Teatre Goya

Teatre Goya is one of Barcelona's historic playhouses, located at Carrer Joaquín Costa 68, inside the building of the Centro Aragonés de Barcelona. The stage has been active, with interruptions, for more than a century and remains a fixture of the city's cultural life.

How do you get to Teatre Goya?

The theatre sits in central Barcelona, an easy walk from Plaça de Catalunya and the main streets of Ciutat Vella. The nearest metro stations are on lines L1 and L2 near Ronda de Sant Antoni; from either stop it is only a short walk to Joaquín Costa street. The surrounding blocks are full of bars and small restaurants, so an evening at the theatre pairs naturally with a stroll through the neighbourhood before or after the show.

What is the history behind Teatre Goya?

The building went up in 1914, though the venue did not open as a theatre until two years later: its official inauguration took place on 15 September 1916 with the premiere of "La dicha ajena" by Antoni Torner. Over the following decades, leading names of Spanish theatre performed here, among them the celebrated actress Margarita Xirgu. Landmark works staged at Teatre Goya include "Dama Isaura" by Joan Puig i Ferreter, "La cabeza de Bautista" by Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, and "Mariana Pineda" by Federico García Lorca.

For part of the twentieth century the building operated as a cinema. That chapter ended in June 1986, and by October of the same year, after refurbishment, the venue returned to live theatre with the auditorium reduced to 716 seats. A second crisis hit in 2004, when the theatre closed and its future looked uncertain. The Focus group stepped in, leasing the building and reopening it in 2008 following a full renovation designed by architect Toni Barradas, with actor and director Josep Maria Pou taking over as artistic director.

What should you know before visiting?

Teatre Goya runs a repertory programme of classic and contemporary drama. The post-renovation auditorium seats several hundred, keeping sightlines and acoustics reliable even from the back rows. The season's line-up changes regularly, so it is worth checking the current programme and booking ahead, since popular runs sell out quickly. A visit combines easily with sightseeing in nearby Ciutat Vella, including La Rambla and the Raval district. Bear in mind that performances are usually staged in Catalan or Spanish, which can be a hurdle for visitors who don't speak either language — even so, the building's architecture and the atmosphere of a century-old stage make the venue worth a look on its own.

Frequently asked questions

When was Teatre Goya built? The building dates to 1914, and its theatrical activity began with an inauguration on 15 September 1916.

Was Teatre Goya always a theatre? No. For a period up to 1986 it operated as a cinema before being renovated and returned to live theatre.

Who runs Teatre Goya today? Since its 2008 reopening, the Focus group has operated the venue, with actor and director Josep Maria Pou as artistic director.

How many seats does the auditorium have? Following the 1986 renovation, the auditorium was reduced to 716 seats.