Why does this building look like an old church? Well that is because the Teatro de La Abadía actually started its life as the chapel of the Sagrada Familia boarding school. The building now known as Teatro de La Abadía sits on Calle de Fernández de los Ríos. It is in the Chamberí neighborhood. This is one of Madrid’s most iconic areas.
Teatro de La Abadía is more than just a theater. It is a center for study and stage creation. It aligns with other European art theaters. The theater has a permanent team. Juan Mayorga currently directs it. They combine research and training with creating shows. Teatro de La Abadía is known for producing its own shows. It also hosts works from other similar companies. Workshops and meetings with famous actors also take place here.
The Teatro de La Abadía emphasizes body language and precise speech. It aims to connect with society through poetry. “The intelligent pleasure” is its motto. The Community of Madrid and José Luis Gómez together created Teatro de La Abadía. Gómez was a stage director and actor. It opened on February 14 1995. The first performance was Retablo de la avaricia la lujuria y la muerte by Ramón María del Valle-Inclán.
The building has a unique design. It features two converging and separate naves. Originally these separated the boys from the girls when it was a school. The Teatro de La Abadía includes a multipurpose hall. It serves as a second stage and rehearsal space. It also houses management offices.
Juan Ramón Espiga led the renovation. The two spaces are now called Sala Juan de la Cruz and Sala José Luis Alonso. These names honor the visionary poet and the important Spanish director. They hold about 309 and 195 people respectively.
Since opening Teatro de La Abadía has staged about 30 original shows. These productions include both modern and classic works. You might see Berkoff Brecht or Cervantes. Perhaps Goethe Ionesco or Jarry. García Lorca the Presnyakov Brothers or Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. Shakespeare Valle-Inclán or Kushner Pinter could also be on the bill. Spanish playwrights like Antonio Álamo and Fermín Cabal also feature.
José Luis Gómez often directed these plays himself. Other directors connected to Teatro de La Abadía also contributed. Carlos Aladro Ernesto Caballero and Joaquín Hinojosa are among them. Rosario Ruiz Rodgers is another. Guest directors have included Georges Lavaudant and Luis Miguel Cintra.
Teatro de La Abadía productions have toured both nationally and internationally. This has helped Teatro de La Abadía become a major cultural center. It is important in both Spanish and European theater networks. Teatro de La Abadía strives to be a European theater. It invites international masters and directors. It also works with the Madrid Autumn Festival each year. Peter Brook and the Berliner Ensemble have performed here. So have Calixto Bieito and Dario Fo.
Teatro de La Abadía operates as a private cultural foundation. It receives public funding and generates its own income. Private individuals manage it. The foundation oversees Teatro de La Abadía programming.
Since 1998 Teatro de La Abadía has been part of the Union of European Theatres. Giorgio Strehler founded this union in 1990. It includes 21 famous theaters. Teatro de La Abadía aims to promote culture across borders through art. It sees theater as a tool for poetry and unity among people.
Teatro de La Abadía received the National Theater Prize from the Ministry of Culture in 1995. It also won the Madrid Critics Award in 1995. In 2002 it earned the Community of Madrid’s Award for European Excellence.