Italian actor, director and
producer Luca Barbareschi said Thursday he has taken over Rome's
hallowed Eliseo Theatre following the eviction of the previous
management.
"I am the new proprietor and artistic manager of the Eliseo
Theatre," Barbareschi said, speaking at the private theatre
located on Rome's central Via Nazionale.
"We have changed the locks and chased away a non-paying
management".
Carlo Eleuteri, one of the theater's three owners, said
that "two thirds of the owners of the Eliseo have subscribed to
an agreement with Barbareschi, who will manage the Eliseo".
The fate of the private theatre has been hanging in the
balance since July when its owners announced their intention of
evicting the management over credit arrears.
The eviction was originally set for July 10 but was
postponed several times while city and state officials, the
management and the owners tried to find a solution.
Senate culture committee chair Andrea Marcucci and Lower
House culture committee deputy chair Flavia Piccoli Nardelli
urged city authorities to step in to ensure that the theatre
could stay open this season.
Barbareschi said he plans to invest four million euros in
the ailing theatre and that he hopes it will reopen within 24-48
hours.
"I am saving this theatre," he said, "I will do my best".
Barbareschi said he will try to keep the theatre's 60 staff
on the books.
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