Teatro della Tosse — The Great Ball of Venus

Apricale, a village-stage

Nestled among the olive trees of the Ventimiglia hinterland, Apricale (Province of Imperia) is one of Italy's most beautiful villages, with its narrow alleys climbing the slope and its small squares that open up unexpectedly. For years, this unique setting has hosted the traveling shows of Teatro della Tosse from Genoa, one of Liguria's most prestigious theater companies. For the summer of 2026, "The Great Ball of Venus" will be staged.

A journey into Ovid's Metamorphoses

The show, directed by Emanuele Conte, is inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses, the great poem of transformations. The audience doesn't sit still but follows the actors on a journey through the village's alleys, staircases, and squares: every corner becomes a stage, every passage a threshold between one myth and another. This is the traveling theater formula that has made Apricale's summers with Teatro della Tosse famous.

Theater among the village stones

The experience combines the power of the classic text with the charm of an extraordinary natural setting: the ancient stones of Apricale, illuminated by the evening, amplify the magic of the performance. An event that makes this small village in the Imperia hinterland a focal point of Ligurian summer theater, attracting spectators from all over the region and beyond.