Teatre Principal
Located in Barcelona
This is first building which was created expressly to hold theatrical performances in Barcelona. Yet the Theatre Principal is today practically inactive. Located in the lower area of the Ramblas, the “Casa de Comedias” or “Casa Theatro”, as it was initially known, was built on land which belonged to the Hospital General de la Santa Cruz, an institution, which from the year 1579 enjoyed the royal privilege of “providing actors with a place for their performances”.
The Principal was the only long-standing theatre in the city until the year 1835, which marked the end of the theatrical monopoly of the Hospital, and the expansion of performance venues throughout the Ramblas, which then became the main site of urban theatre.
Since its inauguration the theatre has been renovated several times, often due to the many fires which have occurred in the building (1787, 1915, 1924, and 1933). The basic outline of the building derives from the reform project of the architect Francisco Daniel Molina (1847) which houses a theatre, a small cinema, a handball court, and wide scenic spaces for stage performances such as the “Cupola Venus”, the alternative venue in Barcelona during the democratic transition. The Principal was, and could once again become, a culture and leisure centre where the scenic arts could play a predominant role.
Theatres at risk:
- Bellas Artes
- Betlem de Tirisiti
- Bristol Old Vic
- El Bretón será un gran teatro
- El Gobierno de Aragón convoca finalmente el concurso para la rehabilitación del Teatro Fleta
- Gran Teatro Fleta
- La Violeta
- Sala Beckett
- Teatre Arnau
- Teatre Circo Apolo
- Teatre Mar i Terra
- Teatre Principal
- Teatro Albéniz
- Teatro Bretón
- Teatro Cine Ideal
