These can be found in small venues where a love of the art is giving rise to lively, new theatre concepts.
They are backed-up by a faithful public following that allows them to present plays with very few public subsidies. Many of the halls not only act as a theatre, but also have their own company.
From time to time, the media go wild about great plays like Café (Coffee) and Odio a Hamlet (I hate Hamlet). These are produced by people working hard on the fringe of the grand commercial shows and plays subsidised with public money.
Café is the latest hit from the Cuarto Pared company, which is one of the best-known alternative venues. Odio a Hamlet has a seal of approval from Guindalera Theatre, an intimate stage where the audience and actors meet face to face.
‘Los dÃas felices’ (Happy days) by El Canto de la Cabra company
Working in a network or going it alone
Some halls are part of the Alternative Theatre Network. Most of the others work independently. The web page for the alternative theatre halls describes them as areas of exhibition, creation, production and meeting point for thoughtful, aesthetic plays, and work organised round a respect for creative freedom.
They are artistic centres that support creativity, and not solely for financial gain, as they are the driving force behind theatrical movements and research in Spain. The association contains pioneers in the art of stage-settings, such as El Canto de la Cabra, in the Chueca district, a place that is transformed to an open-air theatre around an olive tree in summer.
LAS AGUAS THEATRE
A surprise round every corner
Intimacy is one of the intrinsic features of alternative theatre. If added to this is the fact that many of the venues are somewhat off the beaten track, the effect is increased.
A walk through La Latina takes you to Calle Aguas Street. The Las Aguas Theatre is at No. 8, built over a former bakery now converted into the regional centre for Aragon. Programmes include plays put on by its permanent company, El Norte de Venus.
In Gran VÃa, one of the most of theatrical areas in the whole of Europe, musicals abound. On the fringe, there are places with a different kind of theatre. Calle La Reina Street, running parallel to Gran VÃa, hides a tiny, but interesting reference point for theatre lovers. This is DT Espacio Escénico, with as large an audience as one of the latest places to open, the Puerta Estrecha Theatre, named after the narrow door of a hall run by the La Pajarita de Papel Theatre Company, in the heart of traditional Madrid.
This area, Tirso de Molina and Antón MartÃn, is full of theatre fans, mainly due to the efforts of programmers from the Triangulo Theatre, Karpas Theatre, and the La Espada de Madera Theatre. A little further from the centre are the Tarambana, in the Carabanchel district, Ãtaca, in Palos de la Frontera, Liberarte Studio Theatre, in Valdeacederas, and Montacargas Theatre, near to the Puerta del Ãngel underground station.
Some of these places have little children as their most ardent visitors. This is so for the Gurdulú Theatre in Leganés and the Tyl Tyl in Navalcarnero. The best-known halls in Madrid, the Lagrada, Pradillo and Cuarta Pared theatres have special times for children’s functions.
Source: Turismomadrid.com
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