Festival of Narratives | Variations

From 1 to 29 November 2025, Roccella Ionica will host the first edition of the Festival of Narratives – Variations, an event celebrating the power of storytelling in all its forms: theatre, music, cinema, literature and creative workshops. The festival was created with the aim of exploring the link between art and social reality, highlighting the many voices of contemporary storytelling.

The events will be held at the former Convent of the Minims, the Elisa Scali Study Centre and the city's schools, in a programme that combines performances, meetings and workshops.

The festival will open at the former Convent of the Minims on 1 November at 7 p.m. with Una storia palestinese (A Palestinian Story), a performance by storyteller Nino Racco. It continues on 8 November with the screening of Io esisto (I Exist), organised by the AVE-AMA OdV association. On 14, 15 and 16 November, again at 7 p.m., Incontro e dialoghi tra le culture (Encounter and Dialogues between Cultures) will be staged with Tonino and Gabriele Palamara, Mico Corapi and Omar Mrad; Alfonsina. La donna che arrivava sempre ultima (The woman who always came last) by Stefano Benedetti with Daniela Bertini; and Voci di donne (Voices of women) with Daniela Bertini and Rossella Scherl, dedicated to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. On 22 November, at 9 a.m., there will be a conference entitled Suicides in Uniform, organised by the association 'Insieme si può' and SIULP, while on 23 November at 7 p.m., Senza voce – la storia di Stregoni (Voiceless – the story of Stregoni) by Joe Barba will be screened. The festival will close on 29 November at 9:00 pm with the show La Magara – l'ultima strega (The Magara – the last witch) by and with Emanuela Bianchi.

At the 'Elisa Scali' Study Centre, on 19 November at 5.30 pm, there will be a meeting entitled Lo zen e la cerimonia del tè (Zen and the tea ceremony) curated by Rossella Scherl and in collaboration with the Scholé cultural association.