The international aspect of Festival Presente Indicativo | Milano Crocevia provides the perfect context for the second edition of Interesse Pubblico, the three-year observatory promoted by the Piccolo with the aim of creating a space for discussion, analysis and shared vision of the present-day role of the spectator and the transformations seen in the way that theatre is viewed, experienced and shared.

In the wake of the October 2025 convention, dedicated to the audiences of an evolving Milan, the focus this year is on international audiences. The leading question “Who, today, does the All of an ‘Art Theatre for All’ refer to?” is thus the driver for a wider-ranging discussion that extends beyond national borders to generate a shared examination: is there such a thing as a common international audience? And how does it develop alongside the experience of theatre, festivals and the many international art and cultural organisations that exist in Europe? Who are the individuals or the groups of which they consist, and how to they behave?

The discussions and speeches from international guests are accompanied by a presentation of the results of the survey carried out by ABA – the Advisory Board for the Arts – among the members of its art and culture network. The day of study also provides the opportunity to present the latest issue of IF magazine, an online publication created by ItaliaFestival and dedicated to the world of festivals.
 

IL CONVEGNO 2026: CONNECTING INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES
Saturday 23 May 2026 | Teatro Grassi and Chiostro Nina Vinchi

Admission to the sessions is free upon reservation at piccoloteatro.org, at the box office of Teatro Strehler, or at the box office line. Reservations are valid for both the morning and afternoon session, and entry is only allowed at the beginning of each session.

BOOK HERE


CHIOSTRO NINA VINCHI
9.45/10.30
Welcome Coffee curated by Ladisa 
Participant registration

TEATRO GRASSI
10.30/11.30
Institutional welcome
Presentation of the survey network ABA Connecting International Audiences hosted by Christopher Denby, CEO & Founder ABA – Advisory Board for the Arts

11.30/13
Presentations by: 

• Argyro Chioti, Artistic Director, The National Theatre of Greece | Athens
• Anja Dirks, Co-Director of the Drama Department, Deputy Artistic Director and Dramaturg, Theater Basel | Basel
• Pedro Penim, Artistic Director, Teatro Nacional D. Maria II | Lisbon

followed by a discussion moderated by Maddalena Giovannelli, Stratagemmi_prospettive teatrali

CHIOSTRO NINA VINCHI
13/14
Light Lunch organised by Ladisa

TEATRO GRASSI
14.15/15.45
Presentations by:

• Matilda von Weissenberg, Managing Director, & Espoo Theatre – The International Theatre of Finland | Espoo
• Pawel Łysak, Artistic and Managing Director, Theatre Jaracza | Łódź
• Serge Rangoni, Artistic Director Performing Arts, Centro Cultural de Belém | Lisbon 

followed by a discussion moderated by Oliviero Ponte di Pino, Associazione Culturale Ateatro

15.45/16.15
Final reflections and Q+A

16.15/16.45
Presentation of magazine IF – ItaliaFestival
with Francesco Maria Perrotta, President of ItaliaFestival and Vicepresident of EFA (European Festivals Association), and Lina Di Lembo, Editor-in-Chief of IF

16.45/17
Conclusion of the conference
 

Simultaneous translation in Italian and English is available thanks to Arianna Bernoi e Ludwig Conistabile.
Automatic translation is also available through Converso® technology.
 

Interesse Pubblico is a triennial project promoted by Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa in collaboration with AGIS – Associazione Generale Italiana Spettacolo, ABA – Advisory Board for the Arts, Associazione Culturale Ateatro, Associazione Teatri per Milano, Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Paolo Grassi – La voce della cultura, Stratagemmi_prospettive teatrali