by InTrieste
Contemporary circus, classic children’s literature and local storytelling will take center stage next week as the DaDaDù Festival returns to the gardens of the Sartorio Museum with a program designed for audiences of all ages.
Running from Aug. 20 to 25, the outdoor festival presents six evenings of performances that blend theater, live music, puppetry and visual arts, transforming the historic garden into an open-air stage.
A week of family performances
The festival opens on Thursday, Aug. 20, with “Rio Trio,” a contemporary circus production combining juggling, acrobatics, clowning and physical theater. The story follows three siblings — Mario, Daria and Rosaria — who travel by train in search of audiences, discovering that trust and cooperation are the true foundations of their act.
On Friday, Aug. 21, the festival premieres “Babar l’elefantino,” an adaptation of Jean de Brunhoff’s beloved tale paired with the music of French composer Francis Poulenc. Narration and solo piano accompany Babar’s journey from the forest to the city and ultimately to his coronation as king, creating an intimate theatrical experience centered on growth and belonging.
The weekend continues on Saturday, Aug. 22, with “Va’ dove ti porta il piede,” performed by acclaimed visual theater artist Laura Kibel. Using her signature “Theater of Feet,” Kibel transforms feet, legs and knees into expressive puppets, telling wordless stories of friendship, peace and imagination through movement and music.
On Sunday, Aug. 23, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling” receives an unconventional interpretation in “Il Brutto Anatroccolo, un pennuto in blues.” Three musicians perform an original blues score alongside puppetry and object theater, relying on only a handful of spoken words while allowing music and imagery to convey the emotional journey from isolation to acceptance.
A tribute to a Trieste icon
The following evening, Monday, Aug. 24, shifts focus to the city’s own history with “Un pinguin a Trieste: storia di Marco.” Performed in the Triestine dialect, the production commemorates Marco, the penguin that became one of Trieste’s most cherished symbols more than four decades ago.
Inspired by the writings of Roberto Covaz, the play intertwines Marco’s story with memories of postwar Trieste, including the city’s sporting triumphs, boxer Nino Benvenuti’s world championship and the SIOT pipeline attack. Live music by the Bachibaflax and archival images accompany the performance.
Independent songwriting closes the festival
The festival concludes on Tuesday, Aug. 25, with an evening of independent Italian songwriting marking a new chapter for the YEAH music project.
Singer-songwriter Marco Iacampo returns to Trieste after seven years to present songs from his latest album, Preghiere contemporanee, in an intimate voice, guitar and double bass performance. The concert also features Acqua Distillata canta Ribaltavapori, the duo of Lucia Gatto and Antonio Uras, winners of last year’s Miela Music Contest.
Beyond the festival
Cultural programming continues elsewhere in the city. The Giardino del Cinema outdoor film series remains underway at the Muzio de Tommasini Public Garden, while the Immaginario Scientifico museum in Porto Vecchio will host “Estate con la ricerca: alla scoperta di AREA Science Park” from Aug. 25 to 30.
Held daily at 4 p.m. in Magazzino 26, the talks introduce visitors to the research conducted at AREA Science Park, exploring frontier scientific topics alongside the institution’s history. The sessions are included with museum admission and require no reservation.
