As September 2025 unfolds, Italy’s cultural calendar is abuzz with two standout events that promise to captivate lovers of the arts and visual storytelling alike. On one front, the unveiling of a star-studded theatrical season at Palazzo Tabassi, curated by the Meta Aps association, has sent waves of excitement through the local community. On the other, the sixth edition of the Festival Nazionale Voghera Fotografia is set to transform the historic Castello Visconteo in Voghera into a dynamic hub for contemporary photography, drawing enthusiasts from across the country.
Let’s start with the theater. According to Rete5.tv, anticipation reached fever pitch on September 6, 2025, when Meta Aps officially presented its latest season at the elegant Palazzo Tabassi. The response was immediate and overwhelming: all 300 available subscription seats vanished in the blink of an eye, snapped up by eager theatergoers. But there’s good news for latecomers—another 300 tickets remain for those wishing to purchase individual shows, ensuring that the magic of live performance is still within reach for many.
The program itself reads like a who’s who of Italian and international theater, each production promising a unique blend of artistry, relevance, and entertainment. The season kicks off on November 8, 2025, with La vedova scaltra, described as an “adventure of love and sword” that delves into themes of female emancipation. Le Figaro has hailed the play as “a delicacy. Light, uninhibited. Pure entertainment.” Under the direction of Giancarlo Marinelli and featuring a cast led by Caterina Murino and the vocal participation of Jean Reno, the show is poised to set a high bar for the months to come.
December brings another highlight with A mirror – uno spettacolo falso e non autorizzato, a dark thriller that, with a touch of irony, explores the fraught boundaries between art, power, and censorship. Directed by Giancarlo Nicoletti and starring Ninni Bruschetta and Paola Michelini, the play tackles the ever-pressing issues of freedom of speech and censorship—topics that resonate deeply in today’s climate.
The season continues on December 20 with L’uomo, la bestia e la virtù, a work by Luigi Pirandello that peels back the layers of hypocrisy, propriety, and sexual morality lurking behind a classic love triangle. The cast, including Vanessa Gravina and Max Malatesta, promises to deliver a performance that’s both timely and unsettlingly relevant.
Come January 10, 2026, audiences will be treated to a powerful reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Directed by Giorgio Pasotti with dramaturgy by Dacia Maraini, the production promises a contemporary take on jealousy and the struggle to control one’s emotions. The ensemble, featuring Giacomo Giorgio and Claudia Tosoni, is set to breathe new life into this timeless tragedy.
February brings a political edge to the stage with Il medico dei maiali on the 7th—a thriller where power is depicted as a ruthless game that devours both men and the future. Written and directed by Davide Sacco and starring Luca Bizzarri and Francesco Montanari, the play offers a biting commentary on the machinations of authority.
On February 21, L’avaro immaginario – In viaggio verso Molière da Napoli a Parigi takes audiences on an adventurous journey blending the atmospheres of Naples and Paris, playfully blurring the line between reality and illusion. The production, helmed by Enzo Decaro and featuring the Compagnia Luigi De Filippo, promises a vibrant, almost dreamlike experience.
March 21 sees the arrival of I mezzalira – panni sporchi fritti in casa, a tragicomic tale that invites spectators to piece together the imperfect stories of their own families. Directed by Raffaele Latagliata and performed by Agnese Fallongo and Tiziano Caputo, the play offers both laughter and reflection in equal measure.
The season wraps up on April 12, 2026, with L’arte della truffa, a story about an honest entrepreneur who finds himself in over his head and must rely on his cunning con artist brother-in-law to escape trouble. The cast, led by Biagio Izzo and Carla Ferraro, is sure to bring both wit and heart to this comedic caper.
Meanwhile, in Voghera, the Festival Nazionale Voghera Fotografia is gearing up for its sixth edition, running from September 13 to 28, 2025, at the iconic Castello Visconteo. As reported by local sources, the festival’s program was also unveiled on September 6, and it promises a rich, multifaceted exploration of visual culture. The theme this year, “Fotoreportage – Raccontare Mondi,” puts the spotlight on documentary photography’s power to tell, witness, and interpret reality—a poignant mission in an era when images are so easily manipulated.
Promoted by the cultural association Spazio 53 – Visual Imaging and under the artistic direction of journalist and photographer Michele Dalla Palma, the festival is spread across three weekends, with the grand opening slated for Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 AM. The heart of the event lies in seven major exhibitions, showcasing around 210 photographs that traverse a broad spectrum of contemporary issues and visual styles.
Among the featured artists, Francesco Cito offers a glimpse into the traditions of Romania’s Maramureș region, capturing Christian-Orthodox rituals and enduring folk customs. Isabella Balena’s work, meanwhile, prompts viewers to reflect on the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion within the photographic gaze. Massimo Sestini documents the final world tour of the Amerigo Vespucci training ship with stunning imagery, while Barbara Zanon tackles the thorny intersection of truth and artificial intelligence in photography, encouraging a critical examination of manipulated images.
Other highlights include Cesare Gerolimetto’s fresh perspective on Venice, Roberto Cifarelli’s intimate foray into the world of jazz, and Paolo Petrignani’s adventurous journey through caves, mountains, and extreme environments. The exhibitions are open to the public free of charge on weekends, with special appointments available for schools and groups.
The festival’s cultural program is equally robust, featuring talks, book presentations, and debates on the evolution of photojournalism and the role of images in contemporary society. Notable guests include Edoardo Agresti, Massimo Magistrini, Laura Manione, and Andrea Pontini of InsideOver, each offering unique insights into the challenges and responsibilities of visual storytelling today.
Workshops, technical demonstrations, and even analog photography experiences round out the offerings, with Canon hosting the Total Imaging Experience and Punto Foto Group providing real-time black-and-white film development. Ethical considerations and the future of photography are also front and center, with Barbara Zanon leading discussions on AI-generated imagery and Gabriele Micalizzi sharing his experiences as a photojournalist in conflict zones.
Permanent attractions like the Camera Obscura and the presence of Minuteri—traditional street photographers—add a nostalgic, hands-on dimension to the festival. Guided tours of local cultural and artisanal sites further enrich the program, weaving together the photographic and historical narratives of the Oltrepò region.
The festival is supported by Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Comunitaria della Provincia di Pavia, and enjoys the patronage of Regione Lombardia, Provincia di Pavia, and UNICEF, in collaboration with the Comune di Voghera. The president of Spazio 53, Arnaldo Calanca, emphasized the festival’s commitment to presenting “authentic visions” and “visual stories that seek to understand and relate, not just explain.” Artistic director Michele Dalla Palma added, “With this edition, we want to reaffirm the value of photography as testimony and memory, against the artificial drift of digital imagery. Our goal is to safeguard documentary photography as a cultural and human heritage, bearer of truth and meaning in a world increasingly crowded with empty images.”
With such a wealth of offerings on stage and in the gallery, September 2025 is shaping up to be a month where Italy’s artistic spirit shines especially bright, inviting audiences to witness, reflect, and be moved in ways only great art can achieve.
