Teatro Coliseo

Teatro Coliseo is a historic theatre and cinema building in the centre of Eibar, in Spain's Basque Country. It stands as a physical link between the town's post-war reconstruction and its present-day cultural life, and today it functions as Eibar's main venue for theatre, concerts and film screenings.

Where does this building come from?

The story of the Coliseo begins in the late 1940s. Eibar had been almost entirely destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, and its rebuilding was carried out under the Francoist "Devastated Regions" reconstruction programme. Within that plan, a combined cinema-and-theatre venue was drawn up in 1947 by the Navarrese architect Víctor Eusa Razquin, also known for designing the Kursaal casino in San Sebastián between 1920 and 1921. The building opened its doors in 1949 and served the town for nearly forty years as a hub of entertainment and culture, before closing in 1987.

What architectural style does it show?

The Coliseo's facade blends expressionist and classicist elements with modernist decorative touches — a combination typical of Spanish public buildings from the post-war reconstruction era. This architectural value led to the building being declared a cultural heritage site on 16 September 1987, shortly after it shut its doors.

What can you see today?

After two decades of closure, the building underwent a full interior renovation while keeping its original exterior facade intact as a record of the town's history. The renovated Teatro Coliseo reopened on 23 March 2007 and has since operated as a multi-purpose cultural centre. Its main hall seats 547 people and is equipped for theatre productions, concerts and film screenings, while two smaller cinema rooms, with 84 and 74 seats respectively, allow several cultural events to run at the same time under one roof.

How do you get to Teatro Coliseo?

The theatre sits in the centre of Eibar, a small industrial town in the province of Gipuzkoa, at the heart of the Basque Country. The easiest way to reach it is by train: Eibar lies on the railway line connecting San Sebastián and Bilbao, and the station is within short walking distance of the town centre where the Coliseo stands. Drivers can reach the town via the motorway linking the two larger Basque cities.

When is the best time to visit?

Because the Coliseo is a working cultural venue rather than a museum or a monument open for casual sightseeing, it is worth checking the current programme before planning a visit. The theatre and cinema season generally runs from autumn to spring, with a fuller schedule of events during the cooler months when residents favour indoor entertainment. Even without a ticket, the building is worth a stop on a walk through town — its facade is one of the best-preserved fragments of Eibar's post-war architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Teatro Coliseo without a ticket to a show? The building is an active venue rather than a museum, so entering usually requires a ticket for a specific event. The facade and exterior, however, can be freely viewed from the street.

Who designed the building? It was designed by the Navarrese architect Víctor Eusa Razquin, who is also known for the Kursaal casino in San Sebastián.

Why was the building closed for twenty years? After decades of use, the venue needed a thorough technical and functional overhaul. Closed in 1987, it underwent a complete interior renovation and reopened to the public in 2007.

How many people can the main hall seat? The main theatre-and-cinema hall holds 547 seats, complemented by two smaller cinema rooms with 84 and 74 seats.