Teatro Español (Madrid)

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

Teatro Español ("Español Theatre" – former Teatro del Príncipe and Corral del Príncipe) is a public theater administered by the Government of Madrid, Spain. The prime location was an open-air theater in medieval times where small venues and some theatrical pieces, which formed famous classical literature in later years, were staged. Its establishment was authorized by a decree of Philip II in 1565.

The 18th century also marked the definitive consecration of Teatro del Príncipe, which had its own group of followers, the "chorizos," in constant struggle with the "polacos," who preferred the scenarios of the rival Teatro de la Cruz. By this time, Leandro Fernández de Moratín premiered La comedia nueva at Teatro del Príncipe. On 11 July 1802, the theater was engulfed by fire, to be re-opened five years later with the conclusion of the renovation work led by Juan de Villanueva.

The current building, erected in Neoclassical style according to a design of Román Guerrero, was built between 1887 and 1895 under the direction of Natalio Grueso. In the foreground of the theater is Plaza de Santa Ana, built after the demolishion of a 16th-century Carmelite monastery. The names of famous theater personalities are engraved on the façade, among them the name of Federico García Lorca.

The former Teatro del Príncipe, or Corral del Príncipe, was a theatre of zarzuelas acquired by the brotherhood Cofradía de la Pasión y de la Soledad on 9 February 1580. By the end of that year, Corral de la Pacheca was acquired by the same brotherhood, which also bought two other buildings from Álava de Ibarra, doctor to Philip II, and another sold by Don Rodrigo de Herrera. It was built from 7 May 1582 with opening on 21 September of the following year with a play by Vázquez and John of Ávila.

The theatre consisted of a stage, costume room, bleachers for men, ninety five portable banks, a hall for women, balconies with iron railings or grilles, master channels and roofs covering the stands. The courtyard was paved and an awning made to block the sun, but not the rain. This original structure was maintained until 1735, when a new building, concluded in ten years, was erected by architect Juan Bautista Sacchetti in cooperation with Ventura Rodríguez. At that time its name was changed from Corral del Príncipe to Teatro del Príncipe. Later, the site became a theater of work which was one of the largest in the country. In 1849, it was transformed into the current Teatro Español, the only theater in Madrid really similar to an ancient open-air theater.