This volume reunites contributions about 19th-century provincial theatres and their significance for local communities. Smaller theatres have long escaped the attention of researchers. Our current image of 19th-century theatres is shaped by historical evidence related to playhouses in European metropolises accessible to a tiny elite. Provincial theatres however were socio-cultural spaces where the population of a region could meet and exchange ideas, where information was sought, and public opinion formed. They shaped the ideas and social networks of the population, their programmes reflected ongoing debates and developments, and they can be seen as the focal point of local societies. With contributions by Giulia Brunello | Christine Carrère-Saucède | Andrew Holden | Sophie Horrocks David | Annette Kappeler | Lenka Křupková | Rakshit Kweera | Tushara Meleppattu | Maria Theresa Morelli | Michele Nani | Cecilia Nicolò | Alessandra Palidda | Anna G. Piotrowska