Teatre Zorrilla

Teatre Zorrilla is one of three municipal theatres in Badalona, a Catalan city on the coast just outside Barcelona. The building has been in continuous use for more than a century and a half, though its role has shifted several times over the decades — from playhouse, to cinema, to today's performing arts centre.

Where does the theatre's name come from?

The building was named after the Spanish playwright José Zorrilla, best known for "Don Juan Tenorio." According to local accounts, Zorrilla himself gave his blessing for the use of his name, during a meeting arranged by Francesc Amigó i Farreras and Francesc Planas i Casals with the journalist Joaquín Asensio de Alcántara. That personal endorsement is why the theatre carried his name from the very start, while the writer was still alive.

Who built it, and how?

The project was driven by two partners, Miquel Perejoan i Lladó and Martí Amigó i Banús, who between 1843 and 1868 gradually bought up plots totalling around 1,400 square metres. The design came from master builder Martí Botey, who modelled the hall on Italian Baroque theatre architecture — giving the auditorium its distinctive horseshoe shape, typical of opera houses of that era.

When did it open?

The theatre opened its doors on 31 October 1868, becoming only the second theatre in Badalona's history. The opening production was, fittingly, Zorrilla's own drama "Traidor, inconfeso y mártir," staged by Antonio Mallí de Brignole's company.

What happened to the building over the following decades?

Across the years, well-known performers took to the Zorrilla's stage, including actor Enric Borràs and Margarida Xirgu, one of the most celebrated Catalan actresses of the 20th century. From 1905 the building doubled as a cinema, and from 1954 it operated under the name "Cine Aya" — a chapter that only closed in 1970.

How did it reach its current form?

In 1986 ownership passed to the Badalona city council. After decades adapted mainly for film screenings, the building underwent a thorough restoration and reopened on 21 January 1999 as the Centre d'Arts Escèniques de Badalona (Badalona Centre for Performing Arts).

What is the theatre used for today?

Today the Teatre Zorrilla is one of Badalona's three municipal theatres, alongside the Teatre Margarida Xirgu and the Teatre Blas Infante. It runs a year-round programme of theatre, music and dance, and the building also houses a rehearsal room and offices used by local cultural organisations. Current listings are published on the theatre's own website and on the Badalona city council's site.

Frequently asked questions

When was Teatre Zorrilla built? The building went up between 1843 and 1868 on land bought by Miquel Perejoan and Martí Amigó, with the grand opening held on 31 October 1868.

Why is it called Teatre Zorrilla? It was named for the Spanish playwright José Zorrilla, who is said to have personally approved the use of his name.

Which play opened the theatre? The opening performance was Zorrilla's own "Traidor, inconfeso y mártir," staged by Antonio Mallí de Brignole's company.

Was it always used as a theatre? No — between 1905 and 1970 it operated mainly as a cinema, known from 1954 as "Cine Aya," before returning to live theatre in 1999.

Is the theatre still active? Yes, since 1999 it has run as the Centre d'Arts Escèniques de Badalona, one of the city's three municipal theatres, with a year-round programme of theatre, music and dance.