Imagine watching live theater unfold not in a traditional auditorium, but within the protected wetlands and coastal dunes of one of Puglia's most important nature reserves. Acaumon, performed by Marina Cimmino Teatro, transforms the WWF Le Cesine Nature Reserve in Vernole into an open-air stage where the calls of migratory birds and the rustle of Mediterranean scrub become part of the performance itself. This is theater as a sensory pilgrimage, part of the innovative NAT Festival that reimagines the relationship between art and environment.
Where Wild Puglia Becomes the Stage
Le Cesine is a 620-hectare oasis of lagoons, marshes, and pine forest stretching along the Adriatic coast between Vernole and San Cataldo. It's a vital stopover for thousands of migratory birds traveling between Africa and northern Europe. The reserve's landscape shifts with the seasons—winter floods transform reed beds into shimmering mirrors, while summer reveals sandy paths through wild orchids and sea daffodils.
Hosting a theater performance here is a deliberate provocation: you're asked to slow down, to notice the heron stalking through shallow water, to feel the salt breeze off the Adriatic. The performance doesn't compete with nature—it listens to it.
The Acaumon Experience
Marina Cimmino Teatro is known for site-specific work that blurs the boundaries between performer and landscape. Acaumon draws on myths of transformation and belonging, themes that resonate deeply in a place where land and water are in constant negotiation. The audience often moves through different zones of the reserve, following the performers along boardwalks and clearings.
Expect an intimate, immersive format—this isn't a performance you watch from a distance. You might find yourself standing among reeds, seated on driftwood, or walking single-file through tunnels of vegetation. The performance responds to the hour of the day, the quality of light, the presence of wildlife.
What to Expect and Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes—paths can be uneven, sandy, or damp depending on the season
- Layers of clothing—the reserve is exposed to wind off the Adriatic, and evenings cool quickly
- Insect repellent in warmer months, especially near the lagoons at dusk
- A sense of adventure—this is theater that asks you to embrace unpredictability
- Binoculars if you're a bird lover—you might spot flamingos, stilts, or marsh harriers before or after the show
Beyond the Performance
Vernole itself is a quiet agricultural town just inland from the coast, known for its tobacco fields and traditional masserie. After the show, the nearby fishing village of San Cataldo offers simple seafront trattorias where the day's catch is grilled over open flame. The reserve is also a short drive from Lecce, whose baroque architecture provides a striking contrast to the wild simplicity of Le Cesine.
Arriving early allows time to explore the reserve's trails independently—the WWF maintains several marked paths, and interpretive panels explain the ecology of this fragile ecosystem. The reserve is most vibrant during migration seasons in spring and autumn, when the skies fill with wheeling flocks.