International Theater Festival in Latin and Ancient Greek
THIRD EDITION
MARE SOMNIORVM
ΟΝΕΙΡΑΤΩΝ ΠΕΛΑΓΟΣ
Braga, 1-8 August, 2026
Thalia (Theatri Artisque Ludicrae Iuges Agones) is an international event dedicated to theatre in Latin and Ancient Greek, which every two years brings together hundreds of scholars and enthusiasts of the classical languages.
Now in its third edition, following the success of Vicenza (Thalia 2022) and Vilnius (Thalia 2024), this year THALIA will take place in Portugal, in Braga — the ancient Bracara Augusta — a millennia-old city where the traces left by the many civilizations it hosted are still visible today, from the Gallaecian and Roman to the Arab and Portuguese.
During the festival, audiences will be able to attend eight performances in Latin and four in Ancient Greek, featuring original works centered on the theme “The Sea of Dreams” (Mare somniorum, Ὀνειράτων πέλαγος). The companies, coming from various countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, and the United States), will compete for several awards, each dedicated to specific aspects of performance and playwriting, but above all for the top prizes: the Corona aurea for the best performance in Latin and the Χρυσοῦς στέφανος for the best performance in Ancient Greek. All performances will be surtitled in English or Portuguese. The companies will perform in the beautiful Teatro Circo of Braga.
In addition to the performances, each morning lectures in Latin and Ancient Greek will be offered, focusing on various aspects of ancient, Byzantine, and Renaissance culture, with particular attention to theatre and to the festival’s theme.
THALIA 2026 AWARDS
| Awards – Latin Section | |
| Corona aurea | Somnium Emmae, theatre company “Società Internazionale degli Amici di Cicerone (SIAC)” (Italy-France), LAT |
| Corona argentea | Somnii Portae, theatre company “CLIO in fabula” (France), LAT |
| Corona aenea | Palinurus, theatre company “Palinuridae” (Belgium), LAT |
| Calamus aureus | Stefano Vittori. Phaedra, theatre company “Κατολοφύρομαι” (Italy), LAT |
| Persona aurea | Catherine Meffre. Somnii Portae, theatre company “CLIO in fabula” (France), LAT |
| Pileus aureus | Stella Girardi. Somnium Emmae, theatre company “Società Internazionale degli Amici di Cicerone (SIAC)” (Italy-France), LAT |
| Awards – Ancient Greek Section | |
| Χρυσοῦς στέφανος | Λωτὸς κατὰ κύματα, theatre company “Olive a parte” (Italy), GR |
| Ἀργυροῦς στέφανος | Τέλος δὲ ἀποθνῄσκουσιν, theatre company “Ψευδοχορός” (Belgium) GR |
| Χαλκοῦς Στέφανος | Ὄναρ Ἰωνᾶ, theatre company “Θεομανεῖς Χῆνες” (Poland) GR |
| Χρυσοῦς κάλαμος | Tania Ferrari. Λωτὸς κατὰ κύματα, theatre company “Olive a parte” (Italy), GR. |
| Χρυσοῦν πρόσωπον | Sofia Amighetti. Λωτὸς κατὰ κύματα, theatre company “Olive a parte” (Italy), GR. |
| Χρυσοῦς πῖλος | Rusnė Valiukaitė. Ἑαυτὸν τιμωρούμενος, theatre company “Μοῦσα μοι ἔννεπε” (Lithuania) GR |
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
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| 2 August
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Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Filosofia, Aula Magna Praça da Faculdade de Filosofia 1, 4710-297 Braga |
| 9:00-10:00 | Registration of participants |
| 10:00-11:00 | Welcome addresses and opening remarks |
| 11:00-11:30 | Opening lecture: Latin in Braga |
| 11:30-12:00 | Coffee break |
| 12:30-13:00 | Welcome theatre performance |
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17:00-19:00 |
Guided tour of the city
Meeting point: Arco de Porta Nova |
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| 3 August | Theatro Circo Av. da Liberdade 697, 4710-251 Braga |
| 10:00-13:00 | Round table on theatre |
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| Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Filosofia, Aula Magna Praça da Faculdade de Filosofia 1, 4710-297 Braga |
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| 16:00-17:15 | Greek class: Περὶ θεατρικῶν |
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Pousada de Juventude R. de Santa Margarida 6, 4710-306 Braga |
| 20:00-21:00 | Theatre performance Somnium Metellae, theatre company “Ad Hoc” (Poland-Germany), LAT |
| 22:00-23:00 | Theatre performance Luciolus sive progressus curiosi, theatre company “Laelius d.a.”(USA- Italy), LAT |
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4 August 9:00-12:00 |
Guided tour of the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary
Meeting point: Pórtico do Bom Jesus |
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| Theatro Circo Av. da Liberdade 697, 4710-251 Braga, Portogallo |
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| 20:00-21:00 | Theatre performance Ὄναρ Ἰωνᾶ, theatre company “Θεομανεῖς Χῆνες” (Poland) GR |
| 21:30-22:30 | Theatre performance Somnii Portae, theatre company “CLIO in fabula” (France), LAT |
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| 5 August | Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Filosofia, Aula Magna Praça da Faculdade de Filosofia 1, 4710-297 Braga |
| 10:00-11:15 | Latin class: De somniis propheticis |
| 11:15-11:45 | Coffee break |
| 11:45-13:00 | Latin class: Cardanus de somniis |
| 16:00-17:15 | Greek class: Ἐπινυκτίς· περὶ ὀνειράτων ἀναγραφῆς |
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| Theatro Circo Av. da Liberdade 697, 4710-251 Braga |
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| 20:00-21:00 | Theatre performance Adelphae, theatre company “Societas Latina” (USA), LAT |
| 21:30-22:30 | Theatre performance Τέλος δὲ ἀποθνῄσκουσιν, theatre company “Ψευδοχορός” (Belgium) GR |
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| 6 August | Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Filosofia, Aula Magna Praça da Faculdade de Filosofia 1, 4710-297 Braga |
| 10:00-11:15 | Latin class: Carmina quaedam huius nostrae aetatis de somniis |
| 11:15-11:45 | Coffee break |
| 11:45-13:00 | Latin class: De Somno eiusque filiis |
| 16:00-17:15 | Latin class: De somniis in Aeneide |
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| Theatro Circo Av. da Liberdade 697, 4710-251 Braga |
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| 20:00-21:00 | Theatre performance Palinurus, theatre company “Palinuridae” (Belgium), LAT |
| 21:30-22:30 | Theatre performance Somnium Emmae, theatre company “Società Internazionale degli Amici di Cicerone (SIAC)” (Italy-France), LAT |
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| 7 August | Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Filosofia, Aula Magna Praça da Faculdade de Filosofia 1, 4710-297 Braga |
| 10:00-11:15 | Latin class: De somniis Dantis Alagherii in Purgatorio |
| 11:15-11:45 | Coffee break |
| 11:45-13:00 | Latin class: De domesticis somni praesagiis: “Somnia, quae mentes ludunt volitantibus umbris” |
| 16:00-17:15 | Greek class: Περὶ Ἀρτεμιδώρου |
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| Theatro Circo Av. da Liberdade 697, 4710-251 Braga |
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| 20:00-21:00 | Theatre performance Fur amor, theatre company “Theatrum classicum vilnense” (Lithuania), LAT |
| 21:30-22:30 | Theatre performance Ἑαυτὸν τιμωρούμενος, theatre company “Μοῦσα μοι ἔννεπε” (Lithuania) GR |
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| 8 August | Theatro Circo Av. da Liberdade 697, 4710-251 Braga |
| 14:30-15:30 | Theatre performance Λωτὸς κατὰ κύματα, theatre company “Olive a parte” (Italy), GR |
| 16:00-17:00 | Theatre performance Phaedra, theatre company “Κατολοφύρομαι” (Italy), LAT |
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| Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Filosofia, Aula Magna Praça da Faculdade de Filosofia 1, 4710-297 Braga |
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| 19:30 | Award ceremony |
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| 20:30 | Hotel Vila Galé Largo Carlos Amarante 150, 4700-308 Braga |
| Farewell dinner |
