Dehon Theater
A 500-seat theater beneath the Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio, home to classical drama, contemporary Italian theater, and dialectal comedy since its opening in the 1950s.
At a glance
The Dehon Theater occupies the basement of a mid-century church complex in Bologna’s via Libia neighborhood. Its auditorium seats 500 spectators; the stage measures 22.60 meters wide by 7.54 meters deep. The venue has operated as a public theater since the 1980s, after decades as a parish cinema-theater.
History
Completed in the 1950s as a joint project by engineers Italo Gasperi Campani and Rodolfo Bettazzi with architects Umberto Spagnoli and Roberto Alessi, the theater was initially run by the Dehonian Fathers (the Congregation of Priests of the Sacred Heart) as a parish cinema and cultural center. The venue takes its name from Leone Dehon, the congregation’s founder.
By the late 1960s, rising television viewership and neighborhood decline had brought the theater into crisis. The parish responded by entrusting management to independent theater companies. In 1986, the Teatro Aperto cultural center undertook a complete renovation and has operated the venue since, establishing a theater school in 1990.
What you see
The theater fits below street level within the church complex, creating an intimate underground space. The proscenium arch spans 10 meters in width and 5.15 meters in height. The auditorium’s proportions reflect mid-century Italian theater design, balancing technical capacity with audience proximity to the stage.
Cultural significance
The Dehon Theater represents a model of cultural continuity: parish entertainment venue transformed into a professional performance space. Its permanent company, Compagnia Teatro Aperto (founded 1974 by actor-director Guido Ferrariniu), creates original work alongside hosting guest performances. The programming cycle runs September through May, spanning Shakespeare and Molière to contemporary Italian drama and Bolognese dialect comedy.
Key facts
- Address: Via Libia 59, Bologna
- Coordinates: 44.49681909528677, 11.365930438041687
- Auditorium capacity: 500 seats
- Stage dimensions: 22.60 m (W) × 7.54 m (D); proscenium 10 m (W) × 5.15 m (H)
- Phone: 051 342934
- Official website: teatrodehon.it
Practical information
The theater operates under the Teatro Aperto cultural center. Programming typically runs from late September through May. Check the official website for current season schedules, ticket prices, and theater school information.
Getting there
The Dehon Theater is located beneath the Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio on via Libia in central Bologna. Public transport connections serve the neighborhood; consult local transit maps for routes to the area.
Sources & resources
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