Comedy barn

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the corral de comedias was a model of public theatre permanently installed in the open air in the courtyards and interior corrals that separated the neighbourhood buildings of the large cities. These were the spaces where the plays of the Golden Age by authors such as Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina and Calderón de la Barca were performed. In these places, both the humble classes and the kings, nobles and prelates enjoyed theatre in its comedies format, who were able to attend and enjoy the three genres that comedies encompassed: tragedy, drama and comedy. The Corral de la Montería was a playhouse that began to be built in the Alcázar of Seville in 1625, commissioned by Philip IV, who wanted to be able to watch theatrical performances from a room of his own. The work was completed in 1626 and had an oval floor plan. Its walls were made of brick and wooden pillars, the seats and roofs were made of pine and it had iron balconies. The social and economic crisis of the second half of the 17th century prompted the city council, in 1679, to ask the Crown to prohibit theatrical performances in this place, as a gesture of Christian piety. After this, the corral was no longer used for theatrical purposes.

Collection: Images

Project: 11. Science and culture as representation in Europe., 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity.

Chronology: XVII

Scope: Primary Education, Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/rutasteatro/es/02_034.html

Resource type: Image

Format: Drawing on paper

Source: Agencia Andaluza de Instituciones Culturales. Consejería de Cultura y Patrimonio Histórico. Junta de Andalucía.

Language: Spanish

Date: 1691

Owner: María del Mar Felices de la Fuente (Modernalia)

Identifier: Galería_051

Abstract: Everyday life. Elevation and floor plan of the corral of La Montería, located in the Real Alcázar of Seville, where comedies were performed.

Image