Image by Elia García García

Alfil is a mix between a commercial and alternative theatre. This small place in the city centre is almost totally dedicated to humour, not to expensive productions, not classic plays, but usually little and always funny performances. Most of the time there is no other objective than pure entertainment. Each season Alfil repeats some successful shows from previous years.

There are some companies that do shows at Teatro Alfil every year: Yllana (they are the owners of Alfil too!), Impromadrid, Sexpeare…

Some of the plays are difficult to understand if you don’t speak Spanish. However, many others, (Yllana’s plays, for example) are gestual theatre, so it’s not necessary to know the language. The place has a bar to have a drink before the show.

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Teatro Alfil | Bars, Theaters | From € 12.00
Pez 10 | Chueca & Malasaña | +34915214541
Tue – Sun

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Image by La Escalera de Jacob

In Lavapiés’s heart, the most ethnic and bohemian neighborhood of Madrid, La Escalera de Jacob (Jacob’s ladder, like the film) is located.

La Escalera de Jacob is a space dedicated to the artistic creation out of the conventional circuits. Every day you can find an extensive programme of activities there, especially, small format theatre (from 5 to 12 euros) and concerts, but also films and workshops.

There are two rooms in the low floor where these acts take place. But you can also go there simply for a drink on the terrace (when the weather allows it) and in the upper floor, you’ll find a young and good ambient, warm and with a magic and dark touch. Now, there is another Escalera that maintains that personality in La Latina neighborhood, in Mancebos Street.

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La Escalera de Jacob | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Theaters | Cocktail € 8
Lavapiés 11 | Lavapies & Latina | +34649423254
Mon – Wed 19:00 – 01:00, Thu – Fri 19:00 – 02:30, Sat 11:00 – 02:30, Sun 11:00 – 01:00

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Image by Andrés de Gabriel

“Matadero Madrid is a lively, constantly changing space at the service of creative processes, participatory artistic training and dialog between the arts”, as they well define themselves.

El Matadero is an impressive reinterpretation of several buildings that were used as a slaughterhouse and meat market in the past. The architects have respected the industrial spirit, keeping the walls and the big pipes, and mixed it with materials like plastic or crystals and original decorative elements give it an absolutely avant-garde aspect.

Matadero’s figures can scare you. The Madrid Council has 148.350 m2 dedicated to art, design and performances… In 2009 alone Matadero organized more than 200 activities. Most of them for free!

I have visited especially “las Naves del Español”, a great theatre inside one of the buildings. They usually program big and surprising performances for about 25 euro.

At the entrance, there is a nice bar to have a beer or something to eat before or after the performance. In the different buildings and in the patio you can assist in design expos, concerts and video art shows… it’s a training place and meeting point for creators, institutions, programmers, cultural managers, critics, and synthesizing, professionals of design and art. Matadero opens for professionals from Tuesday to Friday, from 11:00 to 14:00.

El Matadero is in the South (more south than Lavapies) but it’s relatively close to the city center if you go by underground.

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El Matadero de Madrid | Art & culture, Theaters, Festivals & events | Free
Paseo de la Chopera 14 | Lavapies & Latina | +34915177309
Tue – Fri 16:00 – 22:00. Sat – Sun 11:00 – 22:00

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Image by Teatro Tribueñe

Close to the bullring of Las Ventas, this little but very well equipped Sala Tribueñe it’s one of the many alternative theatres that you can find in Madrid.

The performances of its program are mostly self-produced under the direction of the Russian Irina Kouberskaya, who also teaches a weekly theatre class in Tribueñe.

The program of the theatre can surprise the audience with plays of Chejov, Federico García Lorca or a musical comedy.

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Teatro Tribueñe | Theaters | Ticket € 15..00
Sancho Dávila 31 | Salamanca Area | +34912427727
From Thu – Sun

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Image by Teatro Asura

Escuela de Teatro Asura is a school for helping amateurs or professionals to express, communicate and feel through theatre. I’ve been studying here for more than three years because the teachers make it easy and funny to learn. They are really nice, close to the students and flexible.

You can go for a free trial lesson. If you’re student you can request to use the place if you want to rehearse or perform. Asura is somehow specialized in clown and improv theatre (where actors and actresses create a play based on the suggestions of the audience).

In addition, Asura offers other regular courses or short workshops focused on interpretation (in a more classical way), body expression, dance, hospital clown… and even theatre courses for children.

Every now and then you can also go for a free performance by the students as they practice with audience. I don’t know why but in Asura there are always a great number of foreigner students.

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Escuela de Teatro Asura | Art & culture, Theaters | Per month € 65
Abel 1 | Chamberi | +34915331565
Mon 16:00 – 17:30, Wed 16:30 – 18:00, Sat 14:30 – 16:00

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Image by Teatro Circo Price

Thomas Price was an Irish horse-breaker descendant of an acrobat family who arrived in Madrid in 1847 and founded a circus in this city.

The second Price circus was inaugurated in 2007 in his honor. It’s the only circus installed in a building in Spain that offers spectacles all throughout the year. And not only circus shows, whether traditional or avant-garde, but also music concerts, expositions, workshops, dancing, private events…

The main hall (there are three) is very spacious and attractive with a great ring. There’s also a café.

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Teatro Circo Price | Art & culture, Music, Theaters | Entrance adults € 25
Ronda de Valencia 35 | Lavapies & Latina | +34915288122
Daily

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Image by http://www.teatropordinero.com/

This really is one of the most exciting performance projects going on in the city at the moment. Originating from an idea in November 2009 which spread via word of mouth and social media ‘Microteatro Por Dinero’ (Tiny Theatre for Money) was born.

The initial project took place in an old bordello and over 50 artists participated. In its current alluring location in a previously seedy part of town you get to see short performances of 10-15 minutes in length, while you have a drink in the theatre bar.

At the ticket booth you choose your short performance for 3 Euros and you will be told when your next showing is and then when the green light comes on for you performance you will be lead by a host to one of the small underground rooms.

I saw three performances when I went all thematically revolving around death in the wider sense of the word (apt I thought as I was celebrating my 30th Birthday and mulling over entering this new decade). Depending on when you go (check the website) the performances can revolve around gastronomy, sex, love and God for example and change every few weeks. Over the summer months they are running sessions to do with superheroes, holidays and boredom.

There are many professional performers and directors involved. Also check out the daytime events which are aimed at performance for children. I love the fact that you can spend an evening ‘consuming’ performance in this way.

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Microteatro Por Dinero | Art & culture, Theaters | 15 minute performance € 3
Calle Loreto y Chicote, 9 | Gran Via & Princesa | +349113977882
Thu – Sat first show 20:30 – last show 22:50, Sun first show 19:30 – last show 21:55

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid

Image by Blanco y Negro Studio

The Tabacalera has become one of the most vibrant cultural spaces in the city. In the eclectic ‘barrio’ of Lavapies, you can visit a huge self-managed thriving cultural arts centre. Housed in an old tobacco factory, either a happy result of lack of funds to develop it further or simply a way of promoting a thriving creative vibe in the city, you will find a space reminiscent of old factory spaces in Berlin.

There is a daily offer of film screenings, exhibitions, courses and performances and all organized in a quite ad-hoc manner. Beer is only one euro and the place is full of Madrileños absorbing the energy that really is all around. New activities around cooking are on the program with a communal open kitchen on some days – check out the website!

You can leave your second hand clothes and come away with fashion finds of your own in the clothes recycling area. There is occasional dancing scheduled as well from salsa, swing to paso dobles and other traditional Spanish variations.

Initially this place was meant to only be open until March 2011 but now by popular demand and some negotiation with the city council it has been granted further life..

All activities at the Tabacalera are free and there really is a buzz about the place at the moment.

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La Tabacalera | Art & culture, Cinemas, Music, Theaters | Free
Calle Embajadores, 53 | Lavapies & Latina
Check website for opening times

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Madrid