Teatro Rojas facts for kids
The Teatro Rojas is a famous theater in the city of Toledo, Spain. It first opened its doors in 1879. This theater was built on the site of an older type of theater called a corral de comedias, which was an open-air courtyard where plays were performed. The theater is named after a famous writer from Toledo, Francisco de Rojas.
Contents
Building the Theater
Early Plans
The first ideas for building the Teatro Rojas came from an architect named Luis Antonio Fenech. He worked for the city and showed his plans in 1866. That same year, they started taking apart the old corral de comedias called the Mesón de la Fruta.
New Architects and Improvements
Sadly, Luis Antonio Fenech passed away. Another architect, Ramiro Amador de los Ríos, took over. He was the son of José Amador de los Ríos, a well-known person. Ramiro had to finish tearing down the old theater.
Ramiro Amador de los Ríos used Fenech's original layout, which planned for the main entrance to face the square. He also kept the idea of having the main hall and stage along the longest part of the building. But Ramiro added some cool new features:
- He added more staircases.
- He made the main hall better, giving it a more open, horseshoe shape.
- He improved how the different floors were laid out.
- He made sure the theater had good airflow by adding ventilation through the ceiling.
After Ramiro, three more architects worked on the project, but they mostly stuck to his plans.
Grand Opening
The Teatro Rojas officially opened on October 19, 1879. The very first play performed there was Del Rey abajo ninguno, a drama by Francisco de Rojas, the writer the theater is named after.
Inside the Theater
Art and Design
When you look up at the ceiling inside the Teatro Rojas, you'll see beautiful paintings. One painting shows Thalia, who is the Greek goddess (or muse) of comedy and theater. There are also round pictures called medallions. These medallions show famous Spanish playwrights, like Tirso de Molina, Calderón de la Barca, and of course, Francisco de Rojas.
Special Features
The theater has many interesting parts that make it special:
- The railings around the private boxes (small viewing areas).
- The thin iron columns that support the different levels.
- The opening of the stage, with its special boxes right at the front, called the proscenium boxes.
- The amazing main curtain that covers the stage opening.
All these details make the Teatro Rojas a very important example of a 19th-century Spanish city theater.
See also
- In Spanish: Teatro de Rojas para niños
