Giorgio Strehler

Giorgio Strehler
Strehler in 1983
Member of the Senate of the Republic
In office
2 July 1987  22 April 1992
ConstituencyLombardy
Member of the European Parliament
In office
26 September 1983  23 July 1984
ConstituencyNorth-West Italy
Personal details
Born(1921-08-14)14 August 1921
Trieste, Kingdom of Italy
Died25 December 1997(1997-12-25) (aged 76)
Lugano, Switzerland
Political partyPSI (1979–1984)
Independent Left (1987–1992)
Alma materAccademia dei Filodrammatici
University of Pavia
Occupation
  • Theatre director
  • actor

Giorgio Strehler (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒordʒo ˈstrɛːler]; German: [ˈʃtʁeːlɐ]; 14 August 1921 – 25 December 1997) was an Italian stage director, theatre practitioner, actor, and politician. Strehler was one of the most significant figures in Italian theatre during his lifetime, described by Mel Gussow as "the grand master of Italian theater" and "one of the world's boldest and most innovative directors". He co-founded Italy's first and most significant repertory company, the Piccolo Teatro of Milan, and the Union of the Theatres of Europe. The Teatro Strehler theatre in Milan is named after him.

With the Italian Socialist Party, Strehler served as Member of the European Parliament between 1983 and 1984, representing North-West Italy. He switched parties to the Independent Left, for which he was a Senator from 1987 to 1992, representing Lombardy.