TiQ – Teatro in Quota

A high-altitude theatre festival

TiQ – Teatro in Quota is a theatre and performing arts festival held every summer in Rocca di Mezzo, on the Altopiano delle Rocche. Located at an altitude of approximately 1,500 metres in the heart of the Sirente-Velino Regional Park, in the province of L'Aquila, the festival has grown since its inception in 2017 to become one of the most original highlights of the Abruzzo cultural summer, bringing contemporary theatrical research into a breathtaking natural setting.

The village as a sprawling stage

For one week in August, the town of Rocca di Mezzo transforms into an open-air stage: squares, the L. Sebastiani sports hall, mountain trails, pine forests, and even the Vincenzo Sebastiani mountain hut host shows, concerts, and performances. Many creations are site-specific, designed to engage with the mountain landscape, the village architecture, and the local community. The audience is encouraged to move, walk, and experience the territory as an integral part of the theatrical performance.

Artistic direction and contemporary research

The artistic direction is led by Alessandro Businaro, with Dario Del Fante serving as executive director. The festival showcases the new Italian theatre and dance scene, with a particular focus on contemporary dance, experimental theatre, and performance art. Each edition revolves around a specific theme that guides the programming: past titles include Punti Cardinali (2022), What's Nest? (2024), and Rifugio Teatrale (2025).

Residencies and workshops

Beyond the performances, TiQ is a hub for training and exchange. The festival hosts artistic residencies and workshops led by nationally renowned artists and companies, aimed at actors, performers, writers, and directors, while also offering sessions open to the general public. This educational dimension, combined with the welcoming atmosphere of the small mountain village, makes Teatro in Quota an immersive experience where artists and spectators share space, time, and scenery.

Theatre, nature, and community

TiQ – Teatro in Quota is much more than a series of shows: it is a cultural project that promotes the inland Abruzzo region through art, connecting the mountains, the theatre, and the community of Rocca di Mezzo. It is an event in the heart of the Sirente-Velino Park that invites visitors to rediscover the slow pace of mountain life alongside the energy of the contemporary stage.