Teatro Matacandelas: A Small but Popular Theater in Medellín

We provide a guide to Teatro Matacandelas, which is a small but popular theater in Medellín that hosts many events yearly including plays and other performing arts.

Several Medellin Guru readers have asked about the theaters in Medellín. So, we started looking at the theaters in Medellín. And this is the sixth theater we have looked at.

Teatro Matacandelas is the smallest theater we have looked at so far with seating for about 140 spectators. But it is still popular due to events being relatively low cost at this theater.This theater hosts many events each year including plays, concerts and other performing arts.

In addition, this theater is considered an area for alternative culture in Medellin. This theater has young artists and some bohemians attend its many plays and workshops, which often portray young struggling artists.

Note the above photos are courtesy of Teatro Matacandelas.

History of Teatro Matacandelas

Teatro Matacandelas started on January 9, 1979, when eight students under the age of 20 attended a meeting in Envigado organized by Cristóbal Peláez about forming a theater group.

The name for the theater group came from the dictionary. The group wanted to use a word that was a surrealist movement and decided on matacandelas, which means “extinguisher” in English.

The Matacandelas Theater Collective Association is a non-profit organization. And this theater was elevated to the category of Cultural Heritage of the City of Medellin in 1991.

In 1986, they made the jump from Envigado to Medellín and arrived at a house El Centro, in Córdoba. Those days were training, exercise and theatrical experimentation.

Finally, in 1994, they desired to have their own home and moved to Casa de las Ramírez (as the house was called), the theater’s current headquarters. And the theater group became one of the most traveled theater groups in Colombia.

Teatro Matacandelas has gained in recent years a wide recognition in the national and international stage. The theater has been invited to the Theater Festivals of Cádiz, Bogotá and Manizales as well as to tour in some European countries (Portugal, Spain, France and Belgium) in 1993.

In addition, the theater has been to Guatemala in 1994; Venezuela in 1995; Spain and Portugal in 1997; Cuba in 2001, 2007 and 2010; and several other international theater events.

The acceptance of the Teatro Matacandelas typically accounts for more than two hundred annual events performed on average by the group, as well as workshops, artistic evenings and exchanges that are constantly held.

A play at the theater, photo courtesy of Teatro Matacandelas

Events at the Theater

Since Teatro Matacandelas was founded, it has held a total of over 5,100 events. In addition, Teatro Matacandelas has produced more than 52 of its own works, among them about 12 hand puppet shows.

This theater offers a varied program throughout the year. The events at the theater have included plays, concerts, workshops and other performing arts. And this theater posts events on the Teatro Matacandelas website and on the theater’s Facebook page.

Furthermore, Medellin Guru covers Medellín events, which we update weekly. And we plan to include any notable events at this theater of interest to foreigners in our weekly event calendar.

Inside the theater, photo courtesy of Teatro Matacandelas

Buying Tickets

Events listed on the Teatro Matacandelas website will have a button to buy tickets.

Tickets at this theater generally are cheaper than at some of larger theaters in the city. For example, for three recent events, the ticket prices ranged from 20,000 to 48,000 pesos. And some events at this theater have lower priced tickets available for children.

Teatro Matacandelas is located about an 8-minute walk from the San Antonio metro station

How to Get to Teatro Matacandelas

This theater is located in El Centro. One way to get there is by using the Medellín Metro. To get there take the A Line to the San Antonio metro station and the theater is located about an 8-minute walk from the metro station.

Taxis are another options to get to this theater from your location. Just provide the driver the address below:

Website: http://www.matacandelas.com/index.html

Address: Calle 47 # 43 – 47, El Centro, Medellín

Phone: +57 4 215 1010

Theaters in Medellín

So far on the Medellin Guru website we have looked six theaters in the Medellín metro area:

1. Universidad de Medellín Teatro – the largest theater in Medellín located on the University of Medellín campus – with capacity for 1,702 spectators.
2. Teatro Metropolitano José Gutiérrez Gómez – one of the largest theaters in Medellín – with capacity for 1,634 spectators.
3. Teatro Lido – a popular theater in El Centro where all events are free – with capacity for 1,100 spectators.
4. Teatro Pablo Tobón Uribe – a popular theater in El Centro – with capacity for 923 spectators
5. Pequeno Teatro – a small but popular theater in El Centro – with capacity in its larger space for about 400 spectators.
6. Teatro Matacandelas – a very small but intimate theater in El Centro that is popular – with capacity for about 140 spectators.

Also, we plan to look at a few additional theaters in the Medellín area in detail plus publish a comprehensive guide to all the theaters in Medellín.

Teatro Matacandelas in Medellín

The Bottom Line: Teatro Matacandelas in Medellín

Teatro Matacandelas is an emblematic theater, which in January 2019 celebrated its 40^th anniversary. The plays and other performing arts events at this theater are mostly original and are worth seeing if you speak sufficient Spanish.

Teatro Matacandelas is very small theater that hasn’t been discovered by many foreigners. But it’s a popular theater in Medellín for locals and it has many events each year ranging from plays, concerts and other performing arts.

There are normally several events at this theater weekly. Also, we plan to include notable events at this theater in our Medellín Events calendar that is updated weekly.

I have been to a few plays at this theater over the past eight years and it’s a very small theater that is much more intimate than the larger theaters in the city.

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