Teatro Caupolican
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| Former names | Teatro Monumental (1994-2004) |
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| Location | Santiago, Chile |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Opened | 1936 |
Teatro Caupolicán (Caupolicán Theatre) is a theatre and music venue located on the San Diego street in Santiago, Chile. It was opened in 1936. During its long history has hosted sporting, political, and cultural events. Currently is an important concert venue for popular Chilean and international artists, with a seating capacity of 4,500 and a total capacity of 5,400 (including standing places).
The history of Teatro Caupolicán began in 1936, when the Caja de Empleados Públicos (or the resources for public employment), financed the construction of the location for large scale spectacles in Santiago.
The theatre has hosted a wide array of types of events. In 1939 there was an opera program which included The Barber of Seville, Madame Butterfly, and Rigoletto. European symphony orchestras have also performed at the theatre. The Soviet ballet Beriosk came, as well as the Moscow Circus, and the Chinese Circus. Later, the ice skating show Holiday on Ice performed on a number of occasions.
In 1946 women’s Chilean basketball won its first South American title there. The theatre hosted boxing events, including fights with Arturo Godoy, Antonio Fernández, Godfrey Stevens, Samuel Serrano defending his WBA world Junior Lightweight title against Benedicto Villablanca, and Martín Vargas.
Teatro Caupolicán has been a political forum in Chilean history as well. Former presidents Arturo Alessandri, Eduardo Frei Montalva and Salvador Allende all held rallies in this theatre. Allende's personal secretary recounts the Unidad Popular's rally held there. Some of these political speeches have been printed and are sold as books.
Noble prize winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once spoke at this theatre. Neruda's speech had some political content criticizing Argentina in 1944. In 1945 Neruda chose the theatre as a place to declare himself a member of the Communist Party.
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