The El Albéitar Theater celebrated this Thursday the launch of the renovation works of the facilities that, once completed, allow the public to enjoy cultural programming with greater comforts and optimized technical characteristics. A new stage in which cinema, music and theater will continue to be the protagonists, as they have been in the scheme that has been followed since 1992.
During these almost 30 years of travel, Pepe Tabernero, current programmer of cultural activities of the University of Leon (ULE), has been the visible head of the renovated space. Nobody like him to describe the trajectory of a theater that has offered more than 5,000 activities to Leonese. “We only do repetitions in theater groups, but always representing different works. There are very few musicians who have repeated and in the cinematographic offer the same thing happens: a film has never been shown twice,” Pepe Tabernero tells this newspaper.
Unique proposals, like the one this Thursday afternoon. And it is that the act in which a plaque in memory of this reform was discovered gave way to a free concert that served to inaugurate the piano that the ULE has acquired. At his keys was Vadim Gaddok, who accompanied on the violin by Inés Issel he delighted the audience with pieces by Beethoven, Szymanowski, Edvard Grieg or Pablo Sarasate.
The renovation of the interior and exterior of the building has meant a facelift in a theater with capacity for 200 people. The acoustic component has been enhanced, with sound panels on the ceiling and the placement of special doors, and the air conditioning, floors and seats have been improved. Everything so that the public can enjoy more than ever what is coming before Christmas. “We stopped for the bridge, but the following week we have a series of jazz, classical music and flamenco. Also a theatrical performance before Christmas, to finish a cycle that we are organizing with the Musac on the fall of the wall, a film series Argentine and we continue with the activities in the exhibition halls … “, explains the programmer of cultural activities of the University.
Induce to think
Cultural proposals with which the ULE seeks to offer an attractive complement to the training given at the Vegazana Campus. In this way, Pepe Tabernero considers that in the El Albéitar Theater programming it has always been, and will continue to do so, for content and activities different from those that can be found in other cultural spaces in the city of León. “With respect to the rest of the city’s programming, the one we offer here must be differentiated, alternative and with serious content. That is, it is not about entertainment for entertainment but about issues that induce us to think, to train … We must have Always take into account that they are training activities “, assesses the head of the renovated theater.
Regarding the response from the public, especially from the university community, Pepe Tabernero assures that it is “acceptable”. Although he believes that society is currently going through moments in which youth is “not very participatory”, the cultural programmer of the ULE considers that the cultural offer “It works better than in other spaces of this type.” In addition, in the opinion of Tabernero, the University should always bet on this service “regardless of the answer.”
In addition, with the current health crisis situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, “you can see that there is fear” and activities such as the showing of films “you can see that they have hit a significant downturn, as worldwide.” The cinematographic offer that Tabernero and his team propose to the people of León is “unconventional” but they trust that the variety of programming and the promotion of renovated facilities will continue to attract society, especially university students, to fill their seats.
Precisely, on the occasions when it is foreseeable that the El Albéitar Theater reaches full capacity, the events organized by this department of the ULE are transferred to the Ciudad de León Auditorium. Pepe Tabernero also emphasizes that the facilities that have been renovated should be understood “more like a multipurpose room, than as a normal theater”. “It forms a complex next to the auditorium for 500 people and the Gordón Ordás conference room, within the ULE government pavilion”, the cultural promoter of the University values.
The El Albéitar Theater thus opens a new stage in which it hopes to continue offering cultural alternatives to the people of León. Whether they are university or not. Whether they are film, music or theater.
– .
