Antigone and Beyond: A Summer of Theatre in Ostia Antica
Opening with Antigone, from June 23 to July 26, 2025, the Teatro di Roma launches the first edition of TEATRO OSTIA ANTICA FESTIVAL. Il Senso del Passato, transforming the historic Ostia Antica Theatre into a stage for artistic dialogue between past and present. After decades of absence, the festival revives a site of immense cultural heritage, bringing together five unique performances that reinterpret classical myths through contemporary eyes.
Five Productions, Five Distinctive Voices
The festival presents an extraordinary lineup of international artists and visionary directors, each offering a unique take on the timeless myth of Antigone. The program includes:
- Antigone by Felix Mendelssohn, conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta, featuring the Orchestra and Male Choir of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, with Massimo Popolizio and Sandra Toffolatti as narrators (Auditorium Parco della Musica, June 23).
- Oedipus Rex, directed by Luca De Fusco, starring Luca Lazzareschi and Manuela Mandracchia, reinterpreting Sophocles’ tragedy in the evocative setting of Ostia Antica (July 6).
- Antigone by Jean Anouilh, directed by Roberto Latini, featuring the legendary Manuela Kustermann, blending theatrical experimentation and poetic depth (July 13).
- Antigone, choreographed by Alan Lucien Øyen, with dancers from his company winter guests, alongside members of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and Antonin Monié from Opéra de Paris (Teatro Argentina, July 20).
- Iphigenia, directed by Eva Romero, a powerful adaptation of Silvia Zarco’s text, performed by an outstanding Spanish ensemble (July 26).
A Cultural Renaissance for Ostia Antica
Supported by Regione Lazio and the Municipality of Rome, the festival integrates into the city’s rich cultural landscape, aligning with the Jubilee 2025 celebrations. A key partnership with the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica, directed by Alessandro D’Alessio, ensures a deep synergy between heritage and performance arts. Moreover, collaborations with the Mérida Classical Theatre Festival in Spain and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia elevate the festival to an international level.
A New Tradition Begins
More than just an event, the Teatro Ostia Antica Festival aspires to become a yearly tradition, cementing Teatro di Roma as a key player in the European cultural scene. With five grand productions, three iconic venues, and a vision that bridges the past and future, this festival redefines the role of classical theatre in the contemporary world.
Feature Image: Copyright Alan Lucien Øyen
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