Prose theatre in Lombardy is the area investigated in this research. The first chapter is focused on the legislation both nationally and in this region and to point out the changes that the new law will bring. In order to understand how the theatrical proposal is related to this territory and also to remember which subjects are involved, there's a map of theatres and of companies that act in each province. Particular attention is then given to the past and especially to events that took place in Milan which are considered crucial for the affirmation of direction in Italy (as experienced by Enzo Ferrieri also Giorgio Strehler, Paolo Grassi, Luchino Visconti, Lilla Brignone, Remigio Paone). The second chapter is a study of the archives that theatres in Lombardy have produced so that it can be understood how they relate to the past and what these papers mean for the history of the theatre.