Theatralia – National Theatre Arts Festival
Six nights of open-air theatre at the Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena
About Theatralia
Theatralia: National theatre takes the stage in Visciano
Theatralia – National Theatre Arts Festival is the event that, every year in the first half of June, brings theatre to life in the small town of Visciano, nestled in the hills behind Nola, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania. For six consecutive nights, the Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena becomes an open-air theatre hosting selected companies from across Italy, non-competitive performances, and renowned guests from the stage and television.
A blend of national competition and local festival
The festival is conceived and produced by the APS-ETS Camomilla a colazione association, a local Visciano theatre group, with the patronage of the Municipality of Visciano and FITA – Italian Federation of Amateur Theatre. The artistic direction is entrusted to Angelo Iannelli, actor, author, and interpreter of Pulcinella, while production coordination is handled by Felice D'Onofrio.
The structure of the evenings is well-established: the opening and closing nights are dedicated to special guest performances, while the central evenings host the companies competing in the national contest, evaluated by a quality jury. Alongside this, a children's jury and the audience vote award their own prizes: a detail that perfectly captures the grassroots spirit of the event, where theatre is never an elitist ritual.
The stage: Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena
All performances take place in the Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena, a municipal green space equipped as an open-air theatre. Shows begin in the late evening, around 8:45 PM – 9:00 PM, when the June temperature becomes more pleasant, and the audience watches them literally under the stars. Admission is free and open to all: a choice championed by the organizers as a concrete tool for providing families and local youth with access to culture.
Lifetime achievement awards and social commitment
Each edition reserves ample space for lifetime achievement awards, presented to actors and artists from Campania, and for productions addressing social issues. Inclusive theatre, featuring companies with performers with disabilities, has already found a place on the bill, alongside the traditional Neapolitan comedic repertoire — from Eduardo Scarpetta onwards — which remains the most beloved style by the local audience. Over the years, the Visciano stage has hosted well-known names from the Campania theatre and television scene, a draw that has helped the festival grow far beyond the municipal borders.
Visciano and its surroundings
Visciano is a small hillside town overlooking the Nola plain, a short distance from Nola and just over half an hour from Naples. The festival is also designed as a lever for local promotion: bringing audiences and companies from outside the region for six nights means showcasing a town that usually remains on the fringes of Campania's major tourist circuits, such as Vesuvius, the coast, and the archaeological sites.
Who is it for?
- Fans of amateur theatre and emerging companies
- Families looking for completely free open-air evenings
- Those who love Neapolitan comedy and dialectal repertoire
- Tourists visiting the Nola and Vesuvius area in June
For those seeking an authentic festival where the quality of the performances blends with the atmosphere of a community gathering every night in the same park, Visciano offers one of the most genuine theatrical experiences of the Campania summer.
Theatralia — edition 2026
The 5th edition of Theatralia, staged from June 9 to 14, 2026, at the Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena in Visciano, concluded with hundreds of spectators attending over the six nights. The event was organized by the APS-ETS Camomilla a colazione with the patronage of the Municipality of Visciano and FITA, under the artistic direction of Angelo Iannelli and production coordination by Felice D'Onofrio.
The heart of the edition was the national competition: four selected companies performed during the central evenings, evaluated by a quality jury alongside the public vote and a children's jury. The title of best show went to «Circus Lol» by Theatre Degart, which also won the children's jury prize, while the audience favorite was «Dietro un fantasma» by La Puteca degli Attori.
Alongside the competition, the festival presented lifetime achievement awards to Annamaria Colasanto, Enzo Costanza, and Antonella Prisco, and a special recognition to actress and singer Antonella Morea. The Visciano stage also hosted well-known faces from Campania's fiction series, from Giovanna Sannino and Gaetano Migliaccio of «Mare Fuori» to Cosimo Alberti of «Un Posto al Sole», together with emerging young performers like Cristian Cervone and Ludovica Cerracchio.
The completely free admission formula was confirmed, designed to broaden the audience and make theatre a tool for cultural and tourist promotion of the Municipality, in the heart of the Nola area in Campania.
Programme Theatralia 2026
Tuesday, June 9 — Opening Night
I Ragazzi di Offline in «Pensione Stella – Due atti di pura follia», a comedy inspired by the repertoire of Eduardo Scarpetta.
Wednesday, June 10 to Saturday, June 13 — Competing Companies
- Quanta Brava Gente – «Tre papà per un bebè»
- Dandy Danno & Diva G – «LOL», a visual and physical theatre show
- Compagnia FSSL – «Tre sull'Altalena»
- La Puteca degli Attori – «Dietro un fantasma»
Sunday, June 14 — Final Night and Awards Ceremony
Giovanna Sannino and Gaetano Migliaccio in «Quei Due», followed by the presentation of competition awards and lifetime achievement honors.
All shows start at 8:45 PM at the Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena. Free admission.
Highlights Theatralia 2026
- Best Show: «Circus Lol» – Theatre Degart
- Audience Award: «Dietro un fantasma» – La Puteca degli Attori
- Children's Jury Award: «Circus Lol» – Theatre Degart
- Best Director: Domenico Palmiero (FSSL/Pro Teatro)
- Best Actor: Alberto Tortora (FSSL/Pro Teatro)
- Best Actress: Romina Pastorino (La Puteca degli Attori)
- Best Supporting Actor: Francesco Mondelli (La Puteca degli Attori)
- Best Set Design: «Tre papà e un bebè» – Quanta Brava Gente
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Annamaria Colasanto, Enzo Costanza, Antonella Prisco
- Recognition for actress and singer Antonella Morea
- Television guests: Giovanna Sannino and Gaetano Migliaccio («Mare Fuori»), Cosimo Alberti («Un Posto al Sole»)
Prices Theatralia 2026
Practical information — Theatralia
Where
Giovanni Paolo II Park Arena, Visciano (NA), Campania. The town can be reached by car from the A16 Naples-Canosa motorway (Nola exit), continuing along the provincial roads towards Visciano.
When
In the first half of June, over six consecutive nights. Shows start around 8:45 PM – 9:00 PM.
Tickets
Free and open admission to all evenings. No reservations are required: it is advisable to arrive well in advance to secure a seat.
Practical tips
- The arena is outdoors: on cooler evenings, it is useful to bring a light sweater.
- The full program is released on the festival's social media channels and in the local press in the weeks prior.
- For overnight stays, it is best to look in Nola or the Vesuvius area, which are well-connected to Naples.
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Where does it take place — Theatralia
Arena del Parco Giovanni Paolo II
Parco Giovanni Paolo II, 80030 Visciano