Van Westerhout Theatre Season
Great Italian drama on the historic stage of Mola di Bari
About Van Westerhout Season
The theatre of Mola di Bari
In the heart of the historic centre of Mola di Bari, just a stone's throw from the Adriatic seafront, the Van Westerhout Municipal Theatre stands as one of the most elegant venues on the coast south of the Apulian capital. Named after the local composer Niccolò van Westerhout, the theatre features a horseshoe-shaped auditorium and boxes, preserving the intimate atmosphere of traditional Italian provincial theatres, where the audience feels close to the stage and every line lands with impact.
A drama season curated by Puglia Culture
Each year, the Van Westerhout theatre season is curated by Puglia Culture, the brand of the Teatro Pubblico Pugliese that coordinates the programmes for municipal theatres across the region. The lineup, consisting of eight performances scheduled between late autumn and spring, alternates between classic drama and intelligent comedy, civil monologues and contemporary reflections. This project brings top-tier actors and directors to Mola di Bari, offering local audiences high-quality programming without the need to travel to the major theatres in Bari.
What to expect
- Renowned performers from Italian theatre and television, ranging from sophisticated comedy to intimate drama;
- Drama productions based on both classic and contemporary texts, often part of national tours;
- A single evening performance for each title, starting in prime time;
- Season ticket options to follow the entire programme, alongside individual ticket sales.
A city tradition
For Mola di Bari and the surrounding towns in the Terra di Bari area, the Van Westerhout season is the primary reference point for live theatre during the winter months. The shows attract a loyal audience that has turned the theatre night into a ritual over the years, helping to keep the cultural spirit alive in a town that has dedicated the name of its most prestigious venue to theatre and music.
Van Westerhout Season — edition 2026
The 2025/26 theatre season at the Van Westerhout Municipal Theatre in Mola di Bari, organized by Puglia Culture, consisted of eight drama performances between November 2025 and April 2026. The programme opened with a reflection on the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence in Algoritmo: Lui e l'AI and concluded with the one-man show by Paolo Kessisoglu. The lineup included civil and intimate texts such as Accabadora with Anna Della Rosa and Schiaparelli Life, alongside comedies and monologues performed by well-known names in Italian theatre and television. The performances, held as single evening shows at 9:00 PM, confirmed the Van Westerhout's role as the city's main winter stage.
Programme Van Westerhout Season 2026
21 November 2025 — Algoritmo: Lui e l'AI
- With Raffaello Tullo and Martina Salvatore, directed by Marco Rampoldi. An encounter between a man and a robot, exploring artificial intelligence, loneliness, and the power of music.
12 December 2025 — Sfiorata la tragedia. Ma ci è scappato il morto!
- Monologue by and with Elisabetta Aloia on the precariousness of existence.
11 January 2026 — Basta poco
- With Antonio Cornacchione, Pino Quartullo, and Alessandra Faiella.
28 January 2026 — Accabadora
- With Anna Della Rosa, based on the novel by Michela Murgia.
15 February 2026 — A Mirror
- With Ninni Bruschetta, Claudio "Greg" Gregori, Fabrizio Colica, Paola Michelini, and Gianluca Musiu.
28 February 2026 — Come nei giorni migliori
- Directed by Leonardo Lidi.
12 March 2026 — Schiaparelli Life
- With Nunzia Antonino and Marco Grossi.
11 April 2026 — Sfìdati di me
- One-man show by Paolo Kessisoglu.
Performances start at 9:00 PM, doors open at 8:30 PM.
Highlights Van Westerhout Season 2026
Prices Van Westerhout Season 2026
Practical information — Van Westerhout Season
Location
Teatro Comunale Van Westerhout, Via Van Westerhout 17, 70042 Mola di Bari (BA), located in the historic centre just a short walk from the harbour.
How to get there
By train: Mola di Bari station on the Adriatic line (Bari-Lecce), a short walk from the theatre. By car: take the SS16 exit for Mola di Bari; parking is available near the seafront. From Bari-Palese airport, it is approximately a 40-minute drive.
Times
Performances generally start at 9:00 PM, with the doors opening at 8:30 PM.
Tickets and season passes
Individual tickets and full-season passes are available through Puglia Culture and the local information point. Info: tel. +39 339 1226546.
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Where does it take place — Van Westerhout Season
Teatro Comunale Van Westerhout
Via Van Westerhout 17, 70042 Mola di Bari