For 30 years, the Chinchilla Classical Theatre Festival has offered the perfect opportunity for all lovers of the classics to enjoy top-quality theatrical productions over 10 days at the end of June. The festival features plays that reflect a wide variety of eras, genres, styles, and authors, ranging from classical Greece and the Spanish Golden Age to modern works, including new creations, dramaturgy, and texts based on classical theatre.
The festival was founded in 1996 with the aim of bringing classical theatre to the public. The choice of Chinchilla de Montearagón, located on a hill overlooking the Albacete plain, was due to its historical significance and rich artistic heritage, where cultures, artistic styles, and ways of life converge, narrating the evolution of Castile from its ancient roots to the present day.
The performances take place in a very special and unique setting: the Cloister of the Convent of Santo Domingo, a Gothic-Mudéjar building dating from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Its elegant arches and balanced Renaissance galleries reflect the serenity of convent life, which for centuries formed part of the city's history. The central courtyard, open to the outside, the sobriety of the stonework, and the harmony of its proportions make this cloister the ideal setting for theatrical performances.
Another of the festival's key objectives is the training of both audience members and teachers, recognizing their role as multipliers and motivators in their school and institute classes on classical theater. Thus, this festival also includes the "TeatralizaTE" program, which brings together members of the theater companies and specialists in literature and history with teachers and the general public to study and discuss the works, authors, and periods of the various performances. These sessions take place in the majestic 16th-century building of Las Tercias, whose name derives from the "royal tithes," the portion of ecclesiastical taxes that belonged to the Crown of Castile. Inside, three rows of Doric columns support successive semicircular arches.
The festival also includes other activities for families, street performances, and the opportunity to discover a city with a medieval soul, balconies overlooking the La Mancha landscape, and charming corners. Its extensive monumental heritage combines history, tradition, and authenticity: its imposing castle, visible from miles away; the network of narrow streets; stately homes; remnants of city walls; convents and churches, among which the Church of Santa María del Salvador stands out with its diverse architectural styles; and the Plaza de la Mancha, where the Baroque façade of the town hall, adorned with a bust of King Charles III, is a highlight. The cave dwellings popularly known as the Caves of the Hole, whose origins date back to the period of Arab rule, are situated in a privileged, exceptionally tranquil and intimate natural setting. They provide the ideal backdrop for a stop during a tour of the city's monuments and landscapes.
Ultimately, each edition of the festival in Chinchilla offers an excellent program, but it is up to the large audience to enjoy it, evaluate it, and share it. This is how the festival continues to grow. As every year, you are invited to our theatrical and cultural feast. Enjoy!
