Teatre Principal

Teatre Principal stands in Valls, a town in the Alt Camp district near Tarragona better known worldwide as the birthplace of castells, the human towers built during local festivals. Yet behind that reputation, Valls also holds one of Catalonia's oldest working theatres, a building that has kept its original architectural layout for close to two centuries and still hosts live performances today.

When was the theatre built, and why here?

The story starts around 1845, when the town council decided to put up a theatre on a plot known as "Corral dels Bous," a former bullring-style courtyard off what is now Carrer Caputxins. The commission went to architect Ignasi Jordà, who designed the auditorium, while painter and stage designer Josep Planella handled the decorative work inside. Construction took several years, and the venue opened its doors in 1851.

Why does the façade feel newer than the rest of the building?

Anyone looking closely at Teatre Principal will notice that its ornate front doesn't quite match the older interior — and that's because it was added decades later. The society running the theatre at the time, known as "Circulo Español," commissioned architect Lluís Homs to build a new façade, finished in 1882. It's from this later phase that the theatre gets its two carved medallions depicting Spanish playwrights Moratín and Calderón, sculpted by Anselm Nogués, an artist born in Valls itself — a small but telling local signature on an otherwise classic 19th-century front.

Has it always been open?

No. Like many theatres of its age, Teatre Principal went through long stretches of closure and disrepair over the 20th century. It was eventually given a full restoration, and the building reopened to the public on 30 January 1998, returning to its original role as a working stage for the town.

What happens on stage today?

The theatre is home to its own resident company, the Grup del Teatre Principal (GTP), which has been a driving force in Valls's theatrical life for years, staging productions right where the town's audiences have gathered for generations. Beyond the resident troupe, the building serves as the main venue for plays, concerts, and cultural events in Valls, making it a natural stop for anyone curious about the town beyond its famous human towers.

What should visitors look out for?

The main draw for visitors is the contrast between the two building phases: the older, more restrained 1851 auditorium and the later, decorative 1882 façade with its sculpted portrait medallions. Together they tell the story of a small-town theatre that was expanded and embellished as the local community's ambitions grew, rather than being built all at once.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Teatre Principal located? It sits in the center of Valls, on Carrer Caputxins, on the site of the former "Corral dels Bous" courtyard.

When was the theatre built? Construction ran from around 1845 to 1851, when it first opened to the public.

Who designed the building and its façade? Architect Ignasi Jordà designed the original theatre; the façade added later, in 1882, was the work of architect Lluís Homs, with sculptural details by Anselm Nogués.

Can visitors go inside, or is it viewed from the outside only? Teatre Principal is an active performance venue rather than a museum, so seeing the interior usually means attending a show or event rather than a standalone tour.

Is this the only theatre in Valls? No, but it is the oldest and most recognizable of the town's theatres.