Théâtre du Cirque

About

The Théâtre de l'Alhambra or the Alhambra theatre is a vanished theatre that in its time was the largest theatre in Brussels. The theatre had an eventful and complex history. The hall was opened in 1846 as Théâtre du cirque or Cirk-schouwburg.

Initially, circus performances took place that at that time mainly consisted of dressage shows with horses. The name of the current Circusstraat / Rue du cirque, where the then entrance was, still refers to that function. From 1871 the name Alhambra was used and in 1874 the main entrance came to the new Zennelaan (today Emile Jacqmainlaan).

From 1867 and until the season 1887-1888, when the new Flemish theatre was opened at the Lakensestraat, numerous Dutch theatre and opera performances continued in this building. The theatre was often visited by travelling companions of all kinds of plumage. It also changed ownership and operator regularly.

There were therefore very different types of performances: In addition to French and Dutch theater, opera, opera, variété, revuetheater, music hall and major spectacles, the hall was also used for political...