Provincial theatres have so far been largely ignored by researchers, although they were cultural centres of entire regions in the 19th century: In these theatres, the population could meet, engage in social activities such as gambling and exchange views on socio-political events. This transdisciplinary study (art history, theatre studies, literature, musicology, history), based on rich archival material, takes a look at the repertoire, actors and spaces of such theatres in Italy and Habsburg territories and reclassifies their practices and their socio-historical importance. With contributions by Patrick Aprent | Rosella Bernasconi | Maria Ida Biggi | Rossella Bonfatti | Raphaël Bortolotti | Giulia Brunello | Antonio Carlini | Federica Fanizza | Adriana Guarnieri Corazzol | Annette Kappeler | Nicolò Maccavino | Matteo Paoletti | Paola Ranzini. |