The Theatre Circo () is a 20th-century, Portuguese revivalist theatre, in the civil parish of São João do Souto, municipality of Braga. Designed by the architect João de Moura Coutinho, it was first inaugurated on 21 April 1915 with a performance of Ruggero Leoncavallo's operetta La reginetta delle rose ().
Following a storied history that included the first talking films, operas and public performances, the building was restored by the municipal council of Braga, and reopened in 2006.
History
On 25 February 1907, during a session of the municipal council of Braga, which was convened to approve the transfer of buildings, terrains and dependencies of the unoccupied Convent of Remédios (), owing to the planned expansion of the Avenida da Liberidade. The president of the municipal council, through the treasurer, took control of the Convent and the dependencies on the 19th of September, and the next day the demolition of the belvedre, towards the Rua das Águas began.
The need for a new theatre had already become manifest in the artistic community around 1906. At the time the small São Geraldo Theatre (along the Avenida Central with Rua dos Chãos) was the only space used for theatre and cinema, but the larger Portuguese theatre companies could not stage any of their theatrical presentations in the limited stage. Artur José Soares, José António Velosos and Cândido Martins Iiderarm formed the Sociedade do Teatro Circo, and began collecting the materials from the demolished Convent on 16 December 1907.
The construction of the theatre began in 1911, under the supervision of architect João de Moura Coutinho, and continued until 1915 (with a capacity for 1500 people). On 21 April 1911, the theatre was inaugurated with the presentation of the operetta Rainha das Rosas (La reginetta delle rose) by Ruggero Leoncavallo, performed by the Éden Teatro de Lisboa company, under the direction of Luiz Galhardo, and starring Palmira Bastos in the principal role. The following day the actress participated in the unveiling of two marble plaques, in her honour, and to the architect Moura Coutinho for the new building.
The first film was presented on 27 June 1911; Aventuras de Catalina, this was the beginning of a six-year rental agreement with the Sociedade do Teatro Circo. Theatre production was eventually succeeded by the circus, when the Companhia Equestre de W. Frediani began residing in the new hall between May 27 and June 13, 1915. In 1917, the administration of the Theatre Circo acquired the shares of the São Geraldo, selling the building to the Banco de Portugal. Between August 1919 and February 1920, the contractors closed the theatre in order to remodel the main hall. The first opera was sung in 1922. Three years later (January 1925), the rental contract came to maturity, and the Teatro Circo returned to direct administration by the Sociedade.
In October 1927, the administrative council of the Teatro Circo ended its direct administration of the theatre, which passed to José Luís da Costa, a businessman from the Theatre Garrett in Póvoa de Varzim. As a result, in 1928, the first Portuguese cinema began appearing in the theatre, including Fátima Milagrosa and O Primo Basílio, and in October 1930, the first talking pictures, with the reel O Cantor Louco. In 1933, the theatre began running as a concession of José Luís da Costa's businesses, which brought different programs alternating between theatre, circus, cinema and musicals.
On 21 April 1935, celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the Theatre Circo was inaugurated. Similar festivities were celebrated on 21 April 1940, marking the silver anniversary of the institution, that include performances by tenor Ascenso de Siqueira Freire. Between 1943 and 1950, the prosperity of the theatre reached its peak, and were then followed by a period of remodelling in order to beautify the structure.
A 1958 report presented at the general assembly suggested that there a feeling of crisis, with the introduction of television in local cafés.
On 5 October, the Theatre Circo inaugurated the Hall of Cinema Estúdio.
On 16 February 1983, the group of buildings along the Avenida da Liberdade, which included the Theatre Circo obtained the IGESPAR status of group of properties of public interest.
Around July 1984, the CENA Companhia Profissional de Teatro de Braga is established, and in 1987, the group signed an accord with the Teatro Circo, to occupy space in the great hall.