9 June-16 July 2005. The perfect Roman amphitheatre in Ostia Antica hosts an international festival of music, dance and theatre now in its eighth year. The programme is extremely varied and ranges from jazz to drama, from opera to cabaret, in the hope of attracting a vast public. After a parade of cabaret artists, the Compagnia dOperette "Belle Epoque" presents Lehars The Merry Widow (29-30 June 2005). Drama fans should look out for Flavio Bucci in The Merchant of Venice (6 July 2005) and Pino Micol in Heinrich von Kleists Anfitrione (16 July 2005). Verdis La Traviata features the male soprano Manuel Mens in the role of Violetta Valery (7 July 2005). The dance section includes the Katakl company in Up-Verticali Energie (3 July 2005), and Pasiones with Erica Boaglio and Adrian Argon (12 July 2005).