Research: The institutionalization of theatre starting from post-World War II (1947-1953)
The aim of the research project is the study of institutional processes that have transformed the Italian theatre in the aftermath of World War II. Under the leadership of Direzione generale dello Spettacolo, theatre is guided in that process of mutation which will contribute to the birth of permanent theatres and to the definition of numerous government grants. To delimit the scope of the research we can set the limits in the years from 1947 to 1953; the period in which Giulio Andreotti was Undersecretary of State for the Presidency of the Council who, in absence of a specific department, managed the Direzione generale dello Spettacolo. The main focus of the research project will be on one of the most influential and controversial figures of this period: Nicola De Pirro. He led the Italian theatre from 1935 to 1963, first as Ispettore del Teatro and then as Direttore generale dello Spettacolo. During research carried out for writing the master’s degree thesis, it was possible to trace the De Pirro fund at the Archivio Centrale dello Stato. However, the fund documents are stored in the warehouses of the archival complex among the materials yet to be catalogued. It is therefore totally unpublished material that will shed light on many questions concerning state intervention in theatrical activities; for example, clarifying the amount of subsidies allocated by the State to all theatre, opera and concert events after the “Andreotti Law”. Thus, it will be possible to bring to the attention of the scientific community an archive fund that is crucial for understanding the institutional and political manoeuvres that marked the Italian theatre scene during and after fascism. Furthermore, the figure of Nicola De Pirro will be explored in depth, abstracting it from the generic definition of “arbiter of Italian theatre” which is usually found in scientific literature.