For two decades, every July, Olmedo has renewed its firm commitment to classical theater, a first-class cultural heritage forged with the powerful raw material of the language and the literary expressions that enrich it.
This deep-rooted theatrical idyll in the heart of the vast Castile region ultimately finds its origins in Lope de Vega. Unwittingly, the Phoenix of Wits sowed an unwavering vocation for the stage in this historic town, rich in culture, art, and gastronomy, whose name became inextricably linked to one of the greatest titles of universal theater.
The carefully integrated and focused program allows an increasingly large and experienced audience to enjoy a select variety of shows. The festival has its epicenter in the Corrala del Palacio del Caballero, a unique magic theater, whose stage is set against the backdrop of the medieval wall, witness to so many crucial events of the past. In each edition, the festival strives to present the diversity of authors, genres, periods, and territories encompassed by European classical theater, as well as the multiple dramaturgical and aesthetic perspectives explored by professional companies. The most prestigious national and international ensembles have graced its stage.
Likewise, the San Pedro Performing Arts Center, the result of the restoration of the Baroque church of the Convent of La Merced, with its splendid Churrigueresque plasterwork vault, has hosted key figures in the study, direction, performance, and management of theater in the "Classical Theater Conference," an enriching meeting place where academics and theater professionals engage with each other and with the public. Specialized acting courses, exhibitions, and publications complete this comprehensive program that invites you to explore the classics from all contemporary perspectives.
