Salón Teatro

Salón Teatro is one of Galicia's leading performance venues and the permanent home of the Centro Dramático Galego (CDG), the region's publicly run dramatic theatre company. The building stands on Rúa Nova, one of the historic streets of Santiago de Compostela's old town, just steps from the city's UNESCO World Heritage monuments.

Where does the name Salón Teatro come from?

The venue occupies part of the former Casa de Barca, a Baroque townhouse that once belonged to the Lords of Barca. Over the centuries the building took on several different roles: it served first as a private residence, later as a Catholic cultural centre, and at one point even operated as a cinema. The word "Salón" (hall) reflects this earlier, multipurpose life of the space before it became a dedicated stage.

Is this the oldest theatre in Santiago?

Not quite, but close. Salón Teatro is considered the second-oldest working performance venue in the city, ranking just behind the nearby Teatro Principal, with which it is sometimes confused because both sit inside the historic centre. It's worth being clear on this point: the two are separate, independently run buildings, not two names for the same theatre.

Why is it the headquarters of Centro Dramático Galego?

Since 1999, Salón Teatro has served as the official headquarters and main stage of the CDG, the dramatic theatre company funded by the Xunta de Galicia, the region's autonomous government. It is the only performance space in Galicia owned outright by the regional administration, setting it apart from municipal or privately run stages. The venue's opening production under CDG took place on 29 October 1999, when the company staged "Si o vello Sinbad volvese ás illas…", based on a text by Álvaro Cunqueiro, one of the most important Galician writers of the twentieth century.

How many people does the auditorium hold?

The main hall seats 272 people, split between the stalls and the upper gallery. That scale is typical of an intimate, chamber-sized stage, which favours close contact between performers and audience — a real advantage for dramatic productions and contemporary dance.

What kind of shows can you see here?

The programme is anchored by CDG's own theatrical productions, but the venue's calendar extends well beyond straight drama: it also hosts dance performances, contemporary circus, concerts, and multidisciplinary events. That mix makes Salón Teatro function as a living performing-arts hub rather than a single-company repertory house.

How do you get to Salón Teatro?

The building sits on Rúa Nova, right in the heart of Santiago de Compostela's UNESCO-listed historic centre. It's an easy few-minute walk from the cathedral and Praza do Obradoiro, in keeping with the compact, walkable layout of the old town's main sights.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Salón Teatro and Teatro Principal? They are two separate buildings in Santiago de Compostela. Teatro Principal is the older of the two stages, while Salón Teatro — despite having its own long history rooted in the former Casa de Barca — has served as the headquarters of the Centro Dramático Galego since 1999.

Who runs Salón Teatro? The venue is owned and operated by the Xunta de Galicia, the region's autonomous government, through the Centro Dramático Galego.

How many seats does the auditorium have? 272 seats, divided between the stalls and the gallery level.

Does the venue host anything besides dramatic theatre? Yes. Alongside CDG's productions, the programme includes dance, contemporary circus, concerts, and multidisciplinary events.

What was the first production staged at CDG's new headquarters? On 29 October 1999, the company premiered "Si o vello Sinbad volvese ás illas…", based on a work by Álvaro Cunqueiro.

Is the building architecturally significant? Yes — the former Casa de Barca is a Baroque-era townhouse that previously served residential and religious-cultural functions before being converted into a performance venue.