Teatro dell'Elfo

Teatro dell’Elfo was founded in 1973 by a group of young actors, actresses, and directors—Ferdinando Bruni, Elio De Capitani, Gabriele Salvatores, Corinna Agustoni, Cristina Crippa, Ida Marinelli, and Luca Toracca, later joined by Elena Russo Arman and Francesco Frongia—who continue to form the artistic core of the company today. In the vibrant cultural and political climate of 1970s Milan, the Elfo (which at the time had no permanent venue) established a distinctive identity through productions that soon became cult classics, performed not only in theatres but also in social centres, public squares, and alternative spaces.

More than fifty years later, this artistic collective is still together. Since 2010, the company has been based in its permanent home on Corso Buenos Aires, following the restoration of the historic early twentieth-century Teatro Puccini, now known as Elfo Puccini.

Today, Elfo Puccini is far more than a multi-auditorium theatre presenting over sixty productions each season. It is a contemporary arts venue with a 360-degree perspective on the city and the world, designed to host exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and special events. Its three performance spaces are dedicated to William Shakespeare, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Pina Bausch.

Elfo Puccini is a home that brings together audiences and artists of every generation—an open, welcoming place where people gather to share ideas, emotions, and experiences. Its bistro extends this spirit of hospitality, creating a convivial space that fosters connection and community.