LaivIn 2026: 300 students for theatre festival

Context

In brief

• 300 students in 3 days for 12 theater performances and workshops
• Festival organized by Teatro Periferico with Alchemilla
• Participation of high schools and unaccompanied foreign minors

Key facts

• What: LaivIn Plus theater and workshop festival
• When: From May 26 to 28, 2026
• Where: Cassano Valcuvia and Mantua
• Who: Teatro Periferico, Alchemilla, Fondazione Cariplo
• Number: 300 participating students
• Where: Cassano Valcuvia, a town of 650 inhabitants on the border with Switzerland

The well-being of the young people and their growth, along with that of the entire community, are the goal and at the same time the added value of the LaivIn Plus Festival, scheduled for May 26 to 28 in Mantua and Cassano Valcuvia. Paola Manfredi, artistic director of Teatro Periferico, which organizes the Valcuvia edition of the Festival with Alchemilla, tells us about the vitality and strengths of the event, which will bring 300 young people to the village over three days for 12 theater performances and workshops.

Teatro Periferico has been entrusted with the task of organizing this Festival, which takes place simultaneously in Mantua with Teatro Magro, directly by Fondazione Cariplo and the project leader Alchemilla. Cassano Valcuvia, a town of 650 inhabitants on the border with Switzerland, is not perhaps a marginal place, but certainly a peripheral one, in an area also poorly served by public transport. However, the choice of the promoters of LaivIn is the same as that of Teatro Periferico, i.e., to support cultural centers in peripheral areas because they are important in ensuring community growth, social cohesion, and participation.

We at Teatro Periferico work a lot with young people. Young people come to the theater much more than in the past; they are very present in our co-design projects and are our future. We have invested in this direction, and that is why we chose to bring the LaivIn Festival to this small town. In addition to the 11 high schools in Lombardy and Piedmont, the Festival will also be attended by unaccompanied foreign minors from the San Martino cooperative. The boys are the same age as the adolescents of the festival and will perform a small part of their show, the work we have done together. Boys with disabilities will also participate in the Festival because theater is inclusion. And the project is biennial, so in the spring of 2027 Cassano Valcuvia will host the LaivIn again in a more extensive edition of the Festival, over four days.

Workshops and activities in the village

Yes, all the boys participating in the Festival will also have the opportunity to experiment with art workshops; we will show our trenches making reflections on life, peace, and beauty. There will then be a listening workshop with Alchemilla inside the Documentation Center. The town is small but has many things: a theater, a reception community, a restaurant managed by boys with disabilities, a museum, and the trenches. The schools will show us their work (half an hour each) and the boys will get to know each other, discuss, attend workshops, and eat together.

Theater as an educational tool

The purpose of the Festival is not competition. LaivIn is theatre and music and, above all, sharing. The projects carried out within schools and presented at LaivIn are not aimed at preparing actors or shows to be awarded. Here, theatre and music are educational tools for growth and expression. Through these tools, young people can learn to work in a team, to reason, to create, to express themselves, and to discover talents they didn't know they had. All this is a wealth, an opportunity for growth. Of course, it is important for the young people to show the result of their journey, because, like anyone else, they like to receive applause and feel the participation of others. However, what really counts is the process that the young people go through to get there. As often underlined by the European Community, the goal of cultural projects is the well-being of people, and artistic, social, and health aspects converge towards this goal.

The importance of in-person exchange

A lot, because outside the logic of social media and competition, young people have the opportunity to express themselves without the anxiety of performance. A boy, for example, who dances well hip-hop, once in his class or in his school, was the only one and felt important. Today, if he looks on social media, he is just one in a very long list because the comparison is with the global and no longer with a small reference group. This is why it is important to return to small contexts: so that young people feel gratified and capable, and do not continuously have this anxiety of not being up to the task. Today, young people are afraid of judgment, the future, or failure. But theatre also teaches them that it can happen to fail and, in fact, it is a good thing, an opportunity to learn and grow.

Operational details

Implications for cross-border workers and the local community

The LaivIn Plus Festival represents a unique opportunity for the community of Cassano Valcuvia, a small town on the border with Switzerland, to experience a culturally enriching event. The participation of 300 students from various high schools in Lombardy and Piedmont, along with unaccompanied minors and young people with disabilities, creates an inclusive and stimulating environment.

For cross-border workers living and working in Ticino, such initiatives can offer opportunities for integration and cultural exchange. The geographical proximity between Cassano Valcuvia and the Canton of Ticino facilitates participation in cultural events like this, which can enrich the social and community life of cross-border workers.

Workshops and activities for personal growth

Art workshops and moments of reflection on trenches, life, and peace offer participants the opportunity to explore important themes in a safe and supportive context. The listening workshop with Alchemilla within the Documentation Center is an example of how the festival promotes personal growth and social cohesion.

Theater as a tool for inclusion

Theater is a powerful tool for inclusion, capable of uniting people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The participation of young people with disabilities and unaccompanied minors underscores the importance of inclusion and sharing. Such initiatives can have a positive impact on the local community, promoting mutual understanding and respect.

The importance of in-person exchange

In an increasingly digitally connected world, in-person exchange takes on a special significance. The LaivIn Festival offers young people the opportunity to express themselves without the anxiety of competition, allowing them to discover talents and passions that might not be evident in a virtual context. This type of experience can be particularly valuable for young people, who often face pressures related to judgment and the fear of failure.

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Key points

How to Participate and What to Expect

For cross-border workers interested in participating in the LaivIn Plus Festival, it's important to know the access methods and the planned activities. The festival will take place from May 26 to 28, 2026, in Cassano Valcuvia and Mantua, with the participation of 300 young people from various high schools in Lombardy and Piedmont.

Program and Activities

The festival program includes 12 performances and decentralized theater workshops, as well as art workshops and moments of reflection on trenches, life, and peace. Participants will have the opportunity to get to know each other, discuss, attend workshops, and eat together, creating a sharing and growth environment.

Inclusion and Accessibility

The festival is open to everyone, with particular attention to the inclusion of young people with disabilities and unaccompanied migrant minors. This inclusive approach makes the LaivIn Plus Festival a unique event of its kind, capable of uniting people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Opportunities for the Local Community

For the community of Cassano Valcuvia, the festival represents an opportunity for growth and social cohesion. The participation of 300 young people from various high schools in Lombardy and Piedmont, together with unaccompanied migrant minors and young people with disabilities, creates an inclusive and stimulating environment.

Conclusion and CTA

The LaivIn Plus Festival is a culturally and socially valuable event that offers growth and inclusion opportunities for young people and the local community. For cross-border workers living and working in Ticino, this type of initiative can offer an opportunity for integration and cultural exchange. For more information and to participate, visit the festival's official website and discover how to live this unique experience.

Learn more about the LaivIn Plus Festival

Scopri di più sul Festival LaivIn Plus

Source: varesenews.it