place at dusk in the outdoor spaces of the Museo Cervi: the courtyard, the portico, and the fields surrounding the house become places for collective storytelling. Alongside the theatrical performances, the program includes readings, book presentations, exhibitions, workshops, and musical moments, weaving together art, history, and participation.
The Anti-fascist Pasta Meal
The festival's closing evening each year falls on July 25th, coinciding with the historic Anti-fascist Pasta Meal at Casa Cervi: the re-enactment of July 25, 1943, when, following the fall of fascism, the Cervi family offered pasta to the entire village to celebrate. It is in this setting of popular celebration and remembrance that the festival's awards ceremony takes place.
An event of regional importance
Now in its twentieth edition, the Resistenza Teatro Festival is a benchmark for civil engagement theatre not only in the province of Reggio Emilia but throughout Italy, and it helps make Gattatico and Casa Cervi a vibrant centre for the country's democratic and anti-fascist culture.
Resistenza Festival — edition 2026
25th Edition — In Honour of 80 Years of Women's Suffrage
The twenty-fifth edition of the Resistenza Teatro Festival will be held from July 1st to 25th, 2026, in the outdoor spaces of Casa Cervi, in Gattatico. The 2026 edition is part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage, the Republic, and the Constitution, a theme to which particular attention will be paid in the selection of proposals.
As per tradition, a jury of theatre professionals, scholars, and critics will select seven performances from the applications received through the national call, to be staged over seven live evenings. The final awards ceremony is scheduled for July 25th, 2026, on the occasion of the historic Anti-fascist Pasta Meal at Casa Cervi.
2026 Awards
- Museo Cervi Award — Theatre for Memory: €3,000 for the winning performance.
- Gigi Dall'Aglio Award: €1,500, awarded by a jury of young people under 30.
Programme Resistenza Festival 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be announced after the closing of the selection call (application deadline: April 7th, 2026) and the jury's choice of the seven companies.
The usual structure includes seven evenings of performances from July 1st to 25th in the outdoor spaces of Casa Cervi, alongside readings, book presentations, exhibitions, and musical moments. The closing evening on July 25th coincides with the awards ceremony and the Anti-fascist Pasta Meal Festival. The names of the selected companies and performances will be published on the official website of the Istituto Alcide Cervi.
Highlights Resistenza Festival 2026
- Edition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage, the Republic, and the Constitution.
- Seven companies competing for the Museo Cervi Award — Theatre for Memory (€3,000).
- Gigi Dall'Aglio Award (€1,500) presented by an under-30 jury.
- Final evening on July 25th with the historic Anti-fascist Pasta Meal.
Prices Resistenza Festival 2026
Practical information — Resistenza Festival
How to get there
Casa Cervi is located at Via Fratelli Cervi 9, in the hamlet of Praticello di Gattatico (Reggio Emilia). By car, it can be reached from the A1 motorway (Terre di Canossa-Campegine exit) or the Via Emilia. The nearest train station is Reggio Emilia, from which you can continue by car or local transport.
Admission
Performances are by free donation. It is advisable to bring a hat and clothing suitable for outdoor summer evenings.
Contacts
Istituto Alcide Cervi — tel. +39 0522 678356, email [email protected]. Information and updated program on the official website of the Istituto Cervi.
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Where does it take place — Resistenza Festival
Casa Cervi
Via Fratelli Cervi 9, 42043 Gattatico