The Guimerá Theatre is set to close its doors today as it embarks on its fourth renovation in its 174-year history. The anticipated works, which are expected to conclude within three years, will impact the ground floor and main entrances of this iconic building in the capital. This renovation, funded by the City of Santa Cruz, the Cabildo, and the Canary Islands government, is budgeted at seven million euros and aims to refurbish the interior, strengthen the structure, replace the seating, and improve accessibility throughout the venue.
The restrooms will also undergo renovations; two lifts will be installed (one for the public and another for performing companies); space will be allocated for air conditioning; the box office will be relocated to the main entrance where it was originally located; and areas affected by moisture and termites will be repaired. These significant modifications were announced to Diario de Avisos by the Councillor for Historical Heritage, Javier Rivero, who stated that “the tender will be issued in April to initiate the renovation in the last quarter of the year.”
Before the construction begins, the Guimerá will clear its movable property, which will be inventoried for restoration of those that remain useful. Meanwhile, items of cultural significance, classified as assets of cultural interest (BIC), will be preserved in the Foyer room or the mirror room of the theatre, which will not be affected by the renovation. These theatrical treasures will be included in a comprehensive future exhibition by the cultural department.
In the meantime, the Cultural Programming of Guimerá, which held its final performance yesterday before the closure, will subsequently relocate to the so-called R Space, located in the Old Recomer. The renovation of this venue is expected to be completed this summer. “Once the renovations here are done, we will hand it over to culture for fitting out, with seating and a stage, allowing scenic activities to resume,” commented Rivero, adding that “the Guimerá will be enclosed during the exterior renovations.”
The Guimerá was inaugurated in January 1851 during the reign of Isabel II, making it the oldest performance space in the Canary Islands. Previously known as the main theatre, the queen’s theatre, or municipal theatre, its current name pays homage to the writer, poet, and playwright Ángel Guimerá, who was born in Santa Cruz in 1845.
The origins of this building trace back to 1847 when the civil governor proposed to the City Council the establishment of a commission to construct a grand and suitable coliseum befitting the capital. To facilitate the new theatre, the local government purchased the convent of Santo Domingo from the state (Recova Vieja). According to the city’s official chronicler, José Manuel Ledesma, the design was entrusted to Julián Robayna, who also supervised its austere aesthetic. The construction commenced on March 3, 1849, under the guidance of architect Manuel Oraá. Although it opened on January 26, 1851, the venue was incomplete; it featured a performance hall illuminated by a lucena, imported from Barcelona, along with four chandeliers. The city’s coat of arms, crafted by Gumersindo Robayna, adorned the façade.
To complete the building, in 1858, Mayor Bernabé Rodríguez Pastrana generated funding by organising public performances and dances at the theatre. Consequently, on the evening of October 14, 1862, the curtain displaying a northern island landscape with Teide in the background, painted by Nicolás Alfaro, was lifted.
In 1911, the theatre underwent its first renovation conducted by architect Antonio Pintor, who altered Oraá’s original design, retaining only the exterior and structural elements. The modifications involved redesigning the interior of the auditorium, tilting the seating, and creating new proscenium boxes, which necessitated reworking the stage, designing a new proscenium arch, and creating the orchestra pit. The foyer and galleries were adorned with materials sourced from Milan.
A second renovation took place between 1989 and 1991, led by architect Carlos Schwartz, who added a new section at the rear of the building, dedicating the first two floors to dressing rooms and the third to a multi-purpose room (Guimerá Espacio). He also expanded the stage and foyer, eliminating the old access stairs to the boxes.
The most recent renovation occurred in 2010, overseen by architect Haris Kozo, who enhanced sanitation, conducted bacteriological treatment of wood, and ensured the venue complied with safety and accessibility regulations.
