In 1838, the Decurional Council of Corato approved the construction of a theater. The final site was not decided until 1872 and was the so-called “Giardino Comunale di S. Cataldo,” in the expansion area known as “lo Stradone.”
Construction of the theater was completed in less than two years, and it was inaugurated on December 1, 1874. Stylistically, the Teatro Comunale was a fine example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture; the auditorium, with its 70 boxes and gallery, seating, and lighting, was considered among the finest in Apulia, second only to those of the Petruzzelli and Piccini theaters in Bari. The building had a rectangular floor plan, bordered on three sides by streets and, at the front, by a square; the main façade, surmounted by a frieze depicting a mask and a lyre, featured a projecting section corresponding to what was once the classical-style carriage portico, with a series of arches and pilasters. In the past, the carriage portico led to the vestibule, illuminated by gilded cast-iron candelabras, to the box office, and to the adjacent café, featuring a wooden counter with a marble top, small iron and marble tables, and a small sofa. Two stone staircases branched off from the vestibule, leading to the upper floors, where the three tiers of boxes and the gallery were located. The ceiling, the structure of the boxes, the partitions, and the balustrades were made of carved wood, gilded, stuccoed, and painted. All the upholstery, made of velvet, silk, and other fabrics, was yellow. The stage was equipped with dressing rooms for the actors. The theater had a capacity of 500 spectators.
Architect Massimo Alvisi’s 2007 restoration project will restore the exterior facades to their former splendor while giving the theater a distinctly contemporary interior. The interior hall features a distinctive elliptical shape that encloses the stalls and two tiers of galleries, with the second tier consisting of stepped seating connecting the second and third tiers of boxes, located on the sides and reminiscent of the traditional Italian-style theater layout. The entire interior is clad in wooden panels of varying sizes and has a seating capacity of approximately 600.