Teatro Quirino Vittorio Gassman

The construction of the Quirino Theatre dates back to 1871 and was commissioned by Prince Maffeo Sciarra, within his property near the Trevi Fountain, to overcome the lack of places of entertainment in the central area east of the Corso; the name of the theatre was chosen because it recalled the origins of Rome, linking it to the name of the Quirinal Hill and the god Quirinus.

At the beginning, the Theater, frequented by a large cultured and intellectual public, hosted puppet shows and popular farces. Subsequently, over time, the building underwent two renovations - the first, in 1882, under the direction of the architects De Angelis and Morra; the second, in 1898 by Belloli and Moraldi - which completely renewed its architectural appearance, led to a consequent change in production, which included the inclusion of opera and ballet.

But the total renovation took place in 1914 by the architect Marcello Piacentini, who remodeled the structure creating a completely different one compared to the previous one: in fact, the umbertine image disappeared in favor of a simplification and geometricization of the architectural lines of “secessionist” inspiration. The Theater then, after hosting prose, operetta, popular farces and ballets, reopened with a renewed opera season, under the direction of Maestro Pietro Mascagni. Among the most important artists who have graced its stages we remember: Ferruccio Benini, Ettore Petrolini, Eduardo De Filippo, Vittorio Gassman, Carmelo Bene, Carlo Giuffrè, Giorgio Strehler, Paolo Stoppa, Paola Borboni, Luca Ronconi and many others.

In the middle of the last century, the premises were arranged for the offices to be assigned to the ETI Ente Teatrale italiano (Italian Theatre Institution), which managed and programmed it from 1946 to 2009. In 2004, the historic name was joined by the recognition for one of the most acclaimed Italian theatre actors of the 20th century, Vittorio Gassman. In 2014, the management passed to a private company formed by operators in the sector and thanks to the meeting and union of young companies, the Quirino Theatre has taken on a new dynamic and versatile image.

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