by InTrieste
This November, young performers from across Italy will gather on the city’s historic waterfront for the second edition of the FOLL Festival, a four-day theater event dedicated to emerging talent. Organized by the cultural association Petit Soleil A.p.s., the festival will take place Nov. 11–14 at Sala Lelio Luttazzi in the renovated Magazzino 26 complex in Porto Vecchio. Admission is by voluntary donation.
The festival — whose name plays on the Italian word “folle,” meaning “wild” or “foolish” — aims to spotlight the creative energy of a new generation of actors, dancers, comedians and writers. It follows the success of Petit Soleil’s previous youth-focused initiatives, including the Spring Festival and last year’s inaugural FOLL Festival.
This year’s program includes works by young artists from Trieste and beyond. Companies traveling from Bologna, Legnano, Padova and Reggio Emilia will share the stage with local performers, presenting new works alongside reinterpretations of classic texts. The program spans theater, stand-up comedy, dance, illusionism and family-friendly entertainment.
The festival opens Nov. 11 with the premiere of Strawberry Ice Cream, a short film by Trieste-born writer and director Elisabetta Cancelli, followed by the debut performance of the dance company N.O.I (No Objective Objectual Intention).
Each evening will feature two performances beginning at 7:30 p.m., and organizers say the atmosphere will extend beyond the stage. Between shows, audiences will be invited to participate in informal discussions with the performers, offering a space to share reactions, reflections and questions — a format designed to encourage dialogue and connection between artists and the public.
The event is supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government and forms part of “Una Luce sempre accesa,” a cultural program promoted by the City of Trieste’s tourism and cultural department. Partnerships include Drammadilli, M’OLD Records, La Fa Bù and Terra del Sorriso OdV.
The full program is available on Petit Soleil’s website and social media channels. Performances will take place at Sala Lelio Luttazzi in Magazzino 26, Porto Vecchio, with voluntary-donation admission and audience discussions scheduled throughout the festival.
