Teatrando a Santa Venerina Theater Season
The Cine-Teatro Eliseo theater festival presented by the "La Collina d'Aci" company
About Teatrando a Santa Venerina
A season of popular theater at the foot of Mount Etna
In the heart of Santa Venerina, a small town on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna in the province of Catania, the Cine-Teatro Eliseo on Via Vittorio Emanuele hosts the annual "Teatrando a Santa Venerina" festival. From January to May, the Eliseo stage welcomes the best theater companies from the Etna area for a monthly series of performances ranging from light comedy to traditional Sicilian dialect theater.
The "La Collina d'Aci" company
The initiative is conceived and organized by the amateur theater company "La Collina d'Aci", originally from Pennisi (a hamlet of Acireale), led by director and actor Rosario Cristaudo. The festival enjoys the patronage of the Municipality of Santa Venerina and is held in collaboration with FITA (Italian Federation of Amateur Theater) and the Interparochial Caritas, to which the proceeds of several evenings are donated.
A program of classics and new works
The strength of "Teatrando" lies in the variety of its program, which alternates new proposals with great classics of the Italian and Sicilian stage. Titles that have graced the festival include immortal comedies such as "Pensaci Giacomino" by Luigi Pirandello and "Non ti pago" by Eduardo De Filippo, classics of "Sicilian identity" such as "Don Gesualdo e la Ballerina", and original works by local authors and directors. Each month, a different company takes the stage at the Eliseo, offering the public quality entertainment while supporting amateur theater.
A charitable community event
Beyond its artistic value, "Teatrando a Santa Venerina" stands out for its charitable dimension: the proceeds from certain performances, such as the production of "Non ti pago" by "La Collina d'Aci", are donated to Caritas. The festival, which has seen a growing number of subscriptions and attendees, is now a fixture in the cultural life of Santa Venerina and the entire Etna region, successfully combining a passion for the stage with support for those in need.
Teatrando a Santa Venerina — edition 2026
The second edition of "Teatrando a Santa Venerina", organized by the "La Collina d'Aci" company with municipal patronage and the collaboration of FITA and Caritas, opened on January 17-18, 2026, and concluded on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
The program, consisting of monthly performances at the Cine-Teatro Eliseo, included:
- "Pensaci Giacomino" by Luigi Pirandello, performed by the CAF "San Candido" APS of Aci Catena;
- "Il sorriso allunga la vita", an original play by Alfia Leotta, staged by the "Il Melograno" company;
- "Don Gesualdo e la Ballerina", a classic of the Sicilian tradition, by the San Paolo Parish theater group;
- "Non ti pago" by Eduardo De Filippo, performed by "La Collina d'Aci", with proceeds donated to Caritas;
- an original comedy by director Rosario Cristaudo.
The season saw an increase in subscriptions and attendance compared to the first edition, confirming the success of the format.
Programme Teatrando a Santa Venerina 2026
Highlights Teatrando a Santa Venerina 2026
Practical information — Teatrando a Santa Venerina
Location
Cine-Teatro Eliseo, Via Vittorio Emanuele 273, 95010 Santa Venerina (CT), Sicily.
How to get there
Santa Venerina is easily reached by car via the A18 Messina-Catania motorway (Giarre exit) or the SS114 state road. The nearest train station is Giarre-Riposto, on the Messina-Catania-Syracuse line. The reference airport is Catania-Fontanarossa, approximately 40 km away.
Tickets
Performances take place monthly, generally on weekends. For tickets, subscriptions, and schedules, it is recommended to contact the Municipality of Santa Venerina or the organizing company "La Collina d'Aci".
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Where does it take place — Teatrando a Santa Venerina
Cine-Teatro Eliseo
Via Vittorio Emanuele 273, 95010 Santa Venerina