Tolfama – International Festival of Improvised Arts

A festival where art is born in the moment

Tolfama – International Festival of Improvised Arts is one of the most unique events in the Lazio summer calendar. Each year, at the beginning of July, the village of Tolfa — perched in the Tolfa Mountains within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital — transforms into a widespread open-air theater. Squares, alleyways, arches, terraces, and historic buildings become performance spaces for improvised acts, concerts, talks, and screenings, creating a convivial atmosphere that engages both locals and visitors.

The philosophy: improvisation as a meeting point

The festival was founded to create a space for exchange between different cultures, techniques, and approaches to theatrical improvisation, both national and international. Its hallmark is the site-specific format: performances do not simply adapt to the locations; they are born from them. International instructors select the most evocative corners of the village — palaces, small squares, and sites of architectural or archaeological interest — and build the final performances of the training courses around them.

International workshops

The heart of Tolfama lies in the intensive workshops led by improvisers and trainers from across Europe and beyond. The «Long» track, consisting of 12 hours spread over several days, is reserved for those with prior improvisation experience and culminates in a site-specific show presented to the public. The «All In» track, open to everyone regardless of experience, is dedicated to expressive research and unlocking individual creative potential. Over the years, Tolfa has hosted teachers from Spain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Indonesia, Romania, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Japan.

Organizers

The event is organized by Vicolo Cechov – National School of Improvisation and Theater, under the artistic and organizational direction of Fabio Astolfi, Francesca Ciaralli, Enrico D'Agata, and Roberto Rotondo. The festival is supported by the Municipality of Tolfa and the Pro Loco, in collaboration with local entities such as the Italo-Norwegian Study Center and TolfaCittàSlow. In recent editions, Tolfama has forged synergies with other regional festivals, hosting concerts from the Forte! Festival and screenings from the Terrae Film Fest in Civitavecchia.

An experience for everyone

Evening shows and events in the squares are free of charge: anyone can be surprised by a scene coming to life under a medieval arch or an improvised choir in a small piazza. For those who practice improvisation, the festival is a unique opportunity for training and exchange with the international improv community. All this takes place in an authentic village in the Roman Tuscia, amidst the pastures of the butteri (local cowboys) and landscapes stretching to the sea, just an hour from Rome and a few kilometers from Civitavecchia.

Why attend

• Unique site-specific performances created specifically for Tolfa's locations
• International instructors and performers of theatrical improvisation
• Free evening events: theater, concerts, short films, and DJ sets
• Workshops for all levels, from beginners to professionals
• The atmosphere of a Lazio village that becomes a collective stage