The Cervantes Theatre in London, established seven years ago as the only dedicated Spanish-language theatre in the capital, will close its doors due to lacking funds.
ADVERTISEMENTOpened in 2016 in Southwark, south London, the Cervantes Theatre has staged 106 plays, concerts and events, as well as producing 15 theatre productions. As an educational tool, the theatre has been attended by over 11,000 Spanish students and teachers from 611 schools and 47 universities.
Through its bilingual programming, the Cervantes Theatre has spent seven years bringing a range of theatre, from Spanish Golden Age classics through to contemporary work and new writing to a British audience.
Sadly, this will all come to an end with today’s announcement that the theatre “has to close its doors due to lack of financial support,” according to Jorge de Juan and Paula Paz, the company’s founders and directors.
The press conference for the theatre’s closure wasn’t even able to be held in the theatre space, as it had closed its doors with immediate effect.
“This key that so proudly served to open the Cervantes Theatre for seven years is no longer valid,” said De Juan. “The theatre is now closed. Only a miracle or a last-minute call could help to try to reopen it, but the support is not coming.”
Even with that magic call of support, De Juan recognised that the decision was largely out of his hands: “We would have to speak with the owners of the space."
Having been founded the same year the UK voted to leave the EU, the course for a Spanish-language theatre in London was never going to be smooth. The space had been largely funded by the Acción Cultural Española as well as the Arts Council England and Southwark Council.
Acción Cultural Española provides around €80,000 to the theatre annually. Paz noted that the theatre would need at least €200,000 to survive, more than the company were able to pull in with their 100-seat space.
“It is always sad to see a theatre close,” Paz said. “Above all, after having seen the transformative power of culture and the open window that this space has been for both the Hispanic community and the British public.”
