Codex Festival in Noto: the second weekend, 18–20 September 2026
From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026, the second weekend of Codex Festival in Noto brings five theatre and live music events to Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo and Convitto delle Arti.
The programme opens with Sutta Scupa and a concert by Gianluca Gill, continues on Saturday with the biting humour of La Sparanoia, and closes on Sunday with Big Boots and the rock sounds of Dancemalora.
Friday 18 September: Sutta Scupa and Gianluca Gill
Sutta Scupa
9:00 pm · Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo
Giovanni and Vito are two unemployed friends waiting for a job interview. They have been waiting for more than twenty years. In Sutta Scupa, their long wait tells the story of two lives left on the margins.
A Voice sets the rules and keeps their hopes alive: a presence resembling a modern-day fairy, but also an artificial intelligence, able to determine timing and opportunities. Behind it all is a society that promises progress while leaving the protagonists standing still.
Written by Giuseppe Massa, directed and performed by Giuseppe Massa and Giuseppe Provinzano, the play evokes the world of Beckett and his Vladimir and Estragon: characters suspended in a seemingly endless stretch of time.
A Babel – A.C. Sutta Scupa production, with music by Simona Norato, lighting by Cristian Zucaro, assistant direction by Simona Malato and technical support by Jean-Mathieu Marie. Running time: 60 minutes.
Gianluca Gill
10:30 pm · Convitto delle Arti
The evening continues with Gianluca Gill, an Italian singer-songwriter and author based in Berlin. His performance spans his repertoire, from songs on Caro petrolio and Chi ha ucciso Luigi Tenco? to the surreal atmospheres of Disco Quantistico.
His writing explores politics and the contradictions of contemporary life with irony and provocation, bringing together songwriting and sonic experimentation. Joining him on stage is Turi Di Natale, guitarist, long-time collaborator and arranger of several of his songs.
The concert also features an extensive tribute to Franco Battiato, tracing his journey from early musical experiments through his 1980s hits to his artistic partnership with Manlio Sgalambro.
Saturday 19 September: La Sparanoia
9:00 pm · Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo
Niccolò Fettarappa and Lorenzo Guerrieri bring La Sparanoia. Atto unico senza feriti gravi purtroppo to Noto. Its subtitle translates as “A one-act play with no serious injuries, unfortunately.” The show takes a sarcastic look at the political and generational disorientation of the present.
At its heart are subdued young people, postponed revolutions and anger struggling to find a direction. Words and physical performance fuel a restless comedy that tackles uncomfortable subjects, exposing the tension between the desire to act and the inertia of everyday life.
The project was conceived and written by Niccolò Fettarappa, with an intellectual contribution from Christian Raimo. Fettarappa and Guerrieri share the directing credits and perform together on stage.
A Sardegna Teatro – Agidi co-production, supported by Armunia Teatro, Spazio Zut, Circuito Claps and Officine della Cultura. Running time: 90 minutes.
Sunday 20 September: Big Boots and Dancemalora
Big Boots
9:00 pm · Convitto delle Arti
The final evening of the weekend opens with Big Boots, by Cordata FOR/Kapy Company, at 9:00 pm at Convitto delle Arti.
Dancemalora
10:30 pm · Convitto delle Arti
At 10:30 pm, Dancemalora take the stage. The project brings together Alberto, Daniele, Ence and Marco, musicians who shared rehearsal spaces and gigs before becoming a band.
Rock is their starting point, shaped by alternative and noise influences and unconventional structures. Their sound and rhythms are open to experimentation, drawing on the four members’ varied listening backgrounds and experiences.
Winners of Lavicarock in 2019, they released the single Berlino in 2020, with lyrics by theatre director Orazio Condorelli, followed by their self-titled debut album in 2021. In 2023, they began working with Hikaru Label, releasing the single Senza corpo.
For full event details and tickets, visit the festival’s official website: www.codexfestival.eu.
