Almost hidden – but visible from its two entrances in the Galleria Francesco Tamagno – the Piccolo Regio, named after Giacomo Puccini on January 31 1996 as part of the events for the 100-year anniversary of La Bohème, has been, for a long time, the experimentation and cultural exchange of Torino’s Teatro Regio. Frequently, its stage is a witness to guest initiatives such as prose performances and important jazz concerts. It also hosts performances for schools and conferences for the launch of the shows of the Stagione d’Opera e Balletto. The foyer of the Piccolo Regio can be reached through two glass doors facing the Galleria Francesco Tamagno. The elegant staircases in white marble lead to the padded surroundings below. The foyer, like the auditorium of the Piccolo Regio, was completely restructured in 1988 to adapt to the new fire-protection laws, and the original green carpeting that lined the floors, walls and ceilings was replaced by mirrors and metallic elements. The new carpeting on the floor repeats, with different colours, Mollino’s original design, found in the Regio foyer. The auditorium is made up of only stalls (seating capacity 380), from which an excellent view of the stage can be enjoyed regardless of the position. Like the foyer, there is pink and green pastel carpeting. On the walls, six panels by Lele Luzzati stand out (produced in 1981 for Il Matrimonio Segreto by Cimarosa), representing in an ironic and naïf way the atmosphere of eighteenth-century theatre boxes. The stage of the Piccolo Regio has a reduced proscenium, but is highly considered, being equipped with suitable facilities for different types of performances.
(from: www.teatroregio.torino.it)