Rate Furlan (Trieste, 1911 – Cežarji, 1989) was an Italian director, actor, screenwriter, and playwright, a multifaceted and innovative figure of 20th-century theatre. His career was primarily linked to theatre direction, a field in which he distinguished himself for his experimental and nonconformist approach, breaking with academic tradition. He is universally recognized for his pioneering stagings of William Shakespeare's works, including his famous and controversial versions of *Hamlet* and *Othello*, which profoundly modernized Shakespearean performance in Italy. He founded the Teatro dei Ventimila company, through which he pursued his artistic research. His activities also extended to cinema, where he directed films such as *I nostri sogni* (1943), worked as an actor and screenwriter, and collaborated on television productions. His fundamental contribution is recognized in the renewal of stage language and Italian theatre direction, which earned him a prominent place in the country's cultural history.