The Eugenio Balzan Social Theater was built in 1812 at the desire and expense of Bartolomeo Dente from Badia, and recent historical research has uncovered a notarial deed dated December 17, 1812, which refers to the theater design by architect Sante Baseggio (1749-1822) from Rovigo. In 1836, it passed into the ownership of a Society of Stagehands or Palchettisti and took on the name Social Theater. In 1855, the theater was restored and expanded: proscenium boxes and a curtain with the Muses were added.
Due to the profusion of relief decorations and gold leaf, it has always been referred to as the “golden box” or “the little Phoenix” for its resemblance to the grand Venetian theater.
The painted decoration is by the Ferrarese Francesco Saraceni and the Venetian Giovanni Abriani; the carved friezes are by the Lendinara Luigi Voltolini.
Despite being fully booked with substantial revenues towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 1900s, the management costs for the private company that owns the theater became unsustainable and led to the closure of all activities.
Thanks to Professor Ivan Tardivello, honorary Inspector of Fine Arts for the city of Badia Polesine, starting from the 1970s, it was possible to include the Social Theater in the restoration plan for buildings and monuments in Veneto and carry out a first restoration intervention under the supervision of the same Soprintendenza. In the following years, several restoration works were carried out on the initiative of the Municipal Administration, so much so that the Social Theater often opened its doors to host various art or photographic exhibitions, which a large audience visited, taking the opportunity to admire the wealth of the theater's decorations as well.
Today, the theater in Badia is experiencing a new revival with the Association Eugenio Balzan Social Theater, which arises from the synergy between the Municipality of Badia Polesine and some entrepreneurs in the area, aiming to fully enhance the prestigious local theater.
