The history of the Venice Biennale began in 1893, when the city council passed a resolution to set up a biennial exhibition showcasing Italian art to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of King Umberto I and Margherita of Savoy. The inaugural Biennale was originally scheduled for 1894 but opened in 1895.
Originally conceived as an exhibition of Italian art, the Biennale became increasingly international over the next few decades. In the 1930s, the control of the event passed from the Venice city council to the national government, which resulted in restructuring and a bigger budget.
The new president of the Biennale, former Minister of Finance Giuseppe Volpi, established three new events under the Venice Biennale umbrella: the Biennale Musica (Venice International Festival of Contemporary Music) in 1930, the Venice International Film Festival in 1932, and the Biennale Teatro (Venice International Theater Festival) in 1934. The theater festival became an annual event in 1936. During World War II, all events were suspended starting 1942. After the war, the theater festival was resumed in 1947.
The original idea behind the theater section of the Venice Biennal was to perform classic works set in Venice in the scenery of Venice. Among the first performances staged at the Biennale Teatro was The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, performed in the square of Campo San Trovaso. Over time, the festival concept has expanded to include the best of the contemporary theater scene. Every year, the artistic director or directors of the festival choose a new theme that is reflected in the program. For example, the 2024 theme was NIGER et ALBUS (Black and White), selected by Stefano Ricci and Gianni Forte.
Every year, the program of the Biennale Teatro incorporates two types of performances: productions by the world’s leading directors and productions created in the context of the Biennale College Teatro, a training project for young artists. Many of the performances have paid admission, but some are free. The program also includes lectures and an award ceremony where two awards are presented to theater companies: the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Silver Lion Award.
The main venues of the Venice International Theater Festival are Teatro Piccolo Arsenale (former Arsenal Cinema) with 250 seats, Teatro alle Tese with 408 seats, and the Sale d’Armi, which typically hosts lectures and workshops. They are equipped with advanced stage technologies that give performers the freedom of self-expression and allow the public to comfortably enjoy all performances. Some performances are held in smaller venues, including outdoor locations, across Venice. The award ceremony is held at the Sala delle Colonne in Ca’ Giustinian (the Biennale headquarters).
Photo: labiennale.org
