The Teatro Sociale, in Brescia, second in town for capacity, is located in via Felice Cavalloni. Founded in 1851 and named Teatro Guillaume it was re-built twice. The art nouveau style building, as it is today, is back to 1905.
The theatre was abandoned during the second half of the 19th century and only in 2000 opened again for regular theatre seasons.

Francesco Luigi Guillaume, arrived in Brescia 1817, together with his son Luigi he decided to re-start the company of equestrian shows he run in France. The first space he used in 1828 was inside the main cloister of the abandoned convent of San Barnaba, where he built an amphitheatre in wood; shows where held there until 1832. A second theatre in wood was built in 1851, by Luigi Guillaume with the engineer Antonio Taeri. Information about this building are little (it was equipped with a terrace and dressing rooms).
Engineer Domenico Buizza was in charge to modify it in 1862. This building was pulled down in 1873 and the new project of a permanent structure was developed by Luigi Valery. The new building included a gallery and was the set of comedies, equestrian shows, vaudevilles, concerts. In 1884 the Foyer’s refined and a new entrance opened, close to the steps.

The new Teatro Sociale

The Teatro Guillaume was closed in 1905 for safey reasons. Soon after Earl Antonio Valotti started up a company to fundraise the reconstruction, which was accomplished by architect Arnaldo Trebeschi. The old building was pulled down and a new one in ferroconcrete and art noveau decorations was raised.
The new theatre was named Teatro Sociale (Social Theatre) in accordance with its popular and commercial oriented management.
In 1954  new tenders were invited to remodel the theatre but works started only at the end of the 20th century. Engineer Roberto Berlucchi was committed together with Enrico Job and Cesare Lievi. Enrico Job was in charge of art nouveau decorations which joined the original ones from the former century, and designed the chandelier handcrafted in wrought iron by smith Sergio Bara; Cesare Lievi was in charge of the stage and of its set.
The new Teatro Sociale is running regular theatre seasons of Dramas and concerts by January the 24th 2000.