Syrup of Theatre in Bomporto

Medicine called theatre

Syrup of Theatre is one of the most original cultural projects in Italy: in Bomporto, a small municipality in the Province of Modena crossed by the Panaro river, theatre for families literally becomes medicine prescribed by the pediatrician. Conceived by ATER Fondazione together with the Culture, Health, and Welfare departments of the Emilia-Romagna Region, the project is a cultural welfare initiative that uses live performance as an antidote to educational poverty and social exclusion for children aged 3 to 11 and their families.

How the prescription works

The mechanism is as simple as it is poetic. Pediatricians and family centres in the area distribute a booklet with six "prescriptions": each voucher allows you to buy a ticket for the symbolic price of 3 euros. The booklet even contains an information leaflet, with instructions for administering this "extraordinary medicine", its beneficial effects for adults and children, and the only contraindication ironically noted: incompatibility with excessive television and digital screen use.

Shows at the Cinema Teatro Comunale of Bomporto

The Bomporto venue for the review is the Cinema Teatro Comunale on Via Verdi, the heart of the town's cultural life. The Syrup of Theatre events are part of the theatre's broader winter season and offer shows suitable for audiences aged 3 and up, always on Sunday afternoons at 5:00 PM. The offerings range from actor-based theatre, storytelling, and puppet theatre, with titles that reinterpret classic fairy tales or tell original stories.

A project spread throughout Emilia-Romagna

Bomporto is one of the stops on a widespread regional network. In the 2026 edition, Syrup of Theatre involves over 30 municipalities in seven provinces of Emilia-Romagna — from Modena to Parma, from Reggio Emilia to Rimini, from Bologna to Ravenna — with more than 90 shows, over 260 pediatricians, 43 family centres, and 31 theatres involved. A community experiment that, in 2025, exceeded 18,000 spectators and makes this project a model observed and discussed far beyond regional borders.

Why it's worth it

• Quality shows for children and families at a price accessible to all.
• An opportunity to experience theatre as a shared moment between parents and children.
• An award-winning project that intertwines culture, health, and social cohesion.
• A local initiative: theatre reaches even small towns like Bomporto, not just big cities.