The Teatro Victoria, located in the capital of Durango, is considered the oldest in northern Mexico and one of the few colonial theaters in operation. On February 4, it celebrated its 225th anniversary.
After being built as part of the Palacio de Zambrano, the venue has been a key space for the artistic and cultural scene of the region.
Its construction began in 1798 on the initiative of Juan José Zambrano and ended in 1800 with the name of Teatro Coliseo. Its inauguration took place on February 4 of that year with the play Andrómaca by Euripides.
In its early years, the venue was a cultural meeting point in Durango. The Hymn to Juárez was sung on this stage for the first time, with the presence of Benito Juárez. Later, the theater changed its name to Teatro Principal. In 1908, Jesús Ávila acquired it and carried out a remodeling that was completed in 1909, incorporating ironworks, dressing rooms and four levels.
On the occasion of the centenary of the Independence of Mexico, in 1910 the venue was renamed the Victoria Theater, in honor of General Guadalupe Victoria, the country’s first president. Its reopening took place on July 24 with the theater company of Virginia Fábregas.
In 1926, the theater was converted into a movie theater and maintained this function until 1978, when the “Mary Street” foundation donated it to the National Fund for Social Activities of the State of Durango.
Victoria Theater Anniversary Celebrated
In commemoration of the Victoria Theater, the Institute of Culture of the State of Durango (ICED) organized a conference and unveiling of photographs of two renowned Durango artists for their contribution to the cultural development of the State: Dolores del Río and the teacher Elia María Morelos Favela.
The conference was given by the Historian and Chronicler of Durango, Javier Guerrero Romero, who spoke to a large audience about the origin of the building.
Source: newsweekespanol
