gARTen - festival di teatro nel parco

Our programming is eclectic, featuring prose theatre, discussions, physical theatre performances, contemporary dance, acrobatics, and a photography exhibition. Our aim is to attract a wide audience to the performing arts and provide a platform for young artists to showcase their creative endeavours.

The 2024 edition seeks to embark on a journey of recognition, celebrating underrepresented voices, acts of resistance, and courage. It's an invitation to challenge the status quo and embrace stories that are often overlooked, honouring those on the fringes who dare to be different.

The festival will kick off with performances by alumni of the Dimitri Theatre Academy, each bringing their unique perspective but united in their quest to reflect on our contemporary world. Expect a rich tapestry of non-verbal communication, puppetry, contemporary dance, singing, juggling, pantomime, and more.

Highlights include Simon Wahl's "The World as I Like It", a poignant exploration of loss dedicated to those we've lost, urging humanity, movement, humour, and magic as catalysts for reshaping our desired world. "Caos Cosmico Quanto Basta", by the inclusive Teatro Danzabile, features three performers contemplating the cosmos, seeking their place amidst life's chaos, each striving to find personal meaning in the cosmic vastness. "Inégalité", presented by Ensemble Teatro, tells the story of Olympe de Gouges, a thinker and activist who challenged the French Revolution's narratives, highlighting the hypocrisy of a society penned by wealthy men. Her life serves as a lens to examine the paradoxes of a so-called liberal and progressive West. "Viva Zarola", a production by the Swiss Association Xocolat, engages in a timeless dialogue on human oppression, manipulation, and the everyday misery that erodes our reality. Meanwhile, Laura Pozone's "Dita di dama" transports us to Italy's tumultuous 1969, blending humour and drama to reveal the lives of factory workers through a lens of freedom and dignity, challenging the stereotypes of the era.

As we continue to define our lineup, our mission extends beyond the stage. While Lugano's city centre buzzes with summer activities, we aim to invigorate the more peripheral areas with our rich artistic offerings. Our festival strives to democratise access to arts and culture, making every event completely free of charge.

Envisioned as a modern-day agora, the festival is a place of meeting and exchange, fostering real connections between creators and audiences. To enhance this communal experience, we will transform our garden into a food village, creating a relaxed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Through these initiatives, we hope to spark conversations and experiences that resonate well beyond the festival's bounds, making art and culture a part of everyone's daily life.