Piccolo Teatro di Milano The Piccolo Teatro of Milan, founded by Giorgio Strehler, Paolo Grassi and Nina Vinchi in 1947, was one of Italy's first artistic ventures, after the Second World War, and its first public theatre. With Grassi as general manager and Strehler as artistic director, the Piccolo soon became a "Theatre of Art for Everyone", producing distinguished artistic works at a price that all could afford. Strehler staged numerous classical dramas from Shakespeare to Goldoni to Chekhov, and many of the greatest works of twentieth century drama, by Brecht, Beckett and Pirandello. His production have toured many countries around the world. The artistic excellence and community orientation of the Piccolo has become a model of theatrical production followed by many other Italian theatres. In 1991, the Piccolo founded the Theatre of Europe, and joined the Union of European Theatres, an international organization that encourages cultural exchanges among major theatres across Europe.