Teatro Testoni
Teatro Testoni is a Bologna-based non-profit social cooperative (founded 1976) that produces live theater and educational programming for children and young audiences, operating two venues and an international festival while funded primarily by Italian public institutions and the EU.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersBologna, Italy
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Teatro Testoni does
Teatro Testoni, legally La Baracca – Testoni Ragazzi, is a social cooperative (ONLUS) founded in 1976 and based in Bologna, Italy. It produces live theatrical performances and participatory programming dedicated to children and young audiences, with a particular specialization in early-childhood theater (ages 0-6) through the long-running "Nuvole" program, alongside new initiatives such as the ATMOSFERICO festival for adolescents aged 13-18. The company operates from Teatro Testoni and related spaces managed under concession from the Comune di Bologna, runs the international festival Visioni, and participates in EU Creative Europe-funded projects such as Mapping through the Small Size Network and ASSITEJ affiliations.
The business model blends earned and contributed revenue. Earned income comes from ticket sales (single tickets priced €6-€14.80) and a 12-show season subscription, plus workshops, school residencies, and venue management services. Contributed income is drawn from a concentrated base of public-sector funders — Comune di Bologna, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Ministero della Cultura, the European Union, and private foundations — supplemented by donations and inclusive-program sponsorships. The company is led by artistic directors Gianni Clementi, Angela Fulimeni, and Valeria Iacolare, supported by a staff of 9 employees and a broader collaborator network of artists, educators, and international co-production partners.
The 50th anniversary in 2026 anchors a programming cycle built around Festival Baracca 50, the 24th edition of Visioni (2027), new productions including "A Corpo Libero," and expanded community offerings under the "Teatro Aperto" umbrella. International visibility is maintained through touring, festival participation, and transnational research collaborations, while the home base in Bologna provides structural support via municipal venue concessions and recurring institutional grants.
Teatro Testoni firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Teatro Testoni
- Legal name
- La Baracca cooperativa sociale ONLUS
- Website
- https://testoniragazzi.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Teatro Testoni is a Bologna-based non-profit social cooperative (founded 1976) that produces live theater and educational programming for children and young audiences, operating two venues and an international festival while funded primarily by Italian public institutions and the EU.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Teatro Testoni industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Theater & Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
Keywords
Where Teatro Testoni is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bologna
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Teatro Testoni business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets and season subscriptions for family and school theatrical performances. Family tickets range from €6-€10.80; school tickets from €5.50-€14.80 for multi-show packages.
- Workshop and Laboratory Fees: Fees for theatrical workshops for children (ages 4-18) and training activities for educators. Laboratory fees range from €90-€310 per course cycle.
- Donations and Philanthropic Support: As a social cooperative (ONLUS), La Baracca receives tax-deductible donations and support through Art Bonus, 5x1000, and direct donations. IBAN provided for liberal donations.
- Theater Space Administration: Operates and administers theater spaces (Sala A, Sala B, Sala C, Sala Centofiori, Teatro del Baraccano) under agreement with Municipalities of Bologna and Medicina, generating venue-based revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single tickets for family performances |
| Subscription | Annual | Family season subscriptions |
| Subscription | Annual | Special subscriptions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School performances |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Workshop/laboratory fees for children |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Teatro Testoni product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Baracca Testoni Ragazzi is a social cooperative (ONLUS) and theater company based in Bologna that creates and stages theatrical productions for children and young audiences aged 0-18. It operates the Teatro Testoni Ragazzi venue and administers additional theater spaces, runs seasonal family and school programming with ticketed performances and subscriptions, delivers workshops and laboratory courses for children, and hosts the international Festival Visioni and the adolescent festival ATMOSFERICO.
Product overview
La Baracca – Testoni Ragazzi is a social cooperative and theater company based in Bologna, Italy, specializing in performing arts and culture for children and young people (ages 0-18). The organization operates as a multi-faceted cultural center offering: (1) Theatrical productions in two main categories – productions for ages 0-6 focused on body dramaturgy and emotions, and productions for ages 4-8+ featuring original stories and fairy tale adaptations; (2) Seasonal programming for families and schools with ticket sales and subscriptions; (3) Festival Visioni – an international festival for early years performing arts; (4) ATMOSFERICO – a three-day festival for adolescents; (5) Teatro Aperto – community spaces including bookshop, exhibition areas, and documentation center; (6) Educational workshops for families, schools, and educators; (7) Social projects including Ambasciatore (free shows for disadvantaged children), Teatro Arcobaleno (gender identity), and LIBERA TEATRO (legal awareness); (8) Cantamaggio – an annual residential theatrical workshop for youth. The company also administers theater halls in agreement with the Municipalities of Bologna and Medicina.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Festival Visioni: Visioni di futuro, visioni di teatro… International Festival of Performing Arts and Culture for Early Years, organized annually by La Baracca – Testoni Ragazzi.
- Cantamaggio
Products and services
- Family Theatrical Season (Stagione per Famiglie) Seasonal program of theatrical performances for families with children aged 1-14, organized by age group, with single tickets and multi-show subscriptions.
- School Theatrical Season (Stagione per le Scuole) School-oriented theatrical programming with multi-show subscription packages (2-4 shows) for nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, with optional transport service.
- Family Workshops (Laboratori per Famiglie) Multi-week theatrical workshops for children by age group (La Prima Volta 4-5 years, Tracce 6-7 years, Orizzonti 8-10 years, Paesaggi 11-13 years, Babele 14-18 years).
- School Workshops (Laboratori per le Scuole) Theatrical workshops conducted within nurseries, primary and secondary schools offering creative expression and artistic experimentation.
- Festival Visioni (International Festival of Performing Arts for Early Years) Annual international festival of performing arts and culture for early years (0-6 years) including shows, workshops for educators, conferences and seminars held in Bologna.
- ATMOSFERICO - Il tempo che ho dentro Three-day festival dedicated to adolescents featuring theater, environment and culture programming.
- Teatro Aperto (Open Community Spaces) Community gathering spaces including Salette Inattese (modular soft rooms with reading corners and games), bookshop, exhibition space and documentation center.
- Cantamaggio (Residential Theatrical Workshop) Annual residential theatrical workshop for young people aged 14-30 from Italy and Europe, reflecting on social themes such as peace, climate and digital disconnection through theater, dance and song.
- Produzioni Teatrali 0-6 anni (Early Childhood Productions) Original theatrical productions for children aged 0-6 focused on body dramaturgy and emotions, including non-verbal or minimal-dialogue performances using lights, sounds and moving objects.
- Produzioni Teatrali 4-8 anni (Kindergarten and Early Primary Productions) Original theatrical productions for children aged 4-8+ featuring surreal and fantastic elements, original stories and fairy tale adaptations.
- Biglietteria e Abbonamenti (Ticketing and Subscriptions) Ticketing and subscription services for families and schools, with tiered pricing (full, reduced, fidelity, young) and group rates.
Companies that use Teatro Testoni
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Teatro Testoni technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Teatro Testoni partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Comune di BolognacorePrimary municipal partner supporting theater operations. Provides venue administration agreements for Sala Centofiori and Teatro del Baraccano. Joint programming for schools and families. ZeroDiciotto program partnership for early childhood.
- Regione Emilia-RomagnacoreRegional government body providing cultural funding and support for theatrical programming and international festival Visioni.
- Coop Alleanza 3.0minorMajor retail cooperative offering discounted tickets for members ( tessera Socio Coop) and providing sponsorship support.
- Arena del Sole (Bologna)minorCross-promotional partnership offering approximately 20% discount on tickets for La Baracca season subscribers.
- Cineteca di BolognaminorPartnership offering discounted cinema tickets (€5) for La Baracca subscribers. Also provides 'Amico della Cineteca' discount for La Baracca ticket holders. Co-hosts Birthday Readings with Salaborsa Ragazzi.
- Small Size (International Network)coreInternational network supporting diffusion of performing arts for early childhood. La Baracca-Testoni Ragazzi has been a founding member since establishment.
- ASSITEJ InternationalcoreInternational association of theatre for children and young people. Partner in BABEL project for artistic training.
- BPER BancaminorBanking partner offering reduced-price tickets for clients and employees, with promotional support.
- Forno BrisaminorBakery partner for 50th anniversary celebrations, providing breakfast for 'A Morning in Theater Kitchen' event on May 10.
- GranarolominorDairy partner for 50th anniversary celebrations, providing breakfast for anniversary event.
- Associazione Arte e Salute ONLUScoreCollaboration on 'Arte e Salute Ragazzi' project bringing theater to healthcare contexts for children.
- Libera BolognaminorCollaboration on 'Libera Teatro' workshop for youth 18-30 years on rule of law and anti-mafia themes.
- CosepuriminorTransport service provider for school/theater transportation at €3.50 per round trip. Offered as optional add-on during school booking.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Teatro Testoni competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teatro del Buratto: Milan-based theater company producing shows for children and young audiences, with both venue seasons and touring productions. Comparable in target audience, production model, and reliance on municipal/school partnerships in Northern Italy.
- Teatro delle Briciole: Parma-based children's and young audiences theater company and venue operator, with a long-running regional program for schools and families. Closely comparable as an Italian regional theater dedicated to children with public funding support and a comparable school/family season model.
- La Piccionaia – Centro di Produzione Teatrale: Vicenza-based theater production center with dedicated programming for children and young audiences, including international projects and festivals. Comparable as a production-focused children's theater with EU/international reach.
- Pandemonium Teatro: Bergamo-based theater company working with children, youth, and social themes; listed as a Cantamaggio collaborator. Comparable in mission, target age groups, and social-cooperative orientation.
- TPO – Teatro di Piazza o d'Occasione: Florence-based company creating interactive, sensory theater for early childhood, internationally recognized and part of the Small Size network. Directly comparable as an Italian early-years theater specialist with international touring.
Emerging players
- Oily Cart: London-based company creating multi-sensory theater specifically for very young children and those with complex disabilities. Closely comparable in the 0-6 sensory/accessibility specialization that La Baracca's PAROLE/BUIO/LUCI/SUONI system addresses.
- Polka Theatre: UK-based dedicated children's theater producing original work for 0-14 audiences with strong educational outreach. Comparable in mission, age range, and educational programming model, though operating in a different funding and regulatory context.
Others
- Small Size Network: International network for performing arts for early childhood, co-founded by La Baracca. The network of comparable peers (TPO, Oily Cart, Polka Theatre, etc.) defines the global reference set for La Baracca's niche.
- ASSITEJ International: International association of theater for children and young people, of which La Baracca is a partner via the BABEL project. Comparable as the umbrella network for the same international peer ecosystem La Baracca operates in.
Regional players
- Teatro Kismet: Bari-based performing arts center producing theater for young audiences as part of a broader programming slate. Comparable as an Italian regional theater with dedicated children's programming, but based in Southern Italy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Teatro Testoni social profiles
Digital presenceTeatro Testoni financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Teatro Testoni leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Teatro Testoni funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Teatro Testoni M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Teatro Testoni
What does Teatro Testoni do?
La Baracca Testoni Ragazzi is a social cooperative (ONLUS) and theater company based in Bologna that creates and stages theatrical productions for children and young audiences aged 0-18. It operates the Teatro Testoni Ragazzi venue and administers additional theater spaces, runs seasonal family and school programming with ticketed performances and subscriptions, delivers workshops and laboratory courses for children, and hosts the international Festival Visioni and the adolescent festival ATMOSFERICO.
Is Teatro Testoni a public or private company?
Teatro Testoni is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Teatro Testoni founded?
Teatro Testoni was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Teatro Testoni based?
Teatro Testoni is headquartered in Bologna, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Teatro Testoni make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are workshop and Laboratory Fees, donations and Philanthropic Support and theater Space Administration.
Who are Teatro Testoni's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teatro del Buratto, Teatro delle Briciole, La Piccionaia – Centro di Produzione Teatrale, Pandemonium Teatro and TPO – Teatro di Piazza o d'Occasione. Emerging players are Oily Cart and Polka Theatre. Others are Small Size Network and ASSITEJ International. Teatro Kismet is listed as a regional player.
Does Teatro Testoni have an API?
No public API is recorded for Teatro Testoni.
What industry is Teatro Testoni in?
Teatro Testoni's product category is Children's Theater & Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAE, Children’s & Youth Theatre, with a secondary code of MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies. Its NAICS code is 71111 and its SIC code is 7900.