The Spanish Government donates to Morocco the Gran Teatro Cervantes, a theater that was for decades one of the most important cultural places in the city of Tangier. This irrevocable assignment will enter into force on March 1. The agreement was carried out in 2019 but has not been finalized until now. From the AMIThE association they ask “that ties with Spain not be closed and point out that the theater program could serve as a vehicle between Spanish and Moroccan culture”.
The next March 1 the Gran Teatro Cervantes will become the jurisdiction of the city of Tangier, Morocco. This has been published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) this Saturday, referring to the protocol between the two kingdoms published on March 20, 2019. This theater belonged to Spain for almost a hundred years.
Four years ago Joseph Borrell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation agreed with the Moroccan authorities the transfer of the theater. However, it is not until now, when the transfer of the Government of Spain to Mohamed V.
Publication of the BOE where the “irrevocable donation of the Gran Teatro Cervantes” is expressed.
The protocol between the two kingdoms published in 2019 refers to the “historical relations and friendship” of both countries, establishes that it is an irrevocable donation and determines the obligations to which Morocco is committed.
Among them, that the Government of Morocco becomes “responsible for restore the building in its entirety, respecting the original architecture” as well as will be in charge of “defending all the costs of restoration, renovation, management and maintenance”. The restoration should be carried out in a maximum of three years.
In addition, the name of the theater and its cultural activity must be maintained, as well as promoting the cultures of both countries (Spain and Morocco). The Spanish State may also participate in the theater and propose cultural activities.
Gran Teatro Cervantes in Tangier.
In the same document, it is established that in order to monitor the restoration, management and programming, a Mixed Commission will be constituted with members of both parties.
The Gran Teatro Cervantes, more than a century of history
The Gran Teatro Cervantes was built in 1913 thanks to the efforts of Hope Orellanafrom her husband Manuel Pena and the owner Antonio Gallego. Its capacity was 1,400 seats.
Years later, in 1928, the Cervantes Theater in Tangier was donated by its owners to the Spanish State. It was one of the most important buildings in the city dedicated to cultural purposes. It had great relevance during the 50s and the best theater companies and great stars such as Concha Piquer, Lola Flores, Pepe Blanco or Manolo Caracol. It was a link between Arab and Spanish culture.
Great Cervantes Theater.
However, from 1970 it was closed and ended up abandoned and deteriorated by the passage of time. This situation of the building aroused complaints from various associations and the interest of various journalists in its condition. The theater has a incalculable architectural and cultural value that requires a large investment for its rehabilitation.
The donation
Association sources AMIThE explain to elcierreditigal.com who a few years ago sent a proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The association AMIthE (Friends of the Historical Theaters of Spain), together with the organization Dance of Civilizations, we proposed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the theater be rehabilitated from Spain and could serve as a cultural center for the Instituto Cervantes for all of North Africa. However, the proposal ultimately did not go anywhere, ”they say.
The years went by and the theater deteriorated even more. Years later, Morocco submitted to Spain the request for transfer of ownership of the theater, so that they would be the ones to rehabilitate it.
Great Cervantes Theater.
This agreement was signed in 2019, before the pandemic and it has taken 4 years to ratify the transfer agreement by the Spanish State. “Although it has been sold as a political transfer from the Government of Spain, it is preferable that the Kingdom of Morocco be the one to rehabilitate it than to lose the theater. It is not a political transfer, it is a transfer of a historical artistic property in the city of Tangier linked to Spain to be rehabilitated”, these AMIThE sources emphasize to elcierredigital.com.
The AMITHE association asks that “the name of Cervantes not be lost and that it be restored in accordance with the artistic, historical and architectural criteria that this theater has always had as a gala. We regret the four years that have been lost and we also ask that they not be closed the links with Spain and that the programming can serve as a vehicle between the Spanish and Moroccan culture and between the French, Arabic and Spanish languages”they conclude.
