Nuevo Teatro Arbolé

Nuevo Teatro Arbolé is a compact theatre venue in Zaragoza built specifically for children's and family performances. The building sits inside the Luis Buñuel Water Park on the bank of the Ebro river, and since 2008 has served as the permanent home of the Arbolé company, a puppetry troupe that has been active since 1979 and ranks among the longest-running puppet theatre groups in the Aragón region.

Where exactly is the theatre located?

The venue stands at Paseo del Botánico 5, inside the Parque Metropolitano del Agua, the large riverside park created for the 2008 Expo Zaragoza world exhibition. This puts it on the opposite bank of the Ebro from the historic old town, though the area is well connected to the rest of the city. Walking there through the park lets visitors combine a show with a stroll around the park's water features and green spaces.

What can you expect inside?

The building was designed by the architecture and landscape studio Aldayjover. The auditorium was built for roughly 250 seats, though it currently operates with a configuration of about 225, a change made to improve sightlines and comfort for both the audience and the performers on stage. Beyond staging plays, the venue functions as a creation hub for the performing arts: it hosts exhibitions and training workshops for young artists, and the company carries out research and documentation work tied to puppet theatre as an art form.

What kind of shows does it stage?

Puppetry and productions for young audiences form the backbone of the programme — this has been Arbolé's specialty since its founding, blending puppet animation with physical theatre and live music. The lineup is not limited to children's shows, though: the schedule also includes productions aimed at adult audiences, making the venue a notable stop on the city's cultural calendar regardless of the visitor's age.

When is the best time to visit?

The theatre runs on an artistic season that typically stretches from autumn through spring. Each new season is announced in September, with the programme wrapping up before the summer break. This is the best window for planning a visit around a specific show, since the lineup changes week to week. Checking the current schedule before travelling is worthwhile, especially for families hoping to catch a particular performance.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nuevo Teatro Arbolé aimed at? Primarily children and families — that has been the company's focus since 1979 — though the programme also includes productions for adult audiences.

How many people does the auditorium hold? The hall was designed for around 250 seats and currently runs with a capacity of about 225.

Who runs the theatre's programme? The Arbolé puppet theatre company, active continuously since 1979, now based in the venue opened at the Water Park in 2008.

How do you get to the theatre? It is located at Paseo del Botánico 5, inside the Parque Metropolitano del Agua in Zaragoza, on the opposite bank of the Ebro from the old town — reaching it on foot through the park is an easy way to pair the visit with a walk among the park's greenery.