Short Description
Created in Rovigo in 1994, Opera Prima Festival’s aim was to bring a new theatrical generation to the attention of critics, a generation that in the Nineties struggled to come to light and was left outside the Italian theatres. OPERA PRIMA became a sort of “home” and a point of reference for this generation, the self-described Invisible Theatres generation. With its help, a large number of artists managed to rise from this “invisibility”. This Festival was the first to show to both the audience and critics actors like Ascanio Celestini and Roberto Latini, and groups like Motus, Fanny & Alexander, Teatro Clandestino, Masque Teatro, Ariette, etc.
The call is open to single artists or emerging and independent professional companies that work with professional purposes in the field of contemporary theatre, dance and performing arts.
Eligibility
- The call is open to Italian and international individuals or groups of professional theatre and performing arts, structured in any legal form that allows them to fulfil the administrative and bureaucratic practices necessary to realise their performance.
- Only artistic projects that realise experimentation with scenic languages are eligible for selection. Amateur works, drama theater
- and performances of entertainment won’t be selected.
- The Festival commission selects both original works that have not yet been performed, as well as works that have already debuted, but which have not had an adequate circulation and/or visibility. The submitted works must be no longer than 60 minutes.
- In case of selection, the artist agrees not to perform the aforementioned work and not to reproduce it within an 80 km radius of Rovigo for a minimum of 60 days before and 30 days after the dates of the festival.
Submission Requirements
- Artistic curriculum of the company or the artist;
- Artistic form and technical rider of the performance;
- Link to the full video of the performance (if the proposal consists of a debut, link to a video of rehearsals). Video material has to be viewed directly online (by a link) and it mustn’t be downloaded (no wetransfer, Google Drive, etc.).
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
The selected performances are going to be included in the XXII edition of Festival Opera Prima and are going to be performed from the 10th to the 14th of June 2026.
All expenses and practices concerning the organisation, communication, staff, and promotion of the event will be in charge of the Festival.
At each selected company will be paid after the presentation of an invoice, a fee that has to be agreed and will guarantee the possibility of lodging at an affiliated guesthouse (just for the artists and technicians working in the performance).
Entry Fee
None
Location
Rovigo, Italy
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 7 December 2025
Website Link: https://www.festivaloperaprima.it/en/
