Teatro Español (Madrid)

Teatro Español ('Español Theatre' or 'Spanish Theatre'), formerly Teatro del Príncipe and Corral del Príncipe, is a public theatre administered by the Government of Madrid, Spain. The original location was an open-air theatre in medieval times, where short performances and some theatrical pieces, which became part of famous classical literature in later years, were staged. Its establishment was authorized by a royal decree of Philip II in 1565. The 18th century also marked the definitive establishment of Teatro del Príncipe, which had its own group of followers, the "chorizos," and were in constant struggle with the "polacos," who preferred the performances of the rival Teatro de la Cruz. By this time, Leandro Fernández de Moratín premiered La comedia nueva at Teatro del Príncipe. On 11 July 1802, the theatre was engulfed by fire, and re-opened five years later with the final renovations supervised by architect Juan de Villanueva. The current building, erected in Neoclassical style according to a design by Román Guerrero, was built between 1887 and 1895 under the direction of Natalio Grueso. In front of the theatre is the Plaza de Santa Ana, built after the demolition of a 16th-century Carmelite monastery.