Madrid , the flagship of performing arts in our country, will keep most of its theaters closed for the entire summer. The difficulties involved in producing new shows from one day to the next and the obstacles that the coronavirus has put in the way have pushed its owners to postpone the return to normality until the beginning of September.

Hardly a dozen stages, of the 60 that are in the capital, will begin their face-to-face activity before that date. The Teatros del Canal and La Abadía kicked off the Madrid cultural scene this Wednesday; the Teatro Real, the Carlos III (in Aranjuez) and the Lara will start, predictably, on July 1, 4 and 8; and the EDP Gran Vía and the small Teatro Gran Vía will be added on August 4. In addition, two or three other small rooms, such as Sojo Laboratorio Teatral , will be reopening throughout the summer. But to enjoy the rest of the wide offer, beyond the free streaming that they have been offering during the confinement, it will be necessary to wait.

“The bulk of the theaters has decided to open in September. Only very few will do so in July and August. These days, some are looking at what to do. They are pending the limitations of capacity that the Community of Madrid marks, although the central Government pointed out that with a mask it could be opened to 100% ", the president of the Association of Producers and Theaters of Madrid (APTEM) told this newspaper, Jesús Cimarro, who fails to understand that Madrid, with 55% of the production of performing arts in Spain, has not yet designed a protocol to which the sector can adhere, which has stopped collecting 60 million euros in the region with the suspension of more than 1,700 functions.

Although the main reason that has prompted the decision to postpone the reopening, Simarro explained, is time. «It does not open overnight. Putting on a new show takes 45 to 50 days . That is why we have proposed the return in September, "added the theater producer, who manages La Latina and the Fine Arts in Madrid.

Those who have decided to take the anticipated step are those who already had the show ready and have only required its launch to raise the curtain. Although these have also required preparation, it is shorter. " People are starting to rehearse now . After three months stopped, a show requires a week or 10 days of rehearsal to review the texts, the choreography, the music ... ", said Cimarro, who added that the most important thing" is that the machinery is put into operation ».

Lara , for example, is one of the theaters that had a half-done job. Its programming "is stable" and the new works they incorporate -like Woody Allen's Dreams of a Seducer- "were already produced". His idea is to open on July 8, although they are pending the calendar set by the Community of Madrid this Friday, when it is expected to announce the de-escalation in the cultural field. " If there is no contrary rule, we will open 100% of the capacity . We would be the first to do so in Madrid, "said sources at the coliseum.

The Teatros del Canal , managed by the Community of Madrid, premiered yesterday with the Madrid en Danza festival, with 33% capacity in the theater and with a complementary broadcast in streming . And La Abadía - a privately run public foundation - returned with the representation of Sea Wall in the theater garden and under the gaze of 10 spectators.

The reopening of municipal theaters, such as El Español or Fernán Gómez. Cultural Center of the Villa , is not clear. The Madrid City Council's idea "is to start at the same time as the private ones", although they do not rule out that in the summer "something can be done", according to sources from the Culture Area.

At the moment, what is common is that the entire theater sector works on a guide drawn up by the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music and that includes measures to avoid contagion, such as performing medical examinations on the artistic cast when the latter cannot save the safety distance.

In accordance with the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Madrid
  • Covid 19
  • Coronavirus
  • Descaled
  • theater

SceneThe Canal Theaters begin the dance with the Madrid en Danza festival

Culture Madrid's plan for cultural de-escalation: 7.5 million in subsidies, free tickets to toilets and a reduction in the filming rate

Phase 1Radiography of the terraces in Madrid: fines for breaching the regulations for 40% of those inspected

See links of interest

  • News
  • TV programming
  • Translator
  • Madrid calendar
  • Madrid capital calendar
  • Calendar
  • Horoscope
  • Classification
  • League calendar
  • Films
  • Cut notes
  • Themes
  • Barça - Club Joventut de Badalona
  • Eintracht Frankfurt - FC Schalke 04
  • Aston Villa - Sheffield United
  • Eibar - Athletic Club
  • Osasuna - Atlético de Madrid