Teatro Español (Madrid) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Teatro Español

Façade of Teatro Español facing Plaza de Santa Ana
Address	Madrid Spain
Type	Theatre
Capacity	763
Construction
Opened	21 September 1583
Rebuilt	1887–1895
Architect	Román Guerrero
Website
https://www.teatroespanol.es/en

The Teatro Español (which means 'Spanish Theatre') is a famous public theatre in Madrid, Spain. It's managed by the city's government. Long, long ago, in medieval times, this spot was an open-air theatre! People would gather to watch short plays and other performances. Some of these plays even became famous classic stories later on. King Philip II officially allowed this theatre to be built way back in 1565.

In the 1700s, the theatre, then called Teatro del Príncipe, became very popular. It even had its own fan club, called the "chorizos"! These fans often argued with the "polacos," who preferred plays at a different theatre, the Teatro de la Cruz. Sadly, on July 11, 1802, a big fire destroyed the theatre. It reopened five years later after being rebuilt by architect Juan de Villanueva.

The building you see today was built between 1887 and 1895. It has a beautiful Neoclassical style, designed by Román Guerrero. Right in front of the theatre is the Plaza de Santa Ana, a public square. If you look closely at the theatre's front, you'll see the names of famous theatre people carved into it, including Federico García Lorca.

The History of Teatro Español

Let's explore the exciting history of this famous Spanish theatre!

From Corral to Teatro del Príncipe

The theatre started as the Corral del Príncipe, which was an open-air theatre. A group called the Cofradía de la Pasión y de la Soledad bought it in 1580. They also bought other buildings nearby to make the theatre bigger. Construction began in 1582, and the theatre officially opened on September 21, 1583, with a play by Vázquez and John of Ávila.

The early theatre had a stage, a room for costumes, and seating areas. Men sat on bleachers, while women had a special hall. There were also balconies with railings. The courtyard was paved, and an awning was used to block the sun. This original design stayed until 1735. Then, a new building was constructed by architect Juan Bautista Sacchetti and Ventura Rodríguez. At this time, its name changed from Corral del Príncipe to Teatro del Príncipe. It became one of the biggest theatres in Spain!

During the time of King Philip II, Madrid had two main public theatres: Corral de la Cruz and Teatro del Príncipe. People loved theatre so much that two rival fan groups formed: the "chorizos" and the "polacos." The "chorizos" were supported by King Philip IV and the famous writer Lope de Vega. The "polacos" were favored by the nobility. Their rivalry was so strong that they sometimes caused trouble and even got theatres closed!

In the 1700s, both theatres were torn down and rebuilt. They were redesigned in an Italian style with modern features like bigger stages and artificial lighting.

Teatro Español: A New Era

In 1825, a French manager named John Grimaldi made many improvements to the theatre, including better lighting. By a special royal order, Teatro del Príncipe changed its name to Teatro Español in 1849. It could hold 1,200 people, and the City Council owned it.

A new way of managing the theatre began on April 8, 1849, with a play by Calderon de la Barca. The famous playwright Ventura de la Vega became the theatre's director. Later, other directors took over, and in 1860, actor Manuel Catalina became the director.

Between 1887 and 1894, architect Roman Guerrero completely rebuilt the theatre, giving it the look it has today. It reopened on January 12, 1895. Famous actress María Guerrero managed the theatre for a while, putting on plays by important writers like Benito Pérez Galdós and Nobel Prize winners Jacinto Benavente and José de Echegaray. She managed it until 1909.

From 1930 to 1935, famous theatre companies, including those of Margarita Xirgu and Enrique Borrás, performed here. They premiered plays by great Spanish writers like Federico Garcia Lorca and Rafael Alberti. During the Spanish Civil War, actor Manuel González managed the theatre. He staged a play called El alcalde de Zalamea on March 28, 1939, the day Francisco Franco's troops entered Madrid.

After the war, the Teatro Español changed how it was managed. It reopened on April 15, 1939. The City Council still owned the building, but the Spanish government took over its management. In 1940, a national council for theatres was created, which included Teatro Nacional Español for classic plays and Teatro María Guerrero.

For ten years, Cayetano Luca de Tena was the theatre's director. Then, in 1954, José Tamayo and his company "Lope de Vega" took over. Many famous actors performed with them, including Núria Espert and Adolfo Marsillach. During this time, important plays like Historia de una escalera premiered, and plays by international authors were introduced.

On October 19, 1975, another fire damaged the theatre. It took until April 16, 1980, to rebuild it. The theatre then reopened with a new production of Calderon de la Barca's La dama de Alejandría. Since October 16, 1981, the theatre has been managed by the city of Madrid again. It can now seat 763 people. In 2005, the old cafeteria was turned into a space for smaller events. Since 2007, the theatre also manages events at Naves del Español, a theatre space located in the Matadero Madrid cultural center.

Directors of Teatro Español

Many talented people have directed the Teatro Español over the years. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Teatro Español para niños