FITE 2026 Brings Seven Theater Workshops Across the Dominican Republic

The International Theater Festival (FITE) 2026 will expand its educational programming with seven workshops scheduled between September and October, offering practical and theoretical training in different areas of the performing arts.

The program brings together workshops led by Elizabeth Ovalle, Víctor Arcturus Estrella, Iván Mejía, Xiomara Rodríguez, Aileen Said, Guillermo Liriano and Margaret Sosa. The activities will take place at cultural and theater venues in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Los Alcarrizos and will target participants ranging from children and teenagers to professional theater practitioners.

Writing, Space and Microtheater Lead the September Program

The first workshop, “Dramaturgy Workshop: Write and Build Your Own Story,” will be taught by Elizabeth Ovalle from September 14 to 18 at Fundación Absoluto Teatro. Designed for people aged 16 and older, the course will combine creative exercises, analysis, feedback and discussion to explore the foundations of theatrical writing.

Participants will work on dramatic structure, rhythm, conflict, idea development, poetry and textual aesthetics, while developing their own creative voice and learning how to build a dramatic story from its initial premise.

From September 16 to 19, Víctor Arcturus Estrella will lead “Transform the Space” at the Centro de la Cultura de Santiago. The practical workshop will investigate the relationship between the body, space and collective movement through exercises focused on stage presence, spatial awareness, rhythm and group dynamics.

The workshop will also explore movement qualities inspired by the natural world and the seven levels of tension associated with Jacques Lecoq, applying them to improvisation and collective creation. It is intended for actors, directors, performers and theater practitioners aged 18 and older, regardless of their career stage.

Nova Teatro will host the “Microtheater Laboratory: Collective Creation and Scenic Minimalism” on September 26 and 27. Led by Iván Mejía, the intensive program will examine the creative possibilities of short theatrical formats and limited performance spaces.

The participants will explore basic tools of dramaturgy, acting, directing and collective creation, as well as conflict construction, the in medias res opening, dramatic twists, improvisation, actor direction, audience focus and the minimalist use of scenic space and elements. The workshop is open to people aged 16 and older.

Programs Designed for Younger Participants

FITE 2026 will also include training specifically designed for teenagers. From September 28 to October 2, Xiomara Rodríguez will teach “The Game of Being: Introduction to Performing Arts and Improvisation for Teenagers” at La Gruta Teatro.

The workshop is aimed at participants between 13 and 18 years old and will use theater games, group activities and improvisation to encourage spontaneity, imagination, confidence, physical expression and communication.

Students will explore the body and voice as expressive tools while working on character creation, storytelling and situations inspired by everyday life. The program also seeks to develop teamwork, empathy, assertive communication and creative approaches to problem-solving.

From September 30 to October 3, Aileen Said will lead “My Voice Through the Puppet” at the Educational, Sports and Cultural Organization of Villa Linda III in Los Alcarrizos.

The workshop will use puppetry as a tool for creativity, play and storytelling. Children and teenagers between 9 and 15 years old will create their own characters using simple and reusable materials while learning basic principles of manipulation, voice and movement.

The process will culminate in a collective experience in which the characters created by the participants will share stories developed during the workshop.

October Workshops Focus on Physical Theater and Community Performance

Guillermo Liriano will lead “Body Dilation” from October 5 to 10 at Centro Cultural Mauricio Báez. The practical workshop will focus on physical expression and image theater, treating the body as both an artistic medium and a tool for stage communication.

Participants aged 16 and older will work on breathing, concentration, body control, stillness, character conceptualization and aesthetic transformation through techniques connected to Image Theater and living statues. The workshop will also explore new forms of stage presence and character creation for artistic interventions in public spaces.

The final workshop, “Pasa Calle: Street Theater, Performance and Community Creation,” will take place from October 16 to 18 at Teatro Otoño under the direction of Margaret Sosa.

The program will turn public spaces into settings for artistic creation, community interaction and dialogue. Through observation, improvisation and collective-building exercises, participants will use local territory, stories, characters and everyday dynamics as material for theatrical creation.

The workshop incorporates tools from popular and community theater as well as Theater of the Oppressed. It is open to artists, students, cultural and community organizers, and others interested in performing arts and cultural work in communities. Participants will work toward creating a collective theatrical or performance intervention.

Across its seven workshops, the FITE 2026 training program covers both traditional and experimental approaches to theater, from writing and acting to puppetry, physical performance and community-based creation. The range of ages and experience levels also gives the festival’s educational program a broad reach within the Dominican performing arts community.