Summer Theater Festival at the Villaggio dei Ragazzi (Summer Theater)

A monumental courtyard transformed into an open-air theater

Every summer, the Cortile dei Tritoni at the «Don Salvatore D'Angelo» Villaggio dei Ragazzi Foundation, in the heart of Maddaloni (Caserta province, Campania), undergoes a transformation: chairs are lined up in front of an outdoor stage, and the space that hosts students and educational activities during the school year becomes an auditorium for hundreds of people. This is the home of the Summer Theater Festival, known locally simply as «Teatro d'Estate» (Summer Theater). Established in 2021, it has quickly become one of the most popular cultural events in the Calatia area.

A festival that has grown with every edition

The first edition, in the summer of 2021, ran from late June to early September, establishing a winning formula that has remained unchanged: evening open-air performances, free admission, and a program alternating between classic authors, contemporary scripts, and local artistic projects. Since then, the festival has returned every year, reaching its fourth edition in 2024, its fifth in 2025, and its sixth in 2026. The artistic direction has always been entrusted to actor Michele Cupito, reconfirmed year after year due to his success with both audiences and critics, while the evenings are hosted by Luca Tramontano.

What to expect on stage

The program is not limited to one genre; it is designed to engage families, young people, and older audiences alike. In a single summer, you might find Neapolitan comedy, musical theater, monologues, comic storytelling, and musical shows. The invited companies come largely from Campania and include high-quality amateur groups as well as regional professionals.

• Brilliant comedies in Italian and Neapolitan
• Musical shows dedicated to Neapolitan songs
• Monologues, storytelling, and comic theater
• Premières and tributes to the great authors of Neapolitan theater

A cultural project, not just a schedule

The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Maddaloni in collaboration with the Villaggio dei Ragazzi Foundation and is part of the broader Maddaloni Summer program, which features music, sports, street food, and activities for children in other parts of the city, from the «Franco Imposimato» Municipal Park to Piazza Don Salvatore D'Angelo. Local associations—including the Pro Loco, the Italian Red Cross (Maddaloni Committee), and the «Un fiore per la vita» association—collaborate on the project, relying on a strong team of volunteers.

The setting: the Villaggio dei Ragazzi

The location is significant. The Villaggio dei Ragazzi is the institution founded by Don Salvatore D'Angelo in the post-war period to welcome and educate orphans and disadvantaged youth in the Caserta province: a school and vocational complex that is part of the social history of Campania. Bringing free theater within those walls on summer evenings carries a meaning that everyone in Maddaloni recognizes, which explains why the festival has built such a loyal audience so quickly.

How to attend

All performances are free and generally take place in the evening when temperatures are more pleasant. Seating is plentiful but not unlimited: in previous years, the organization has implemented a telephone booking system, one show at a time, until capacity is reached. Those arriving without a reservation can often find standing room on the sides of the seating area. It is advisable to arrive well before the start time, especially for opening nights and popular titles.