The rehabilitation of Theater Cinema Realejos It is an old demand of the citizenship and of the City hall which, if there are no last-minute problems, will be completed in September of next year. It is about rebuilding an emblematic place for the municipality and a historical site for the population center of San Agustín, because for many neighbors this building has been the first contact with culture and cinema.
“We have been working since 2016 and this is the result of all those negotiations and meetings to draft the project, seek financing and see the works, which will be ready in September 2023,” declared yesterday the island president, Pedro Martín, and the councilor of Urbanism, Laura Lima, during a visit to the building, which was also attended by the first deputy mayor, Noelia González; the municipal person in charge of Patrimony, Isabel Socorro, and the people in charge of the company that executes the works.
The work has a budget of 2,713,121 euros, a very high amount, which was impossible to assume by the City Council, but which, finally, could become a reality thanks to the fact that the project is integrated into the Insular Plan of Cultural Infrastructures 2016- 2021, by which the Island Corporation and the City Council undertake to finance the project at 80% and 20%, respectively.
The action is carried out in two phases, a first related to the building work and the second, which corresponds to the scenic part, which will provide acoustics to the entire building. The City Council was in charge of contracting the drafting of the project, which was processed by public tender.
Demolition and new interior structure
At present, the interior of the theater has been completely demolished and a new structure is being built, which includes the total reform of the service spaces, dressing rooms and rooms for the necessary machinery, as well as an extension of the stage box that will allow it to host performances. of greater capacity than those represented until now.
The stalls and the amphitheater will also be completely new, as will the roof of the building. Accessibility conditions will also be improved to comply with current safety regulations. All this while maintaining the unique character of this cultural symbol.
“The works are progressing very well. We do not expect there to be any kind of stoppage and, if everything goes as we expect, these deadlines that we have indicated will be met”, Pedro Martín stressed.
For her part, Laura Lima stressed that there must be “good harmony between the two administrations, because it is a work to benefit the residents of Los Realejos.”
Being within the framework of protection of Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) of the historic complex of San Agustín, the aforementioned comprehensive rehabilitation project had to have the approval of the insular area of Historical Heritage.
