Provisional Theatre

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Sites of memory · Year: 1833

We call this name to some premises that were set up in 1833 to host theatrical performances in Santa Cruz provisionally until the construction of a proper building. At that time, some theatre companies began to arrive, stopping en route to America, taking advantage of the opportunity to satisfy an emerging local bourgeoisie eager for shows.

This improvised hall was located in the lower part of Calle del Tigre (today Villalba Hervás) and was nothing more than a large warehouse prepared for the varied performances that began there in April 1833, with the performance of a company of actors.

This provisional theatre had a very short life, since around that time and with the approval of the civil governor, a society was formed to build a new theatre, this time with better conditions and which was even given a name ( Isabel II ) before it began; it was clear that its location would be the same place now occupied by the Casino. The project did not go ahead.

Faced with this failure, it was private initiative that managed to provide another space on Calle de Marina for their stage entertainments, before the opening in 1851 of the brand new municipal theatre, later called Guimerá.

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