Trame Contemporanee - Contemporary Drama Festival

A festival dedicated to contemporary playwriting

Trame Contemporanee is the Contemporary Drama Festival that transforms Molfetta, in the Metropolitan City of Bari, into a hub for experimental theatre in Puglia every autumn. Promoted and organized by Compagnia Malalingua ETS under the artistic direction of Marianna de Pinto and Marco Grossi, the festival serves as a critical observatory for national and international dramatic production, with the goal of supporting the growth of new writing for the stage.

Where it takes place

The heart of the event is the Cittadella degli Artisti in Molfetta, an urban laboratory inaugurated in 2017, equipped with a theatre and cinema hall, exhibition spaces, and coworking areas. The festival also extends to other locations in the city and collaborates with Teatri di Bari, bringing several performances to the regional capital, between the historic Bari Vecchia district and its various performance spaces. A widespread geography that unites two cities and brings the public closer to the most interesting experiences in the theatrical landscape.

The programme

The schedule weaves together national and regional premieres, performances by established companies and emerging talents, staged readings, storytelling, monologues, and works in foreign languages. Alongside the performances, the festival features meetings with authors, training sessions, and a strong emphasis on new drama and the new generation of artists.

The Drama Award

A distinctive element of the project is the Trame Contemporanee Drama Award, an annual recognition with a cash prize for the winner, designed to promote Italian playwriting and provide visibility to the many talents who have chosen drama as their art form. The festival thus becomes not only a showcase for performances but also a space for reflection and concrete support for authors.

A project supported by institutions

Trame Contemporanee is realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Puglia Region, and the Municipality of Molfetta, in partnership with Teatri di Bari and under the patronage of the Municipality of Bari. A structure that testifies to the festival's deep roots in the Apulian cultural fabric and its vocation to foster dialogue between the local area and the national theatre scene.

Why attend

• National premieres and experimental performances in an intimate and welcoming setting
• A widespread festival between Molfetta and Bari, across theatres and city venues
• Meetings with playwrights, directors, and actors
• A privileged look at new Italian playwriting