These stockholders also build side buildings for stores and apartments to be rented.
In the year 1937 the city government of Montevideo bought the theatre, which started to suffer physical consequences in its structure. The municipal activities invaded the side buildings and this led to a total chaos, because they were not built to stand all that. All the building was in danger of collapse.
In the year 1998 there was a small fire and the authorities decided to close the theatre in order to start the restoration of it. This lasted for some years and was continued some years ago. On August 25th , 2004 the theatre was re-inaugurated.
There are still some structure elements that remain from the original theatre, like the 8 marble columns that are located in the theatre hall, also the marble bases situated in front of the building over Buenos Aires street (these were originally projected to be placed in the hall but after the different modifications made to the original blueprints they could not fit because of their size and finally they were planted there until today). The auditorium remains the same in its operation, it keeps the typical lyrical theatres features (the orchestra and four gallery levels).
To preserve acoustic and safety external walking aisles were mad in every level.
The foyer can be accessed by anyone, not like in the old times that it served as a place where the king could welcome his guests (although Uruguay didn’t have kings in the time when the theatre was constructed, the architects decided to respect the Italian style), in the intermission. The foyer is also used for cocktails and other activities.