The Mariella Theatre in Monopoli is a small but lively cultural heart of the Apulian city, a place that tells of regeneration, community and theatre as a tool for meeting and reflection. Located at Via Cardinale Marzati, 2/1 in Monopoli, this space is much more than just a provincial theatre: it is the fruit of a collective project that has been able to transform an unused building into a true workshop of creativity and sociality.
Its recent history speaks of rebirth. Built in 2005 as a small theatre attached to the “Romanelli” Rest Home (known locally as “I Cappuccini”) thanks to a wing donated by Mrs Bianco, the theatre was never opened to the public for years. The turning point came in 2015, when the Apad Onlus Association signed an agreement with the Asp “Romanelli-Palmieri” to renovate it and return it to the Monopoli community. The intervention was co-financed by the UniCredit Foundation and also saw the contribution of the Compagnia teatrale Instabile, with a project that did not stop at the structure: in fact, a social inclusion project was also launched that gave work to young migrants involved in the theatre's management.
Over the years, the theatre has changed its name: from “Auditorium Bianco Manghisi” it became Teatro Mariella, in memory of Mariella Ramirez, soul of the Compagnia Instabile and beating heart of many initiatives, who died prematurely.
Today the space seats about 176 people, has a large and versatile stage and can be rented for performances, artistic events, conferences and public meetings.
What the Mariella Theatre is an experience that goes far beyond watching a play. Every year, a theatre season is set up with several shows, designed for a wide and varied audience: from adults to children, from families to the elderly. For the artistic year 2025/2026, for example, the season is called The Sense of Words and offers a rich programme of plays, monologues and performances ranging from comic to dramatic, from narrative to musical, with the aim of exploring the profound value of words and the stories they tell.
The programme includes performances of national productions and moments dedicated also to students, with matinees designed to stimulate the creativity and open-mindedness of young people.
In addition to the main season, the Mariella Theatre hosts thematic events and individual shows, such as musical-narrative performances suitable for all ages (in the past, shows such as Pinocchioso, which uses the story of Pinocchio to deal with contemporary issues, have found a place on its stage).
The theatre's cultural life is not limited to performances: it is intertwined with social and educational projects, such as theatre workshops for the elderly (e.g. The Travellers of the Third Age), educational initiatives and collaborations with other associations and the school world.
Part of the proceeds from the activities are used to support Apad projects in the countries where it operates (including Albania, Angola, Rwanda, Egypt and Bolivia) as well as in the local area, making the theatre also a place of solidarity and social engagement.
In short, the Mariella Theatre tells a story of transformation: from a place that was never open, to a living cultural container, capable of welcoming different artistic languages, of connecting generations and languages, and of proposing theatre as a space for reflection, community and deep sharing.
The Theatre Mariella of Monopoli is not just a place where you go to see a show: it is a beating heart of community, a creative workshop that weaves together art, dialogue, education and social relations. Behind every theatre season there is a cultural vision - and this vision finds in the artistic direction of Ubuntu non solo teatro (with the figure of Alessandra Dalena as artistic director) the thread that unites proposals, languages and narrative choices in a path of meaning.
The artistic direction here is not dictated by purely commercial taste or spectacle for its own sake, but by a deep reflection on the power of theatre as an instrument of collective and personal consciousness. The theatre seasons have titles charged with meaning - such as The Meaning of Words - that invite the spectator not only to watch, but to reflect on the dynamics of language, communication and human experience. The dramaturgical choices embrace different forms, from monologue to musical, from comedy to drama, opening up to continuous dialogues between text, body and spectator.
This approach is also reflected in the choice of performers and productions: the theatre often invites artists of national importance and collaborations with recognised theatre companies, staging works that not only entertain, but also question. For example, performances such as Vorrei una voce - a monologue built with Mina's songs and based on experiences of theatre in prison - show how the stage can be a bridge between different and often marginal realities and those in the audience.
But the Mariella's dimension goes far beyond seasonal programming: it is rooted in a concrete social commitment. Historically, the theatre was born out of a project to recover an unused space next to an old people's home and has gradually transformed itself into an engine of inclusion: for example, in the past it has given work and dignity to young migrants who were integrated into the very running of the theatre.
The Mariella is not only a stage, but also a space for education and civic participation. In fact, in many seasons the “Adopt a Class” project is proposed, conceived to involve schools and students in the theatre, favouring the encounter with the arts as a way of emotional and cultural growth. Through dedicated matinees, extra-curricular activities and educational paths, the theatre becomes an open window on the world, where young people are not mere spectators, but protagonists of a cultural experience that stimulates empathy, diversity and critical thinking.
At the same time, theatre opens up to broader forms of social encounter and dialogue. Not only traditional performances, but also moments of confrontation with civic issues, inclusion events or debates that make the stage a point of convergence between arts, community and social engagement.
Thus, the audience of the Mariella Theatre is not a mere spectator: it is a narrative community in the making, experiencing the theatre season as a journey. Young people, adults, families and the elderly intertwine in a shared experience that is meant to be reflection, relief, discovery and dialogue.
The aim is not just to show stories, but to put stories into circulation that transform those who hear them and those who tell them.
Address: Largo Cardinale Marzati, 2/1, 70043 Monopoli BA
Telephone: 331 777 2088
Province: Metropolitan City of Bari