Acting for the first time in the role of leader for a project that has won the support of Creative Europe, during the 2024/25 season our theatre has once again pursued the goals of UNLOCK THE CITY!, a three-year programme created in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano and with another five international partners: Teatre Lliure, Teatrul Tineretului, Toneelhuis, Østfold University College & Norwegian Theater Academy, The Academy of Performing Arts – AMU, with the aim of reflecting on how theatrical practice and scientific research can come together to serve as a tool for rethinking the landscape of the post-pandemic city. Four cities – Antwerp, Barcelona, Milan and Piatra Neamt – have been involved in an extensive programme of research activities and didactic courses, as well as in the creation of 12 theatrical productions assigned to 10 European artists called on to examine the concept of “limit” (social, physical, cultural, etc.) in the urban context. A series of training and international exchange activities have been planned for 2025, including masterclasses held by Marta Cuscunà (Prague, March 2025), Thomas Verstraeten (Milan, April 2025) and Davide Carnevali (Fredrikstad, May 2025). In terms of performances in Milan, in the wake of those from season 2023/24 by Marta Cuscunà (Bucolica) and Davide Carnevali (Limited Edition), last year was the turn of Sotterraneo, who presented their new work Dance Me to the End of the World (June 2025), a site-specific performance located in the Corvetto district. On 19 January 2026, the Teatro Studio Melato will play host to the final event of UNLOCK THE CITY!, a moment of restitution organised in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano to once again unite the artists and associations that tool part in the project.

An experimental programme focused on the manner in which the cultural sector approaches the concept of sustainability, STAGES sees the collaboration of 14 organisations – 12 theatres, 1 university and 1 European theatre network. The goals include a rethinking of the processes of tours, staging two performances created by Katie Mitchell and Jérôme Bel, drawing exclusively on local casts and sets – and even with electricity generated directly on stage –, as was the case during the Italian adaptations by lacasadargilla (Uno spettacolo per chi vive in tempi di estinzione, March 2022) and in Jérôme Bel (April 2024) presented by Marco D’Agostin with Chiara Bersani. Together with the circulation of these two productions, each STAGES partner created a series of actions aimed at fostering and promoting sustainability in theatres. During the 2024/25 season, we carried out research for the project with the multi-disciplinary workshops Terra – organised by Davide Carnevali and in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano – and, in the wake of reflections generated by the self-analysis planned for each partner within the project, we created two productions promoting the culture of sustainability: Benvenuti al Piccolo! Green tour dell’isola degli alberi curated by Michele Dell’Utri (which has also been included in the 2025/26 season) and Semidei by Pier Lorenzo Pisano.

We are also carrying forward our commitment to supporting new dramaturgy as an associated partner of Fabulamundi Playwriting Europe – New Voices, a network of 13 international organisations located in 9 European countries. The goal of the programme is to bring new generations closer to contemporary playwriting through training courses and a system of mobility and exchange for young authors from all over Europe.