Cultural Developments: Antonio Banderas Opens New Theatre Training And Cultural Centre In Malaga

If you’ve always imagined taking to the stage, or just have an interest in theatre or the wider arts then it’s an exciting week. Antonio Banderas and his business partner Domingo Sánchez have finally unveiled their project which has been a real labour of love.

A new theatre training and cultural centre located in the heart of Andalucia, Banderas has enthusiastically referred to the building as “a cathedral”.

The project is called Sohrlin Andalucía and the space is huge, covering 8,000 square metres. This is clearly a labour of love for Antonio Banderas who is from Malaga. Wondering where you can find this new building? It’s been built in the old Misericordia warehouses, right by the sea.

What Is Sohrlin Andalucia?

It would be an understatement to simply refer to Sohrlin Andalucia as a theatre school. This is a huge space dedicated to all things cultural that will create, produce, provide training for and distribute shows for people to enjoy in the region. The centre has been described as "a 360-degree centre" and it opened its doors for the first-time last Friday.

There’s nothing else like this in Spain, and that’s why Banderas built it. He said at the opening "Sohrlin is a set of different performing arts in the same space that houses the exhibition and production of shows, including the circus, new technologies and a technical school that one rarely comes across because almost all of them are artistic."

So, what else will the space do? As well as setting up shows, as mentioned above, it will also be a training centre for stage specialities, a top-notch performance and rehearsal facility, an exhibition complex for shows for up to a thousand people and an artistic residence. "I don't know of a building that houses everything that we are housing in this enormous shoebox."

It is clear that Banderas is delighted with this project, which he intends to be a national and international cultural icon.

What Is The Format Of Sohrlin Andalusia?

The project covers a whopping 8,000 square metres, and this has been divided into 2 distinct buildings. The more distinguished, smaller one is the building that serves as the main entrance on Calle Almonte - at the back of La Térmica - where the main reception, offices and a grand piano are set up to welcome visitors.

The main hall of the building can hold up to 3,500 people at any one time. This area includes an auditorium for 1,000 people, an immersive room, a training school and an artist residency.

On the first floor of this building, you’ll find the Sohrlin School’s training rooms. The second-floor houses charming and modern accommodation for artists and students with room for 30 people. These residences will be opened for use in October, and have the feel of an urban hotel, rather than a school dormitory.

The building has been so cleverly designed, using modern architectural feats and audiovisual technologies, that up to five productions can be staged at the same time.

How Much Did The Project Cost?

Money is always a question when projects of this size and scale are opened in any city, but Banderas and his team wouldn’t share the final cost figure of the project. A "millionaire" investment was all that the promoters were giving away.

On the public funding side, Sohrlin Andalucía already has a sponsorship of two million euros provided by the Junta's culture department with EU funds.

Who Can Attend The School?

Unlike many theatre schools, Sohrlin Andalucia will have a strong focus on the technical side of the stage rather than the performance elements. The content and technical trades related to the audiovisual sector and the performing arts will be the focus here, leading to recognised degrees and also private master classes.

The teaching offer is fundamentally technical, with specialisations in characterisation, lighting, stage management, production, sound, costumes, machinery and scenography, among others.

And who will be teaching these classes? "We are going to bring in the best, many of whom are Spanish experts" according to Banderas.

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