The best open-air theatres in Spain
Open-air theatres take over cities, towns and courtyards to show us the best theatre programming. Many of us know the most emblematic theatres in Spain, such as the Teatro Real, the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona or the Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville, among others… but perhaps some of the open-air theatres hidden in our country are less well known. Today we present our selection of the best festivals and open-air theatres throughout the Peninsula. Shall we start?
Girona hides treasures like Peralada, a town that gathers the best of music, dance and opera in its open-air festival. The venue for this cycle is none other than the city’s main symbol, the stately Peralada Castle. This beautiful castle was built in the French style and is surrounded by beautiful gardens with delicate flora and even an aviary. Its festival dates back to 1987, and since then the organizing companies have made a clear commitment to the excellence of the artistic proposals in the lyric and dance that they present every year during the summer.
Mérida is a city that has the irreplaceable mark of Rome. In the eastern part is the Roman Theatre, completed by Marcus Agrippa -the son-in-law of Caesar Augustus- in 15 BC. It currently hosts the most important classical theatre festival of the summer: the Festival de Teatro Clásico de Mérida, which began in 1933 with the staging of Medea de Séneca, versioned by Miguel de Unamuno and with Margarita Xirgú as protagonist. Without a doubt, it is a must during the summer period for lovers of classical theatre. It is one of the most impressive open-air theatres in our country!
The beautiful city of Almagro, declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1972, preserves very interesting corners for history and theatre lovers. The main attraction of this town is its Corral de Comedias. It is the only one of its kind that is still preserved today, declared a National Monument in 1955. It was built at the beginning of the 17th century and it is an inn to which a stage was added in the courtyard; as well as a wooden structure with boxes placed on two heights. Today it is known throughout the country and has become the main venue for the Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico de Almagro, an event that has not stopped growing edition after edition for 40 years in this town of La Mancha.
One of the most important houses in the city is that of the Caballero de Olmedo. It is a palace that has been turned into a cultural centre and houses an original production. It brings the public closer to the history of this gentleman, to the theatre of Lope de Vega and to the Spain of the Golden Age. Today, this town also hosts the Teatro Clásico de Olmedo Competition. It has become one of the most eagerly awaited events of the summer season. After more than a decade, it continues to present a careful selection of the best of classical theatre that can be seen today. Olmedo is an excellent destination to spend a weekend.
The Palace of Olite is an extraordinary Gothic monument that housed the court of King Charles III. Art and culture flourished there. From its battlements the courtiers watched the games of arms that took place in La Cava. Today, this palace is still the focus of the local theatre culture. Proof of this is that it is home to one of the most important theatre festivals in the whole of the Peninsula. The Teatro Clásico de Olite Festival makes a clear commitment to the contemporary. Also for the new languages and for the most current visions about the classics, forming an attractive (and sometimes risky) programme of theatrical proposals that you can enjoy in one of the most pleasant open-air theatres in the country.
