Past, Present, and Denied Future of Tirana National Theatre

Tirana National Theatre maintained its public use since the 1930s, documenting the changes of twentieth-century Albanian history. The construction was built during the Italian Protectorate as part of the Circolo Italo-Albanese Skanderbeg, a multifunctional architectural ensemble conceived for entertainment and Fascist propaganda. The structure was assembled with a prefabricated system representing the new building technologies and materials research developed under the autarchy restrictions imposed by the Fascist rule. It was used as cinema and theatre until its renovation under the Communist regime. After 2000, the building, then National Theatre, was included within the Tirana Historic Centre, put under preliminary protection status, and incorporated as part of the buffer zone. However, in 2018 the Government planned its demolition and replacement with one new construction. Despite the opposition of the local community and international associations for the protection of modern architectural heritage, the building was demolished in May 2020. In an ever-changing country like Albania, the difficulties in dealing with a layered urbanity can certainly be considered an issue. Despite its impact, the demolition of the Theatre left one void that, even if soon filled, added its own layer to the urban evolution of Tirana.