Herberia Theatre
The Herberia Theatre in Rubiera is an elegant example of late Art Nouveau architecture from the 20th century, designed in the 1920s by the engineer Antonio Panizzi and the architect Italo Costa at the request of Prof. Umberto Tirelli.
Inaugurated on January 7, 1926, it stands next to the ancient Fort, on the site of the city walls, on land symbolically granted by the Municipality for one lira.
The theatre features a terraced projecting section with a foyer on the ground floor and two small rooms intended for the cloakroom and ticket office.
The square-shaped stalls area is flanked by two side corridors punctuated by small columns supporting the first gallery.
The Italian-style stage, complete with an orchestra pit and a wooden grid system, has basement dressing rooms. Access to the two tiers of galleries is via side staircases situated between the foyer and the stalls.
In the 1950s, the theatre was adapted into a cinema and underwent numerous interventions, including the replacement of the original ceiling.
After more than fifteen years of inactivity, the Municipality of Rubiera purchased and restored the building, returning it to its original function.
Reopened to the public on December 18, 1998, the Herberia Theatre today offers a perfect balance between historical heritage and modern performance needs: from the traditional "Italian-style theater" formula to a central plan layout, and even a studio-theater setup with the stalls floor dedicated to the stage.
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