Beyond the Borders

Cine Teatro Metropolitano · Reggio di Calabria, Costa Viola, Calabria

31 October 2026

Concluded event

From 31 October 2026 to 9 April 2027 Reggio Calabria hosts the third edition of «Oltre i Confini – Voci di Resistenza e Speranza, Storie di Lotta e Solidarietà» (Beyond the Borders – Voices of Resistance and Hope, Stories of Struggle and Solidarity), a season of socially engaged theatre promoted by the Fondazione Girolamo Tripodi. There are seven shows, all starting at 6.30pm: six at the Cine Teatro Metropolitano, Via Nino Bixio 44, and the finale on 9 April at the Auditorium Santa Caterina, with Ascanio Celestini's «Radio Clandestina». Themes range from remembrance to the fight against the Mafia, migration and gender equality. The opening night was free; the next dates are 26 November, 19 December and 27 January, and it is worth checking admission with the foundation before each one.

What Oltre i Confini is: civic theatre in seven evenings

«Oltre i Confini – Voci di Resistenza e Speranza, Storie di Lotta e Solidarietà» is the theatre season that the Fondazione Girolamo Tripodi has run in Reggio Calabria since 2024; the 2026-2027 season is its third edition. The programme has seven shows between 31 October 2026 and 9 April 2027, all starting at 6.30pm, combining original plays, testimonies and storytelling about people and episodes of recent history.

The poster describes them as «moments of theatre» on remembrance, on the writer Leonida Repaci and Calabria, on gendered language and equality between men and women, on Gaza and Palestine, on indifference, on the persecution of gay people and the Ferramonti internment camp, on migrants and racism, and on the anti-Mafia judges Falcone and Borsellino and the fight against the Mafia.

The programme from October to January

The season opened on Saturday 31 October with «L'Ardito Rosso (o dell'incanto meridiano di Leonida Repaci)», written by Domenico Loddo, performed by Silvana Luppino and directed by Christian Maria Parisi, a Teatro Primo production: a portrait of the Palmi-born writer who never appears on stage, told through the voices of five women who knew him.

On Thursday 26 November comes «Parole Femmine» (Women's Words), written and performed by Annalisa Insardà and directed by Andrea Naso. On Saturday 19 December Beppe Casales presents «Gaza Vive» (Gaza Lives), which he wrote and performs. On Wednesday 27 January 2027, Holocaust Remembrance Day, the stage goes to «Mio cognato Mastrovaknic» by Ciro Lenti, directed by Lindo Nudo, with Paolo Mauro and Marco Tiesi; a play of the same title staged in Apulia in 2013 was set in 1943 in the Ferramonti internment camp.

From February to the finale with Ascanio Celestini

On Friday 26 February 2027 Giulio Cavalli presents «Moussa in Paradiso. Una giullarata funebre» (Moussa in Paradise, a funeral farce), which he wrote and performs. On Friday 26 March it is the turn of «La partita non è ancora finita» (The Match Isn't Over Yet), written and performed by Marco Mitica.

The closing night, on Friday 9 April 2027, moves to the Auditorium Santa Caterina for «Radio Clandestina. Roma, le Fosse Ardeatine, la memoria», written and performed by Ascanio Celestini. The monologue grew out of historian Alessandro Portelli's book on the Fosse Ardeatine massacre in Rome, where on 24 March 1944 the German occupying forces killed 335 people in reprisal for a partisan attack in Via Rasella. It is the only show of the season away from the Cine Teatro Metropolitano.

The Fondazione Girolamo Tripodi and past editions

The foundation, based in Polistena, is named after Girolamo «Mommo» Tripodi (1927-2018), a farm labourer and trade unionist who was mayor of Polistena for more than thirty years and served in both chambers of the Italian Parliament. Besides the theatre season it runs student scholarships, the Premio Girolamo Tripodi award and a competition in memory of Bruno Ielo.

The first edition of Oltre i Confini closed on 31 March 2025 with Moni Ovadia at the Auditorium Santa Caterina. The second opened on 31 October 2025 to a full house for Dario Natale's «Di tutti i colori», featured Angelo d'Orsi and Nino Racco among others, and ended on 22 May 2026 with Dario Vergassola.

Venues and getting there

Six of the seven shows take place at the Cine Teatro Metropolitano, Via Nino Bixio 44, in central Reggio Calabria. The finale on 9 April is at the Auditorium Santa Caterina, the former Cinema Aurora at Via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria 151, in the Santa Caterina district north of the centre.

Coming from outside the city, you can drive down the A2 motorway, which ends in Reggio, or take the train to Reggio Calabria Centrale; the Santa Caterina district also has its own station, Reggio Calabria Santa Caterina, on the same line. The Aeroporto dello Stretto links the city with domestic flights. The sources do not mention parking reserved for the audience: with a 6.30pm start in the city centre, allow some extra time.

Admission and contacts

The opening night on 31 October was free, and so was the show that closed the first edition in March 2025, while seats lasted. No tickets or prices have been announced for this season's individual dates, so it is best to check before going, especially as the hall has filled up in the past (the first night of 2025 was a full house).

The Fondazione Girolamo Tripodi is based at Via Giuseppe Lombardi 10 in Polistena and can be reached on +39 335 7926232 or at fondazionegirolamotripodi@gmail.com. Announcements and updates on each show are published on the foundation's website.

Reggio Calabria between shows

With shows starting at 6.30pm, the day is free for exploring the city. In the centre you will find the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, home of the Riace Bronzes, the Lungomare Falcomatà seafront promenade overlooking the Strait of Messina, the Aragonese Castle and the cathedral.

If you are staying for several days, browse the available holiday rentals and businesses in Reggio Calabria, from restaurants to bars. For other shows and events in the city and the province in the same weeks, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When does Oltre i Confini 2026-2027 take place?

From 31 October 2026 to 9 April 2027, with seven shows: 31 October, 26 November, 19 December, 27 January, 26 February, 26 March and 9 April.

What time do the shows start?

All at 6.30pm, according to the official poster for the season.

Where are the shows held?

At the Cine Teatro Metropolitano, Via Nino Bixio 44, Reggio Calabria; only the 9 April finale is at the Auditorium Santa Caterina, Via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria 151.

Is admission free?

The opening night was free, as was the closing show of the first edition in 2025, while seats lasted. No tickets have been announced for the other shows: check with the foundation on +39 335 7926232.

What is the next show?

On Thursday 26 November 2026 at 6.30pm, «Parole Femmine», written and performed by Annalisa Insardà and directed by Andrea Naso, at the Cine Teatro Metropolitano.

When is Ascanio Celestini performing?

On Friday 9 April 2027 at 6.30pm at the Auditorium Santa Caterina, with «Radio Clandestina. Roma, le Fosse Ardeatine, la memoria», which he wrote and performs.

Who organises the season?

The Fondazione Girolamo Tripodi, based in Polistena and named after the former mayor of Polistena and Calabrian member of parliament.

How can I contact the organisers?

By phone on +39 335 7926232 or by email at fondazionegirolamotripodi@gmail.com; updates are posted on the foundation's website.

Related events and news

All Costa Viola events