Turisme d’Elx :: Theatre

Gran Teatro

Elche’s Gran Teatro is an Italian-type theatre. In other words, it has a horse-shoe shaped auditorium holding the stalls, circle and boxes.

The original building, constructed under the direction of the Valencian architect Alfonso Garín, dates from 1920 when it was inaugurated under the name of Teatro Kursaal. The building is eclectic in style, inspired as much by Modernism as by the Second Empire.

The treatment of the friezes of naked children dancing to a tambourine seem to spring from the works of Mariano Benlliure who was widely imitated by Valencian artists as can be seen in the décor of Valencia’s Teatro Olimpia theatre, opened in 1915.

The Gran Teatro today

In the early 1990’s, the building, at that time in private hands and being used solely as a cinema, was acquired by Elx Town Hall and subsequently underwent extensive refurbishment.

The refurbishment affected all of the structure while respecting its décor. The largest projects were the remodelling of the stalls, adding a new floor that would reinforce its horse-shoe shape, the enlargement of the stage, improvements to the vestibule and the creation of offices and auxiliary rooms.

Following its refurbishment, the Gran Teatro de Elche was inaugurated on May 16th 1996 by H.M. Queen Sofía at a concert given by the Spanish National Orchestra.

Today, the theatre is home to most of the city’s cultural events. Its modern infrastructure and excellent technical equipment enables it to present all types of performances, be they theatre, music or dance as well as cinema.