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A theatre and cultural centre that has sat empty and deteriorating in Los Alcázares for 18 years is finally being brought back to life, with the town council investing €1 million in its restoration and the doors expected to open by the end of 2027.

 

It was originally built under an agreement between the council and a private company, which constructed the theatre in exchange for a 75-year lease on a nearby plot of land to build a private care home. The company eventually dissolved without ever building the residence, meaning the theatre cost the council nothing to build, although it now needs significant investment to bring it back into use.

 

Restoration work is already under way. Graffiti-covered walls have been repainted, doors and staircases have been refreshed, the bathrooms have been renovated, new wiring has been installed to replace cabling lost to copper theft and air conditioning is due to be fitted shortly. The lifts passed an initial safety check and a full report is currently being prepared to secure the occupancy permit.

 

The finished building will be split into two main areas. The cultural centre section will come first, with the spacious skylit lobby used for art and photography exhibitions. From there, the ground floor leads to a cafeteria and into the main theatre, which features a large stage, dressing rooms and multipurpose spaces behind it.

 

The plan is to keep the two tiers of seating while fitting the orchestra pit with a removable seat system, making it flexible enough for both seated and standing audiences.

 

This will make it “the first auditorium in the Mar Menor region capable of hosting concerts with standing or seated audiences,” according to mayor Mario Ginés Pérez Cervera.

 

Outside, a garden is planned on the triangular plot at the entrance, incorporating sculptures by Alcantarilla artist Miguel Belchí that were originally installed on the rooftop.