Seen from the main square of Badia Polesine, the Teatro Sociale looks like a plain building. The surprise is inside. Its wealth of relief friezes and gold leaf earned it two nicknames: the “golden box” and the “little Fenice”, for its likeness to the great Venetian opera house.
A theatre built by a private citizen
The theatre was built in 1812 at the wish and expense of a local man, Bartolomeo Dente. Recent historical research has found a notarial deed of 17 December 1812 that mentions the design by the Rovigo architect Sante Baseggio (1749–1822). He is the same architect who designed Rovigo’s Teatro Sociale and the palazzo of the Accademia dei Concordi.
In 1836 ownership passed to a society of palchettisti, the owners of the boxes, and the theatre took the name Teatro Sociale. In 1855 it was restored and enlarged: proscenium boxes and a decorated panel with the Muses were added. The painted decoration is by Francesco Saraceni of Ferrara and the Venetian Giovanni Abriani. The carved friezes are by Luigi Voltolini of Lendinara.
The Comune, too, wanted its share. It bought a box for the municipal council and for the civil and military authorities, and paid a yearly contribution to fund the performances.
The long silence
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the evenings were sold out. Yet running costs became unbearable for the society that owned the theatre, and all activity stopped. The last recorded performance was a “Tosca”, in 1905.
Recovery began in the 1970s, thanks to Professor Ivan Tardivello, honorary inspector of Fine Arts for Badia. The theatre was included in the regional restoration plan and, under the supervision of the Soprintendenza, the state heritage office, received a first intervention. Further work followed on the Comune’s initiative, and the stalls often hosted art and photography exhibitions.
Back on stage
From 2007 the theatre stayed closed to complete the restoration. On 29 December 2010 the nearly finished work was presented. On 27 May 2011 the hall was inaugurated with a concert.
In 2019 the Associazione Teatro Sociale Eugenio Balzan was founded, bringing together the Comune and local businesses. Its aim is to promote the theatre with seasons of concerts, drama and theatre for children. The foyer houses the Collezione Eugenio Balzan: 49 Italian paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries brought together by Eugenio Balzan, a native of Badia.
