Teatro Principal

Teatro Principal is a historic theatre in the heart of Alcoy, a town in the province of Alicante, and one of the oldest surviving theatre buildings in the Valencian Community. It stands between Calle Santo Tomás and Plaza de Dins, right in the old town, and has been part of Alcoy's cultural life for nearly two centuries.

When was Teatro Principal built?

The theatre opened in 1838, designed by Juan Carbonell Satorre, Alcoy's municipal architect at the time, who lived from 1774 to 1854. It was built inside the former refectory of the Convent of Sant Agustí, a monastic building that passed into municipal hands after the 19th-century seizure of church property known as the desamortización. That gave Alcoy a dedicated theatre stage well before many neighbouring towns had one.

How has the building changed over time?

The interior went through its first major overhaul in 1879, carried out by a later municipal architect, Josep Moltó i Valor (1848-1886). From the 1930s onward the venue was gradually converted into a cinema, a common fate for many 19th-century Spanish theatres as film took over. A second thorough renovation followed in 1979.

Why was the theatre closed for years?

Safety concerns forced Teatro Principal to shut its doors in 2003, after decades of heavy use as both a cinema and a theatre had taken a toll on the structure. The town carried out a full restoration, completed in 2006, restoring the building's original theatrical purpose. Seating capacity dropped in the process, from an original five hundred to two hundred and eighty-five, a trade-off that improved comfort and acoustics at the cost of capacity.

Who performed at Teatro Principal after it reopened?

Following the 2006 reopening, the theatre hosted a resident company, La Dependent, from 2006 until 2018. The company also curated the programme during that period, which is often regarded as one of the venue's most active chapters in recent history.

Is this the same theatre as Teatre Calderón?

No. Alcoy has another historic theatre, Teatre Calderón, on Plaza de España, opened later in 1902 and considerably larger, seating 750 people. Teatro Principal is a separate, older building, dating from nearly seventy years earlier, with a smaller scale and a different architectural history. Visitors planning a cultural tour of Alcoy should keep the two venues apart, since their names are easily confused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Teatro Principal in Alcoy? It sits in the historic centre of Alcoy, between Calle Santo Tomás and Plaza de Dins.

When was the theatre built? It opened in 1838, designed by municipal architect Juan Carbonell Satorre.

How many seats does it have? Following the 2006 restoration, the theatre seats 285 people, down from an original 500.

Why was it closed for several years? Structural safety issues forced its closure in 2003; it reopened in 2006 after a full renovation.

Is it the same venue as Teatre Calderón? No. Teatre Calderón is a separate, larger theatre on Plaza de España in Alcoy, opened in 1902.