Garrett Theatre
| Teatro Garrett | |
|---|---|
| Address | Rua José Malgueira, 13 |
| City | Póvoa de Varzim |
| Country | Portugal |
| Coordinates | 41°22′48″N 8°45′56″W / 41.3799°N 8.7655°WCoordinates: 41°22′48″N 8°45′56″W / 41.3799°N 8.7655°W |
| Owned by | Póvoa de Varzim City Hall (since 2000) |
| Opened | August 22, 1873 |
| Years active | over 100 |
| Rebuilt | 1890, 2009-2013 |
| Closed | 2005 (for restoration) |
The Garrett Theatre (Portuguese: Teatro Garrett) is a theatre located at Rua José Malgueira Street (former rua da Senra street) in Junqueira quarter, Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. It is one of the historic theatres of Portugal, and some of the best performers of Portuguese, Brazilian and Spanish drama staged, including Ary Fontoura, João Villaret, Laura Alves, Procópio Ferreira, and Ruy de Carvalho. Orchestras, tunas, variety shows, political meetings were also common in Garrett history.
The theatre is named in honor of famed 19th-century Portuguese playwright Almeida Garrett, who got inspiration to write his most famous work Frei Luís de Sousa after watching a play in Póvoa. It opened on August 22, 1873 and was, by far, the theater with most longevity and social impact in the city and its vicinity. The current building is from 1890. In the middle of the 20th century, with the popularization of cinema, it became known as Cine-Teatro Garrett.
History
The earliest known theatre in Póvoa de Varzim was built in 1793 in Campo das Cobras, location of all historical theatres of Póvoa de Varzim. Theater in Póvoa was already common entertainment for beach-goers in the summers of early 19th century. Almeida Garrett most famous work Frei Luís de Sousa was based in one of the plays he watched in Póvoa. Current Garrett Theater was a later initiative from a society of five citizens from the city of Porto, who built an elegant wood building on August 22, 1873.[1]
The popularity of Póvoa de Varzim as a main beach resort for the upper classes of Northern Portugal in late 19th century, prompted the construction of the current building in 1890. It was a fundamental venue for the Povoan society at the time, with impact felt also in Northern Portugal, that came to Póvoa for sea-baths, and several people watched plays, cinema and concerts in there, for the first time in their lives. Several good-will actions were organized in there.
In the early years of the 20th century, Póvoa was the preferential route for the great national and international artists, especially Spanish. it was in Póvoa that the stars of the period initiated their tour in Portugal. It was, in Northern Portugal, the location with more show venues, especially coffee houses with musical entertainment, the café-concerto. Each coffee house brought to Póvoa the best in music, drama, and dance. Garrett Theater was the great theater of this period. The national press highlighted the operetta companies, revue theatrical entertainment and zarzuela that were presented in Garrett. Some of these companies included the Sociedade Artística de Lucinda Simões, Lisbon's Teatro Ginásio and Porto's Teatro Nacional presented in there quality plays, and some premiered in there.[2]
