We Love Our Annual Summer Play

Every summer, the Reschio Players take over the estate. A troupe of family, friends, homegrown talent and the occasional eccentric professional gathers for two weeks of costume-making, set-building, rehearsing and creative chaos, all in pursuit of three unforgettable evenings of theatre in support of the performing arts.

We are honoured — and very excited — that this year’s play is being written and directed by longtime family friend and professional actor Dominic West. The production rides straight into Wild West territory, as a troupe of Buffalo Bills arrives at Reschio and collides with the Tuscan Butteri (Italy’s original cowboys), throwing the peaceful routines of the Castello and its characters delightfully off course. Behind the laughter and theatrics lies a remarkable collective effort: costumes are sewn by hand, sets built from scratch, songs rehearsed, live music performed and dance routines perfected. And that is before anyone has considered the challenge of feeding forty hungry actors, musicians and volunteers every day.

Every ticket contributes to supporting the New Generation Foundation in Florence, helping talented young performers access professional training. However, it is especially the generosity of donations that truly makes a difference in our fundraising efforts. Our ambition each year is to fund a full scholarship, covering both tuition and accommodation for a young artist.

The History of our Theatre

The play began as a way to keep five Bolza children entertained during the long summer holidays, gathering friends and cousins to stage increasingly ambitious productions. The first performance, Snow White, took place beneath the stars in the unrestored Castello courtyard in 2010. Over the years, the productions evolved from familiar fairy tales into original stories inspired by the characters and mythology of life in the Reschio Hotel.

What began as children’s theatre has become one of Reschio’s most cherished traditions.