The curtain has fallen, but its deep red still lingers in our eyes like a summer caress. Teatro al Solstizio made hearts beat, whispered emotions, and left a vivid, authentic, and profound memory in all of us.
We’ll meet again, yes. But already, we miss it.
Two unforgettable evenings under the stars and above a meadow that smelled of freedom gave soul to the Donna Vittori agriturismo and winery in Paliano. It was a small miracle of beauty: the magic of theatre touched everything — even the wind, even the countryside.
A sunset dinner, like in a dream: the genuine flavors of our land, the organic wines of Donna Vittori, the sparkling wines from Casale della Ioria, and faces lit by the sun as it slowly disappeared behind the hills. Then, just as night fell, the curtain opened. And the journey began.
The first night was dedicated to Miracolo a Bauco, a play written by Lorenzo and Selene Genovesi and brought to the stage by the Gl Mannecut company from Boville Ernica. Without them — and without the tireless Costantino Capogna handling the technical side — this magic wouldn’t have come to life. They built it with their own hands and shared it with all of us.
They chose to perform on the grass, and at one point, our dog Clea wandered onto the stage, curious about the intruders in her space. But the actors welcomed her like one of their own, and she became part of the play — no drama, only charm.
Applause filled the sky. Even the audience from Rome said, “We understood everything, even the Ciociarian dialect!” And although two Chinese guests confessed they lost parts of the story, they still felt the spirit.
After the play: pasta, conversations, and shared humanity.
Some stayed to chat with the actors, others made new friends. Someone said, “It felt like we’d rediscovered the old post-theatre chats — the real ones, from when time still had value.”
Sometimes, innovation simply means rediscovering the beauty of simplicity.
The second evening, perhaps the most emotionally intense, brought us Cigno Cigno, written by Antonio Monaco and courageously performed by the Filo d’Aria company. A heavy theme — the 1975 Circeo tragedy — was handled with strength, awareness, and necessity.
We laid a large carpet over the grass, as the actresses often threw themselves to the ground, using their bodies to speak louder than words.
At the end, silence. Then, a long and heartfelt round of applause. And finally, Lucia King — one of our eight Chinese guests from Rome — said with emotion:
“A beautiful performance. I remember the story well — I had just arrived in Italy, and it was all over the news. Everyone was talking about it. Now, let’s take a photo together, like at Chinese gatherings!”
So the audience and the cast came together, standing side by side, and photos were taken — moments that will stay in our hearts.
It was more than a performance. It was a collective embrace.
We opened the festival with Lorenzo Genovesi, the other “madman” who believed in this beautiful idea from the start. And together, feeling the audience's energy, we said: “Yes, this festival must go on.”
The strings of our hearts and those of the audience vibrated together. From those vibrations, new ideas and dreams were born.
We came home richer — in emotion, in smiles, in new friendships.
We savored the true flavors of Ciociaria, toasted with real Cesanese wine (maybe a bit too much, but who’s counting?), and we embraced new visions.
Goodbye “Teatro al Solstizio” 2025.
This is not farewell.
Just a “see you soon.”
We’ll meet again, under the stars, next year.
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