Meetings of theatre and popular music, internationally renowned storytellers and Russian puppets, aerial dances and acrobatic performances, crafts and street food. The countdown has begun for ‘In/Canti e Banchi’, the street theatre festival that will be held in Castelfiorentino (FI) from 23 to 25 May, effectively inaugurating the summer season. There are numerous novelties for this 34th edition of the festival, starting with the graphics inspired by Andrea Nicita’s artistic drawings that will be on display at the Oratorio di San Carlo for the entire duration of the event.
From the very first evening (Friday, from 8:30 p.m.), it will be up to the Filarmonica “G. Verdi” to mark the start of the shows with its musical notes, while a “magical Membrino in mask” will accompany the public between theatrical performances and animations, repeated several times so as not to miss a single one, while the ancient streets of the village, festively lit up, will be literally invaded by storytellers and performances by acrobats, street artists and aerial dancers. There will be touring and stationary shows, involving young and old through surprising, playful and stimulating artistic content. From rebellious musicians (“size brothers”) to the FolleMente company, from giant swans coming from ancient forgotten worlds to clouds on stilts forming a “living music box2, not to mention “Lumi”, a sweet luminous fairy who gives dreams by lighting up people’s eyes.
The squares will be livened up with a market of traditional Valdelsa street food, alternating gastronomic stands, identified by a real “Mangiatoia” (Piazza delle Stanze Operaie), with more contemporary and experimental proposals. There will also be a Sunday dedicated to the markets located within the ancient walls and in the gardens with antiques, typical handicrafts, and precious smallwares, enlivened by a theatre marathon with the participation of eight companies from all over Tuscany (“Corti Circuito”) that will enliven the alleys and the most evocative corners of the ancient village: an unmissable sequence of shows and unprecedented performances among decayed nobles and forgetful old people, health-conscious and inveterate eaters, extinct loved ones and imaginary sick people, unmentionable secrets and damsels in love. The programme will be completed by a number of events involving the students of Castelfiorentino schools (such as ‘Kamishibai’, a paper theatre performance of Japanese origin) and others organised by cultural associations in the area. There will also be numerous exhibitions: by Andrea Nicita, by the “Giglio Rosso” photography group, by the students of the Enriques Graphics School, by Giovanni Fiaschi, at the Be.Go. Museum and at the Cambio Cultural Centre.
‘In/Canti e Banchi is a story,’ stresses Culture Councillor Franco Spina, ‘to be told, invented, continued. A story of community for the community, which is generated in the street, a great educator of gestures and language. A bridge between tradition, wonder, nostalgia, visions, different voices, sounds, faces. It is the image of a distant world that returns to visit us to remind us who we are and to establish new relationships in the territory and among the people who inhabit it. Firmly convinced that through art and the culture of beauty we can activate a process of active and aware citizenship involving all age groups,‘ Councillor Spina concludes, ’In/Canti e Banchi 2025″ will be a festival of community and proximity.
“In/Canti e Banchi 2025”, observes the Mayor, Francesca Giannì, “proposes a new starting point for looking to the future. For the elaboration of the programme – continues the Mayor – we started from the history of the first edition and from here we built a new identity, visual and narrative, with shows and cultural initiatives open to all, completely free of charge. A democratic and popular festival, therefore, a showcase for the best artistic talents, a meeting place for storytellers, theatre artists, musicians. Like a shared dream, in this festival there is a vision for the city brand of our city. Many thanks to the sponsors who generously contributed to the realisation of the event”.
In/Canti e Banchi is organised by the Municipality of Castelfiorentino with the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Metropolitan City of Florence and the Union of Municipalities Circondario Empolese Valdelsa, in collaboration with Fondazione Teatro del Popolo, Cambio Centro Culturale, Museo Be.Go., Istituto Superiore “F. Enriques”, Istituto Comprensivo, Wonderful Market, Cetra Cultura, Promocultura, Biblioteca Comunale “Vallesiana”, Centro Commerciale “Tre Piazze”, and numerous sponsors such as Ente Cambiano Spca, Toscana Energia, Unicoop Firenze, DM Container and Box.
To find out about the programme click here.
