Bari's Teatro Kismet sells out nightly, Lagioia calls for city expansion
Located in a repurposed industrial shed, the Teatro Kismet in Bari regularly attracts over 400 attendees per performance. Nicola Lagioia, the honorary president of Teatri di Bari, commended its role in fostering community connections despite the area's decline. Established in 1981 by alumni of Carlo Formigoni's acting school, it transitioned to a Teatro Stabile d'Innovazione and relocated to its current site in 1989 to pursue artistic innovation. The theater broadened its scope to include multidisciplinary productions and became a key partner in the Teatri di Bari network, which achieved Società Benefit status in 2023. Following renovations in 2020, the Friends of Teatro Kismet urged Mayor Decaro for environmental improvements in autumn 2023, while Lagioia proposed that the city provide additional spaces for the Kismet team.
Key facts
- Teatro Kismet in Bari sells out its 400-seat auditorium regularly.
- Nicola Lagioia is honorary president of Teatri di Bari and former director of Turin International Book Fair.
- The theater was founded in 1981 as a youth theater company.
- It moved to an ex-industrial shed in 1989 to become an artistic workshop.
- It holds the official designation of Teatro Stabile d'Innovazione.
- The auditorium was renovated in 2020, now seating 400.
- The surrounding area suffers from degradation, poor lighting, and illegal dumping.
- The Friends of Teatro Kismet association sent a letter to Mayor Decaro in autumn 2023.
- Lagioia proposed giving the Kismet team central city spaces.
- Culture Councillor Ines Pierucci responded, citing public tender procedures.
Entities
Artists
- Nicola Lagioia
- Carlo Formigoni
- Ines Pierucci
- Antonio Decaro
Institutions
- Teatro Kismet
- Teatri di Bari
- Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino
- Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali
- Comune di Bari
- Regione Puglia
- Amici del Teatro Kismet
- Artribune
Locations
- Bari
- Italy
- via San Giorgio martire
- Puglia