Area of Learning
‍Coming soon. This section will outline the artistic focus or area of learning that will guide students’ creative exploration during the festival. Through collaborative theatre-making, participants will engage with a central theme designed to challenge perspectives, inspire storytelling, and spark bold artistic choices.

Festival Story
The festival story is the central idea that inspires exploration and creative work throughout an ISTA festival. Festival story coming soon.

Cultural Experience
Cultural experience coming soon. Each ISTA festival includes a cultural experience that connects participants with the people, culture, or spirit of the host location. In Siracusa, students will be immersed in the ancient history and vibrant traditions of Sicily—offering a powerful springboard for creative expression.

ISTA Global Challenge
This event is part of ISTA’s season-wide theme: Waves of Change. The challenge invites young people to explore how change—personal, social, cultural, environmental, and historical—shapes our world. Through theatre, students reflect on their role in creating, responding to, and riding the waves of change in their own communities and beyond.

Booking secures your place at an ISTA festival by providing estimated participant numbers and paying a deposit. Registration finalises all participant details to support accurate planning for workshops, catering, and logistics.

Booking

• Opens: 9.00am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Before booking, ensure your school can attend by confirming:
  
  • Travel restrictions and visa requirements
  • Parental approval
  • School authorisation
• At the time of booking, you must provide:
  
  • Estimated number of students 
  • Estimated number of educators
  • Lead educator contact details

‍Deposit & Confirmation

• Once booked, you’ll receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on student numbers. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Booking is only confirmed once the deposit is received (within 30 days). 
• Please only book spaces you are confident you can fill. 

Registration

• Opens: 9.00am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Closes: 11:59 pm (UK time), Thursday 25 September 2025
• Once registration opens, schools with confirmed places should complete participant registration as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide final student and educator details along with confirmed travel information. 

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked? Deposits for those students are forfeited.
• Need more students? Additional spaces may be requested. A 50% deposit per added student will apply.

‍Waitlist

• If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked Waitlist. 
• To be added to the waitlist, email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and educators. Spaces will be offered in the order requests are received.

Arrival & Departure 

• Arrival: 4pm Friday 5 December 2025
• Departure: Evening of Sunday 7 December 2025. Do not plan to leave the venue until after the event closes at 3:45 on Sunday

‍Transport

• Nearest Airport: Catania International Airport (CTA)
• Airport transfers will be arranged for all participants.  More information coming soon.

‍Visas

• It is the responsibility of the schools/participants to ensure they have the appropriate visas, as required.
• Please ensure that you start looking into visa requirements sooner rather than later as the process can take a significant amount of time.
• If you require assistance or additional documentation to support your visa applications please ensure to contact the event manager well in advance.

Accommodation

• This is a hotel stay event. 
• ISTA will arrange accommodation for 3 nights.
• Students will be placed in shared rooms.
• Educators will be placed in single rooms.

‍Hotel Name & Location

Hotel bookings will be arranged by ISTA at one of the following hotels: 

Hotel Gran Bretagna
Via Savoia 21
96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
Website: Click here

Additional Hotel information coming soon.

‍

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

Step 1: 50% Deposit at Booking

• Upon booking, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Bookings are only confirmed once the deposit has been successfully paid.

Step 2: Final Balance After Registration Closes

• After registration closes, schools will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of fees, based on the final number of students registered, plus any applicable surcharges.

Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students will be forfeited. (e.g. If 15 students are booked but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 students is not refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule 

• Start: Friday 5 December 2025 at 8:30 am
• End: Sunday 7 December 2025 at 3:45pm

‍Educator Workshops

• One theatre-focused workshop for teacher chaperones
• Collaborative resource-sharing sessions

📄 E-Programmes containing detailed schedules, artist bios, and key event information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks before the event.

🍏 All meals and snacks from Friday breakfast through to Sunday afternoon snack will be provided at this event. Participants are responsible for arranging their own evening meal on Thursday after arriving in Ortigia.

Appropriate attire

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 

‍Please note

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

‍Materials 

• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking. 
• Refillable water bottle