Eleonora Duse Theatre Season
Drama, music, and dialect theatre in the historic gem of Cortemaggiore
About Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore
A Historic Theatre in the Heart of Cortemaggiore
The Eleonora Duse Theatre is the cultural jewel of Cortemaggiore, a municipality in the Val d'Arda in the province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. Its origins date back to 1826, when Maria Luigia of Austria authorized the transformation of an old convent into a theatre hall. The structure retains a horseshoe-shaped auditorium with Renaissance decorations and two tiers of boxes, for an intimate capacity of only 99 seats that makes every performance a close-up experience. The theatre is named after Eleonora Duse, the famous actress who performed on this very stage at the age of ten.
A Multidisciplinary Season
The Duse Theatre Season is a festival that seamlessly spans different genres: high-profile national drama, concerts, literary presentations, and dialect theatre. It is organized by Fedro Cooperativa, with the artistic direction of drama entrusted to Mino Manni and musical curation by Davide Rossi, in collaboration with the Municipality of Cortemaggiore and with the support of the Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano.
Sections of the Festival
- Drama: performances with nationally renowned actors, from civil theatre to comedies.
- Music: a festival ranging from jazz to blues, from folk to Italian singer-songwriters, and opera.
- Literary Presentations: meetings with authors dedicated to contemporary essays, novels, and short stories.
- Dialect Theatre: the festival in Piacenza dialect with local and guest companies, a popular and identity-focused moment of the season.
An Event for the Community
The Duse season alternates paid evenings, with dedicated ticketing, and numerous free admission events with voluntary contributions, designed to attract a broad and diverse audience to the theatre. In a hall with just 99 seats, booking is highly recommended. It is one of the most vibrant cultural offerings in the province of Piacenza, capable of bringing major names from the Italian scene to a small venue outside the major urban circuits.
Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore — edition 2026
The II edition of the Eleonora Duse Theatre Season in Cortemaggiore confirmed the multidisciplinary formula of the festival, alternating major names in national drama with concerts, literary presentations, and dialect theatre. The artistic direction of the drama was entrusted to Mino Manni, with musical curation by Davide Rossi, under the organization of Fedro Cooperativa and with the support of the Municipality of Cortemaggiore and the Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano. A seven-month season that brought renowned performers such as Tullio Solenghi and Elisabetta Pozzi to the Val d'Arda, in an intimate theatre with only 99 seats.
Programme Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore 2026
October 2025
- 18 Oct. 9:00 PM — Season presentation (free admission)
- 18 Oct. 9:30 PM — Gianni Satta Trio, "Chet Baker's Songs" (free admission)
- 29 Oct. 6:30 PM — Andrea Mainardi, "Quanto burro?" (free admission)
November 2025
- 7 Nov. 9:00 PM — Elisabetta Pozzi, "Serata d'Onore" (paid)
- 23 Nov. 9:00 PM — Beatrice Schiaffino, "La Papessa" (free admission)
- 29 Nov. 9:00 PM — Massimo Donno duo (free admission)
December 2025
- 6 Dec. 9:00 PM — Elijah Wald, "Da Dylan ai Fratelli Cohen" (free admission)
- 21 Dec. 5:00 PM — Christmas Opera Concert "Questo è molto buono... mago!" (paid)
January 2026
- 10 Jan. 9:00 PM — Max Lazzarin Trio, "L'Uomo del Mocambo" (free admission)
- 26 Jan. 9:00 PM — Tullio Solenghi, "Una serata pazzesca" (evening dedicated to Paolo Villaggio, paid)
February 2026
- 21 Feb. 9:00 PM — Corrado and Camilla Tedeschi, "Partenza in salita" (paid)
March - May 2026
- 8 Mar. 5:00 PM — meeting with Giulia Muscatelli (free admission)
- 14 Mar. 9:00 PM — Mino Manni, "La Follia di Orlando" — reinterpretation of Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, with Marta Ossoli, Marta Rebecca Rizzioli, Silvia Mangiarotti (violin) and Francesca Ruffilli (cello) (free admission)
- 28 Mar. - 3 May — IV Festival of Dialect Theatre "…E io rido!" with companies from Piacenza (free admission)
- 9-10 May — Company "Il Filo di Arianna" (free admission)
Highlights Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore 2026
Among the most anticipated events: Tullio Solenghi with "Una serata pazzesca" dedicated to Paolo Villaggio (January 26), Elisabetta Pozzi in "Serata d'Onore" (November 7), the comedy "Partenza in salita" with Corrado and Camilla Tedeschi (February 21), and Mino Manni's reinterpretation of Orlando Furioso (March 14).
Prices Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore 2026
Practical information — Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore
Where
Teatro Eleonora Duse, Cortemaggiore (PC), in Val d'Arda, province of Piacenza. The village is reachable by car from the A21 (Fiorenzuola d'Arda or Piacenza Sud exits) and via the via Emilia.
Tickets and Reservations
Paid performances from 20 to 25 euros; season ticket for 70 euros for four selected shows. Many events are free admission with voluntary contribution and booking recommended, subject to availability (capacity 99).
Contacts and Advance Booking
Reservations at 366 3065722 (also WhatsApp) or via email at [email protected]. Advance booking also available at the Associazione Turistica Cortemaggiore, Via Boni Brighenti 2/a.
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Where does it take place — Duse Theatre Cortemaggiore
Teatro Eleonora Duse
Via Eleonora Duse, 29016 Cortemaggiore