View source for Teatro Maria Matos

{{Infobox building
| name             = Maria Matos
| native_name      = Teatro Maria Matos
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| image            = Teatro Municipal Maria Matos 8958.jpg
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| image_caption    = The lateral facade of the hotel/cultural centre Teatro Maria Matos 
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| location         = [[Alvalade]], [[Lisbon]]
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| location_country = {{flag|Portugal}}
| coordinates      = {{coord|38|44|45|N|9|08|20|W|region:PT-11_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=inline,title}}
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| building_type    = [[Theatre]]
| architectural_style = Modernist
| material         = Granite
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| opened_date      = 20th century
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| owner            = Portuguese Republic
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| architect        = Aníbal Barros de Fonseca
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| website          = {{url|http://www.teatromariamatos.pt|Teatro Maria Matos}}
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The '''Maria Matos Theatre''' ({{langx|pt|Teatro Maria Matos}}) is a theatre located in the [[Freguesia (Portugal)|civil parish]] of [[Alvalade]], in the [[Concelho|municipality]] and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] capital of [[Lisbon]].

==History==
[[File:Teatro Municipal Maria Matos 8960.jpg|thumb|235px|left|The emblematic facade of the theatre]]
Originally, the building was designed by the architect Fernando Ramalho. The construction of the theatre occurred between 1963 and 1969, a project authored by architect Barros da Fonseca; a bold architectural project for the time, the site consisted of a fifteen-story building, that integrated a hotel, a theater and a cinema.<ref name="mm">{{cite web |url=https://www.arquivoteatromariamatos.pt/missao-e-historia/ |title=Missão e História |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese |year=2018 |accessdate=22 August 2018}}</ref> The theatre Maria Matos was inaugurated on 22 October 1969, under the direction of its artistic director Igrejas Caeiro, presenting the piece ''Tombo no Inferno'', by Aquilino Ribeiro in honor of an actress of great prestige, [[Maria Matos]].<ref name=mm/><ref name="SIPA">{{citation |url=http://www.monumentos.gov.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=11538 |title=Hotel Lutécia / Teatro Municipal Maria Matos (IPA.00011538/PT031106040698) |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico |editor=SIPA |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese |first=Filomena |last=Bandeira |year=2002 |accessdate=22 August 2018}}</ref> On its stage passed, during the 1970s and early 1980s, various companies, namely the theatrical company of RDP ({{langx|pt|Companhia de Teatro da RDP}}) under the direction of artistic director Artur Ramos, and the Portuguese Cooperative Theatre Repertory ({{langx|pt|Repertório–Cooperativa Portuguesa de Teatro}}) under its director Armando Cortez.<ref name=mm/>

On 24 September 1982, the theatre was acquired by the municipal council of Lisbon, resulting in the loss of its resident company and passing to the regime of independent theatre companies and those smaller groups involved in theatre, dance and music.<ref name=mm/>

In 2003, the management of Maria Matos was passed to the municipal company EGEAC ''Empresa de Gestão de Equipamentos e Animação Cultural'' (''Company for the Management of Equipment and Cultural Animation'').<ref name=mm/>

Due to its state of degradation, in August 2004, renovations and interventions began at the site to remodel the cultural spaces conferring on the theatre a new identity with better conditions for events.<ref name=mm/> The project included the remodelling of the main hall and backstage, improved acoustics, illumination, climate control, reinforcing security measures and removing architectural barriers in the interior.<ref name=mm/>

The Municipal Theatre Maria Matos reopened to the public on 27 March 2006.<ref name=mm/> The sophisticated and modern re-design improved capacity to 447 seats, added a lounge, café and rehearsal hall.<ref name=mm/> After its reopening, its director Diogo Infante made the theatre one of its principal halls in the city of Lisbon, putting in place a regular program based on theatrical performances, co-productions of various performing arts festivals and cinema in Lisbon.<ref name=mm/>

Between 2008 and 2018, the director was Mark Deputter, which signalled a transformation of the theatre's profile, becoming vocational performances of a contemporary nature.<ref name=mm/> The musical ''[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]'', a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] success that led to the film ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'', was the highlight of the theatre program for 2008, and debuted on September 4, 2008.<ref name=mm/> Simultaneously, there was an emphasis on national creators who lacked a cultural space or fixed location.<ref name=mm/> In addition there was an move toward various experimental events, a regular musical program, the strengthening of education projects and the integration of a multi-purpose theology in artistic development.<ref name=mm/> After September 2018, the Municipal Theatre began a new historical phase, where the spaces were rented by private cultural groups with an impact public: comedy, drama and theatrical music.<ref name=mm/>

==Events==
The theatre was repurposed for contemporary events and co-produces spectacles in theatre, dance, concerts and projects for children and young people.<ref name="egeac">{{Cite web |url=http://www.egeac.pt/equipamento/maria-matos-teatro-municipal/ |title=Teatro Maria Matos |publisher=EGEAC |access-date=22 August 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> The venture works with artists and independent companies to co-produce festivals (FIMFA, Alkantara Festival, Festival de Almada and Temps d'Images), with presentations of thematic events in conjunction with Lisbon institutions, such as the [[Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian]].<ref name=egeac/>

== See also ==
*[[Culture of Portugal#Theater|Theater in Portugal]]
*[[List of theatres and auditoriums in Lisbon]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Theatres in Lisbon]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Portugal]]