Romea Theatre

Murcia · Spain · Theatre

A monk cursed the theatre built on his monastery's land: three fires would strike it – which is why one black seat is always left empty.

Murcia's grand nineteenth-century theatre was raised on land that had belonged to the Dominican monastery of Santo Domingo, and legend says a monk pronounced a curse on the desecration: the theatre would burn three times, the third with a full house from which no one would escape. The first fire came in 1877, the second in 1899 – both, mercifully, when the house was empty or could be evacuated. To ensure it can never claim a full house, one stalls seat has ever since been left vacant, upholstered in black velvet among the red. The theatre still performs nightly, with the curse as its constant companion.

FAQ

Where is Romea Theatre located?

Romea Theatre is in Murcia, Spain.