On November 15, 2024, at 9.00 p.m., at the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti, the first edition of the “National Festival of Poetry off the Cuff” will entertain the audience for free.
Poetry off the cuff, an oral tradition of improvisation, is a cultural heritage from the inland areas of Central Italy, handed down from generation to generation. In the past, poets, especially mountain shepherds, spent time together improvising poems in the chivalric narrative structure of the ottava rima. The singers, one by one, ironically responded to the mockery rhymes a cappella and could go on for hours!
Similar singing challenges are performed even today at popular festivals in several villages of the Apennines.
The first “National Festival of Poetry off the Cuff” in Rieti will be presented by the son of art Marco Calabrese, and will host the poets Pietro Benedetti, Marco Betti, Francesco Burroni, Pietro Casini, Alessio Checchi, Donato De Acutis, Pietro De Acutis, Gaia Del Vecchio, Giampiero Giamogante, Alessio Magnolfi, Marinella Marabissi, Francesco Marconi, Irene Marconi, Emilio Meliani, Lorenzo Michelini, Agnese Monaldi, Letizia Papi, Stefano Prati, Angelo Rosseti, Alessio Runci, Paolo Santini, snd Felice Vanni.
On the same day, at 11.30, over 200 students from the following high schools will be welcomed into the theatre: “I.I.S. Carlo Jucci”, “Liceo Classico Varrone”, “I.P.S.S.E.O.A. R.A.Costag-gini”, “I.I.S. Luigi di Savoia” and “I.I.S. Celestino Rosatelli”.
Poster of the first “National Festival of Poetry off the Cuff” in Rieti