Teatro de Binondo
type: Item
Type of information: Performance venue
Field: architecture
City: Manila
Country: Philippines
context: When the old camarin-type theater in Arroceros, Manila was razed by fire in 1845, the colonial government thought of replacing it with a more durable one. Authorities identified a possible theater site in Calle San Jacinto, Binondo previously occupied by nipa houses that were gutted by a fire. The Teatro de Binondo or Theater of Binondo was constructed in 1846, built at a cost of 30,000 pesos from the funds of the Caja de Carriedo and Obras Pias. The theater an arcaded façade and a balustraded balcony in the second floor. Inside were tiered orchestra seats, an upper gallery, and VIP boxes. It had a café, a billiards room, offices for theater staff, and interior gardens.
context: Teatro de Binondo’s first theater company was managed by the impresario Jose Bosch with Manuel Zaragoza as stage director. Here, native and mestizo actors staged Spanish dramas and other performances. The theater fell into hard times in later years and by 1860 it was already referred to as the Teatro Antiguo de Binondo (Old Theater of Binondo). Its owner then, Antonio Enriquez, converted the theater into small sheds and living units for rent to Chinese workers. The theater building was seriously damaged by the disastrous earthquake of 1863. It was no longer revived or rehabilitated for theater purposes. Thus, ended the life of the Teatro de Binondo, the first formal Spanish theater in the Philippines.
context: In 1790, Teatro de Binondo, the first Spanish theater in the Philippines, was built. It was owned by a certain Don Narciso de Escosura and was located along Calle San Jacinto in Binondo area. Many Filipinos and Spanish alike, especially those from the upper social class, frequented this theater to watch Spanish plays like zarzuela. This recreation so became important to Filipino culture that many other theaters were established in other parts of the country, namely Teatro Circo de Bilibid, Teatro Circo de Zorilla (a theater for the elites), Teatro Circo de Porvenir (where Andres Bonifacio and Macario Sakay acted) and Teatro Guinol Chino (to accommodate Chinese audiences), among many others.
Building date: 1846-01-01T00:00:00Z
Canon image ID: 2218