Teatro Paravento

Teatro Paravento is an intimate theatre and performing arts centre in Locarno, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. It stands at Via Cappuccini 8, close to Lake Maggiore, and for more than four decades it has been one of the notable cultural venues of Italian-speaking Switzerland.

What is Teatro Paravento?

The venue is run by a theatre company of the same name. The association was founded in 1982, operates on a non-profit basis and is recognised as a public utility body. The company manages the theatre building and the spaces around it, offering a wide range of artistic activities through the year. It is more than a stage with a fixed repertoire: it works as a meeting point for locals and visitors alike.

What can you see here during the year?

The programme covers several kinds of events:

• theatre productions,
• dance performances,
• concerts,
• cineclub screenings,
• conferences and talks.

That mix draws theatre lovers as well as people looking for an evening of live music or independent film. The repertoire changes through the season, so current titles and dates are best checked on the theatre's official website.

Bistrot Teatro Paravento: a summer garden during the festival

The best-known initiative is the bistrot, which has run since 2002 during the Locarno Film Festival. The theatre's courtyard turns into a garden with a kitchen and a bar, open from 6 pm until 3 am. Admission is free, which makes it a popular stop for festival crowds who want dinner, a drink or a conversation after the screenings.

Every evening at 9:30 pm there is a concert. The range is broad, from world music through reggae and cumbia to Irish folk. Dates for each edition change from year to year, and different calendars sometimes list slightly different dates, so check the theatre's website before you go.

How to plan a visit

The theatre is in Locarno, so it pairs easily with a walk through the old town, Piazza Grande and the lakeside promenade. An evening at Paravento rounds off a day of sightseeing nicely, especially in August, when the film festival is on and the city feels at its liveliest. Outside the festival season, look at the theatre, dance and cineclub programme.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Teatro Paravento? At Via Cappuccini 8 in Locarno, canton Ticino, Switzerland.

Is the summer bistrot free to enter? Yes, admission to the bistrot garden is free.

How late is the bistrot open during the festival? The kitchen and bar are open from 6 pm to 3 am, and concerts start every evening at 9:30 pm.

What happens outside the festival? Theatre, dance, concerts, a cineclub and conferences.

Since when has the association existed? Since 1982, as a non-profit with public utility status.