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Leal Theatre in San Cristóbal de La Laguna

The Leal Theatre is located on Obispo Rey Redondo Street, in the UNESCO World Heritage City of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife – Canary Islands).

It was built in 1915 by Antonio Leal, based on designs by architect Antonio Pintor Ocete. The building is distinctly eclectic in style. Its façade is characterized by a profusion of floral, animal, and human figures, all created by López Ruiz. Inside, the highlight is the mural and ceiling paintings, works by López Ruiz and Manuel Verdugo. The theatre was widely used for a variety of performances and is particularly renowned for hosting the first film screenings in La Laguna, thanks to the famous businessman brothers Juan and Antonio de la Cruz.

In 1984, the Leal Theatre appeared in the first census of public theatre spaces conducted by the Theatrical Documentation Centre and was included in the list of public theatres that should be restored.

In 1990, it was closed to the public due to problems with its roof. A year later (1991), a technical report commissioned by the La Laguna City Council revealed that it was one of the few theatres that had not received access to public funding for restoration.

In 2000, the Ministry of Public Works and the Cabildo of Tenerife commissioned architect Ángel Luis Fernández Muñoz to draft the restoration and renovation project for the theatre. This project was completed in September 2000. In 2001, the Ministry of Public Works of the Government of Spain assigned the direction of the project to architect Ladislao Díaz Márquez. After a series of complications, the restoration work on the Leal Theatre was completed in the summer of 2008.

The week of September 8–13 was dedicated to guided tours of the main auditorium and the new rehearsal room located on the rooftop of the building.

The inauguration concert was held on September 18, 2008. After the restoration, the total seating capacity became 608 spectators.