Teatro nei Borghi
The theatre festival by compagniadellozio across Varzo and the Ossola Valley
About Teatro nei Borghi
A theatre festival among the villages of the Ossola
Teatro nei Borghi is a theatre festival promoted by compagniadellozio that brings high-quality performances to small towns in the Divedro Valley and the Ossola region, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont. The heart of the festival is the Teatro Alveare in Varzo, located in Piazza Pietro Bono, complemented by various churches, sanctuaries, and evocative local spaces. The goal is to bring great theatre to a mountain audience, celebrating these villages as vibrant cultural hubs.
The 2025/2026 Season
The 2025/2026 programme consists of six performances ranging from social storytelling to musical theatre. The season opens with Peppe Servillo performing Fútbol – storie di calcio, based on the tales of Osvaldo Soriano, accompanied on piano by Natalio Luis Mangalavite in the atmospheric setting of the Church of San Giorgio in Varzo.
- Fútbol – storie di calcio with Peppe Servillo, based on Osvaldo Soriano (Church of San Giorgio, Varzo)
- Matteotti (anatomia di un fascismo), 4 December 2025 (Varzo)
- Jesus Christ Superstar, jazz version, 23 January 2026 (Santuario della Madonna della Neve, Domodossola)
- Poveri cristi by and with Ascanio Celestini, music by Gianluca Casadei, 12 April 2026 (Teatro Alveare, Varzo)
- Tap the Mask by the duo Harp&Tap, with Adriano Sangineto and Ilaria Suss, 30 May 2026 (Teatro Alveare, Varzo)
Thought-provoking performances
The festival is distinguished by an artistic programme that blends entertainment with social commitment. Poveri cristi by Ascanio Celestini is a journey into the stories of the marginalized in the Roman suburbs, where the performers choose a different set of tales for each show. Matteotti revisits a crucial chapter in Italian history, while Tap the Mask offers a unique dialogue between the Celtic harp and tap dance, spanning from Commedia dell'Arte to 1930s ragtime.
Varzo and the Divedro Valley
Varzo is a mountain town overlooking the Divedro Valley, along the historic Simplon route connecting the Ossola to Switzerland. The Teatro nei Borghi festival helps keep the local cultural scene alive throughout the winter and spring, thanks to the support of the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, the Municipality of Varzo, and the Pro Loco Valle Divedro.
Teatro nei Borghi — edition 2026
The 2026 events of the Teatro nei Borghi festival animated the Teatro Alveare in Varzo and the villages of the Ossola. On 23 January, the Santuario della Madonna della Neve in Domodossola hosted the jazz version of Jesus Christ Superstar. On 12 April, at the Teatro Alveare in Varzo, Poveri cristi by and with Ascanio Celestini was performed, featuring music by Gianluca Casadei (date postponed from 6 March). The season concluded on 30 May with Tap the Mask by the duo Harp&Tap, featuring Adriano Sangineto on the Celtic harp and Ilaria Suss on tap dance.
Programme Teatro nei Borghi 2026
- 23 January 2026 – Jesus Christ Superstar (jazz version), Santuario della Madonna della Neve, Domodossola
- 12 April 2026 – Poveri cristi by and with Ascanio Celestini, music by Gianluca Casadei, Teatro Alveare, Varzo (postponed from 6 March)
- 30 May 2026 – Tap the Mask, duo Harp&Tap (Adriano Sangineto, Celtic harp; Ilaria Suss, tap dance), Teatro Alveare, Varzo
Highlights Teatro nei Borghi 2026
Prices Teatro nei Borghi 2026
Practical information — Teatro nei Borghi
Location
The main stage is the Teatro Alveare, Piazza Pietro Bono 1, 28868 Varzo (VB). Some performances take place in other local venues (Church of San Giorgio in Varzo, Santuario della Madonna della Neve in Domodossola).
How to get there
By car: Varzo can be reached via the SS33 Simplon road, heading towards the Swiss border. By train: Varzo station is served by the international Simplon line (Domodossola–Brig).
Tickets and information
Tickets for Poveri cristi: full price €19, reduced €14. Online pre-sales via ticketsms.it. Information: [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Teatro nei Borghi
Teatro Alveare
Piazza Pietro Bono 1, 28868 Varzo