About this place
Teatro de La Abadía is a theatre in Madrid's Chamberí district, located at Calle de Fernández de los Ríos 42. Despite its name suggesting a monastic past, the building was never actually an abbey.
When did Teatro de La Abadía open, and who founded it?
The theatre opened on 14 February 1995 with the premiere of Ramón María del Valle-Inclán's "Retablo de la avaricia, la lujuria y la muerte." It was created through a joint initiative between the regional government of the Community of Madrid and actor-director José Luis Gómez, who became its founding artistic director. The supporting foundation, Fundación Teatro de la Abadía, had already been set up in 1992, several years before the venue itself opened its doors.
Born in Huelva in 1940, Gómez trained as an actor in Germany at the Westphalia Drama Institute and later studied at Jacques Lecoq's school in Paris. He has led the theatre's artistic direction ever since its founding and is also a member of the Real Academia Española.
Why is it called "La Abadía" if it was never an abbey?
The name comes from the building's religious appearance rather than its actual history. Records trace the site back to 1876, when Madrid's city council acquired the land to build an epidemic hospital. Over the following decades the building served as a hospital, a nursing home, and eventually a girls' boarding school. The chapel that now forms the theatre's main auditorium was built in 1944 for the "Sagrada Familia" boarding school, designed by architect José María de la Vega Samper.
What are the performance spaces like?
The theatre has two auditoriums: the Juan de la Cruz Room, seating 190, and the larger José Luis Alonso Room, seating 300. Both are designed with a close relationship between stage and audience, keeping performances intimate regardless of room size. An additional space, El Absidiolo, hosts exhibitions linked to the current programme, and the venue also has an on-site cafe and shop.
What kind of theatre does La Abadía stage?
La Abadía positions itself as a centre for scenic study and creation, following the model of European art theatres. A resident company combines ongoing research and training with the production of new work, staging both classic Spanish and European drama alongside contemporary pieces. The theatre regularly runs workshops and public events tied to its season.
How do you get there, and when can you buy tickets?
The venue is within reach of several metro stations: Argüelles, Canal, Quevedo, Moncloa, and Islas Filipinas. The box office is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, and Sunday from 5pm to 8pm. Standard tickets cost around 25 euros, while a discounted "Viewer Day" rate of about 19 euros applies on Tuesdays and on the first Friday following a premiere.
Frequently asked questions
Was Teatro de La Abadía ever a real abbey? No. The building's religious-sounding name refers to its chapel-like architecture; historically the site housed a hospital, a nursing home, and a boarding school, never a religious order.
Who founded the theatre? It was founded jointly by the Community of Madrid regional government and actor-director José Luis Gómez, who still serves as its artistic director.
How many auditoriums does it have? Two: the 190-seat Juan de la Cruz Room and the 300-seat José Luis Alonso Room.
Which metro stations are closest? Argüelles, Canal, Quevedo, Moncloa, and Islas Filipinas all serve the area.
When did the theatre open? On 14 February 1995, with the premiere of Valle-Inclán's "Retablo de la avaricia, la lujuria y la muerte."
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