Upcoming Developments in Alicante: Teatro Principal, Abaseis, Centro 14, and Casa de la Misericordia

Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, is setting his sights on the upcoming municipal elections in May 2027. At the midpoint of his term, he reviews and announces the most significant projects to be undertaken: the much-anticipated renovations of the Teatro Principal; the transformation of the Abaseis cinemas; the completion of Centro 14 and the Casa de la Misericordia.

The Teatro Principal of Alicante, which will celebrate its 180th anniversary in 2027, requires a comprehensive renovation. The seating area is uncomfortable, and the seats are notably in need of improvement. Time has also taken its toll on the roof and the consolidation of the lifts, which have already caused some scares with parts of the 19th-century building falling.

These renovations are, in any case, incompatible with the theatre's activities at the Principal. Therefore, they must be carried out during periods with less target audience, namely the summer. It will not be in 2026, as the Alicante coliseum's management has already scheduled a full comedy monologue series, which cannot coincide with the renovation of the seating area.

Therefore, it seems likely that the works will take place next summer, in 2026. From then on, there would be just nine months left to complete the remaining exterior works. So far, the first steps have been taken by changing the pavement of the main facade.

The new Abaseis centre in Alicante will accommodate all cultures in a single space. Thus, the former cinemas on Avenida de Novelda will open up to other disciplines such as circus, theatre, concerts, dance, and much more. All of these will be integrated into various multipurpose rooms, organised by size and function, on the ground floor of the building and adapted to the users' needs.

Additionally, this new cultural container in Alicante will feature a small open-air stage, located next to the lobby and the 'office' of the Abaseis centre. This will allow for small concerts or performances with the audience situated on the street.

The project, designed by architect Jesús Navarro García, also envisions access to the new multicultural centre of Alicante from the existing facade on Fotógrafa Reme Vélez street, utilising and reconfiguring the existing open space in front to create a small plaza with bleachers, an agora welcoming visitors to the building.

The expansion of Centro 14, the cultural centre for youth under 30 located on Labradores street, has been a pending issue for 20 years. It now seems to be finally seeing the light. The latest known development is that the City Council awarded the office, sound, and lighting equipment in December 2024, leading to expectations that it would be completed in the first quarter of 2025. This has not been the case, but the mayor is counting on it for the coming months.

The works on the 18th-century mansion, with six floors and a basement, have involved its rehabilitation and expansion. The building has a total area of 3,750 square metres.

The renovation of the Casa de la Misericordia of the Cigarreras is progressing smoothly. If everything goes as planned, phase 1 of the rehabilitation of this industrial heritage will be completed in November 2025. The complex spans over 6,000 square metres, approximately the size of a standard football field, which will be filled with culture and innovation, transforming it into a hub for artistic industries.

The Casa de la Misericordia will feature eight coworking rooms, meeting rooms, advisory services for entrepreneurs, podcast or streaming creation rooms, municipal services such as citizen assistance (SAIC), among other proposals that will line the rooms and corridors surrounding the two twin cloisters of the former Tobacco factory.