The 2025/26 is once again an opportunity for the Piccolo to celebrate a series of anniversaries.

While the 120th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Beckett (Dublin, 13 APRIL 1906) is an opportunity to return to Happy Days the play in which, in 1982, Giorgio Strehler directed an extraordinary Giulia Lazzarini in the role of Winnie, 10 FEBRUARY 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of another masterpiece from Strehler’s repertoire: the first edition of the Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht. The German playwright, who was present for a number of rehearsals for the play and who was full of praise for Strehler, died prematurely in August of the same year, 1956. The 2026 agenda of the Piccolo Teatro is also dedicated to Strehler’s Threepenny Opera.

70 years have passed since the first version of another of Strehler’s celebrated works, El nost Milan by Carlo Bertolazzi, which made its debut in DECEMBER 1955, with Valentina Fortunato and Tino Carraro in the lead roles. Twenty years ago saw the death of Gianni Ratto, scenographer and collaborator of Giorgio Strehler during the first seasons of the Piccolo. He created the sets for the first Arlecchino servitore di due padroni, which made its debut in July 1947.

This year would have seen the one-hundredth birthday of Dario Fo, born on 24 MARCH 1926, as well as the actor Giancarlo Sbragia (Rome, 14 MARCH 1926), who regularly featured in the first decade of activity of the Milanese theatre. Ninety years ago saw the birth of Franco Quadri (1936-2011), the essayist, curator and theatrical critic, founder of the Ubulibri publishing house and the creator of the Ubu award, the Oscars of Italian theatre, as well as the birth of the actor Corrado Pani (1936-2005), one of the lead actors in two memorable productions directed by Strehler: the first edition of Brawling in Chioggia by Carlo Goldoni, and Il gioco dei potenti by William Shakespeare. In memory of Franco Quadri and his profound relationship with Luca Ronconi, an afternoon of study has been planned, based on the book Ronconi secondo Quadri, published by Ubulibri and curated by Leonardo Mello. The initiative forms part of Prospettiva Ronconi, a programme of activities organised by the Piccolo on the tenth anniversary of the death of the director. 

Fifty years ago, on 2 NOVEMBER 1975, Pier Paolo Pasolini was assassinated, and half a century has also passed since the death of Luchino Visconti (MARCH 1976) and of Rina Morelli (JULY 1976). 

30 JUNE 2026 will mark the fortieth anniversary of the inauguration of Teatro Studio, an event for which Giorgio Strehler staged Elvira, o la passione teatrale, based on the words of Louis Jouvet and in which he performed, alongside Giulia Lazzarini. 

Additional moments of recollection on the social network channels of the Foundation will be dedicated to the many other actors who have contributed to the history of the Piccolo and who are celebrated with various anniversaries over the course of the season.