The secret theater restored by Maria Grazia Chiuri is already fascinating Rome
It’s a project nobody saw coming. While all eyes were on Rome for the latest Croisière Dior fashion show, Maria Grazia Chiuri was backstage unveiling a venue steeped in history, transformed after five years of discreet restoration: the Théâtre de la Comète.
A strong gesture for Italian culture
In addition to her haute-couture collections, the artistic director has taken a personal, militant step to bring back to life a forgotten theater in the center of Rome, built in 1958 by Countess Anna Laetitia Pecci Blunt, an eccentric muse of Roman artistic life. Devastated by fire, this architectural gem is now being reborn under the impetus of Maria Grazia Chiuri, who purchased it in 2020.
A cultural hub between memory and the avant-garde
Renamed Teatro della Cometa, the venue is intended to be a multi-disciplinary artistic hub: theater, music, dance, performance, residencies, exhibitions and festivals… The aim? To create a lively, inclusive, international space. A cultural manifesto, a world away from classic fashion events.
For its inauguration on May 26, 2025, the space has been completely restored according to the original plans by architect Tomaso Buzzi. The immersive scenography combines archives, performances and tableaux vivants, orchestrated by director Lorenzo Salveti.
A renaissance staged like a Baroque dream
Costumes by Tirelli, artistic direction by Maria Luisa Frisa, sets by visual artist Pietro Ruffo, musical accompaniment by the Roma Sinfonietta orchestra. Every detail has been thought out to tell the story of Mimì’s whimsical life, between aristocratic balls and the literary avant-garde.
Maria Grazia Chiuri after Dior?
While some whisper of a future reconversion for Maria Grazia Chiuri, this opening perhaps marks the start of a new creative chapter for the woman who has headed Dior since 2016.
Also read: The Petit Palais’ hidden masterpiece soon to be reborn
