Teatro Comunale, Municipal theatre in Carpi, Italy

Teatro Comunale is a theatre in Carpi featuring a horseshoe-shaped auditorium with three tiers of box seating and a gallery above. The space accommodates approximately 572 spectators and displays the classical Italian theatre design typical of the 1800s.

In 1848 the box holders of the old Teatro Vecchio formed a society to fund a new theatre after the Este government refused support. They commissioned Claudio Rossi, who presented two designs; the more traditional one was chosen. Work began in March 1857, but by 1860 costs forced the society to cede the building to the municipality. It opened on 11 August 1861.

The painter Giuseppe Ugolini, from Reggio Emilia, decorated the auditorium ceiling with the goddesses Music, Poetry, Prose and Dance, and painted the main curtain showing Orpheus stirring Nature. Ferdinando Manzini painted the box-owners' faces in the medallions on the parapets, and Albano Lugli copied Correggio's female figures for the foyer overdoors.

The theatre operates mainly from October through April when most performances take place. Visitors can obtain tickets and programme information at the InCarpi office, making it easy to plan a visit during the season.

The medallions on the box parapets, painted by Ferdinando Manzini, carry the faces of the members of the Society of Box Owners who financed the theatre. The facade inscription Societas erexit MDCCCLVIII records the same group, which handed the building to the municipality in 1860.