Teatro Franco Parenti, Contemporary theatre in Milan, Italy.

Teatro Franco Parenti is a theatre in Milan, founded in 1972 by Franco Parenti and Andrée Ruth Shammah with Giovanni Testori, Dante Isella and Gian Maurizio Fercioni as the Salone Pier Lombardo; it took its current name after Parenti's death in 1989. Its stage work favours Italian and foreign novelties and contemporary readings of classics, staged in flexible spaces conceived as an open theatre.

In 1972 Franco Parenti and Andrée Ruth Shammah, with Giovanni Testori, Dante Isella and Gian Maurizio Fercioni, founded the Salone Pier Lombardo, where stage performances began on 16 January 1973. Its productions, including Testori's Ambleto-Macbetto-Edipus trilogy and Molière's Il malato immaginario, toured Italy. When Parenti died in 1989, Shammah took over the direction and the theatre was named after him.

The theatre is named after Franco Parenti, who founded the Salone Pier Lombardo in 1972 with Andrée Ruth Shammah, Giovanni Testori, Dante Isella and Gian Maurizio Fercioni. Parenti performed in Testori's "Trilogia" (L'Ambleto-Macbetto-Edipus) and in "I promessi sposi alla prova", all directed by Shammah. After his death in 1989, Shammah took over the direction and the venue was renamed Teatro Franco Parenti.

Checking the programme online before your visit is a good idea, as the different spaces in the building have separate entrances and seating arrangements. Arriving a few minutes early gives you time to find the right entrance and settle in without rushing.

The theatre's name honours Franco Parenti, who died in 1989; his partner Andrée Ruth Shammah then took sole direction and the Salone Pier Lombardo was renamed Teatro Franco Parenti. Shammah had co-founded the venue with Parenti, Giovanni Testori, Dante Isella and Gian Maurizio Fercioni in 1972.