The “corral de comedias” at Tecali de Herrera, Mexico

Abstract

Conceived as vernacular theatres during the Spanish Golden Age, the “corrales de comedias” (much like London’s Globe Theatre though rectangular in plan) represent the transition from street performances into fixed constructions built solely for theatrical representations. Mexico City was the first in New Spain to build its own “corral”, in 1597. The one at Tecali de Herrera was located on one of the plots next to the main plaza. For many years forgotten, it was not until 1979 that the governor of the state of Puebla became interested in it and started restoration works. An absolut lack of attention had only deepened its already profound state of deterioration and not much remained of the original building; therefore, a great amount of research was needed to discover the original layout. From this research, along with the plan, the materials used, and the balustrades, it is possible to assume that the “corral” was built at the end of the Eighteenth Century or at the beginning of the Nineteenth. According to locals the “corral de comedias” was abandoned at the time of the Mexican Revolution, for the structure of the roof was used by battalions as wood fire and for cooking. Restoration work finished in 1980, and the theatre was renamed as Teatro Gregorio de Gante. Today, the “corral” has once again fallen into oblivion, rendering it almost useless. Once again, its restoration has become of primary importance, for it is the only building in the country that, although horseshoe shaped, holds many formal aspects of the more traditional, rectangular “corrales”, such as its small scale, wooden roofs, and the simple design of stage, circle and aisles.