TAU - Teatri Antichi Uniti

The festival

TAU - Teatri Antichi Uniti is the major festival of classical and contemporary theatre that enlivens the archaeological sites of the Marche region every summer. Organized by AMAT (Associazione Marchigiana Attività Teatrali) with the support of the Marche Region and the Ministry of Culture, the festival transforms amphitheaters, Roman theatres, and archaeological areas into natural stages where myth meets the present. In Ancona, the capital of the Marche region, the setting is the Roman Amphitheatre, a jewel of the Augustan era nestled in the greenery of Guasco hill, a stone's throw from the Cathedral of San Ciriaco.

A festival spread throughout the region

In 2026, TAU reaches its 28th edition with a programme of 37 performances spread across 17 archaeological sites in 15 municipalities in the Marche region, from Ancona to Ascoli Piceno, from Fano to Macerata, from Urbisaglia to Sirolo. The event runs from June 19 to September 11, 2026, and offers a journey through Greek tragedy, Homeric epics, and contemporary reinterpretations of great myths, entrusted to some of the best performers on the Italian theatre scene.

Performances in Ancona

The Roman Amphitheatre of Ancona hosts four main events of the festival, all starting at 9 PM:

• The Persians by Aeschylus, directed by Giovanni Ortoleva, the oldest tragedy in history in an intense and current reinterpretation;
• Oedipus Rex, with the voice and performance of Gabriele Lavia, a profoundly human interpretation on destiny and the search for truth;
• A Small Odyssey by and with Andrea Pennacchi, a popular narration of the Homeric poem with live music;
• Electra 1944 with Pamela Villoresi, which transports the myth of the Orestea to occupied Rome in the winter of 1944.

The AperiTAU Experience

One of the festival's distinctive features is the AperiTAU formula: before many performances, free guided tours of the archaeological areas and places of cultural, natural, and historical interest are offered, allowing visitors to experience the local heritage before the show begins. Attending a Greek tragedy within a Roman amphitheatre, in the heart of the Province of Ancona, is an experience that combines archaeology, landscape, and live performance like few other festivals can.