Theatres reopening in Lombardy, what to see

Are you ready? Theatre is returning to Lombardy! The region, which is located in the yellow zone, is reopening many of its famous theatres: prose shows, operas, music and dance festivals are returning to life on the stages of Lombardy, with audiences able to watch in safety and unmissable programmes.

Take a look at our interesting suggestions for what to see in some of the theatres that have reopened in Lombardy. But first of all: a few general rules on how to deal with tickets, bookings, and timetables.

Lombardy: rules for returning to the theatre
In Lombardy’s theatres, concert halls and cinemas, the permitted audience capacity is 50% of the venue’s maximum: seats are pre-assigned and located 1 metre apart. Wearing a mask is compulsory, and temperatures are taken upon entry. Remember that in order to ensure you can return home before the 10pm curfew, show times have been brought forward. Check the theatre website for reservations (which are compulsory) and any updates regarding schedules and access.

Theatre, music, dance: writer debuts in Milan
Not all theatres are ready to reopen, but the programmes of those that are welcoming audiences again are especially interesting! The Milanese theatrical circuit is starting again with even more protagonists: the Elfo Puccini theatre is opening again with a new program for the 20/21 season featuring Con le vostre mani (With your hands), ending in July, with the national premiere directed by Cristina Crippa, and Nel guscio (In the shell), by Ian McEwan, with Marco Bonadei.

The protagonist of the reopening of Franco Parenti in June is the versatile Mario Martone, who is directing Donatella Finocchiaro in Il filo di Mezzogiorno (The Midday Thread) by Goliarda Sapienza. The theatre has a generous program until July including – for those who love dance – the explosive Un poyo rojo, an Argentinean acrobatic dance-theatre show. In the summer, Lino Guanciale, Massimo Popolizio and Lella Costa will revive the Bagni Misteriosi (Mysterious Baths).

Must-see shows before the end of May include Antichi Maestri (Ancient Masters) by Tiezzi and Lombardi at the Piccolo Teatro, which is resuming its 20/21 season, and and Macbeth by Carmelo Rifici, at Teatro Grassi. And at the Strehler, at the end of June, audiences can catch the Milan Flamenco Festival, with the best dancers from the tablaos of Spain.

In June, children can return to the theatre! Teatro Grassi celebrates the 700th anniversary of Dante's death with Una divina commedia (A Divine Comedy), a show created by Eugenio Monti Colla and performed by the historic puppets.

Ci Risiamo (We’re Back!) This is the name of the Teatro Carcano review that is welcoming audiences back again and offering some of the shows from the 20/21 season that could not be staged. These include Innamorati (In Love), a one-man show and the national debut of Davide Lorenzo Palla, a Goldonian reinterpretation directed by Riccardo Mallus.

In May, La Scala also reopened to the public, opening its prestigious stage to great conductors such as Muti, Noseda, Chailly, and Harding. Allow us to remind you that some concerts are available online free of charge. And finally, with the show Daccapo (From the Top), it is the turn of the Milan Conservatory, which hosts concerts until 9 June.