The Teatre Nacional de Catalunya is one of Barcelona’s paramount cultural centres. A large staircase leads up to the main building. The huge foyer, the auditorium and the stage with its relevant installations are housed under a single metal gable-roof supported on large three-dimensional trusses and concrete architectural columns. The transparent foyer, draped with greenery, is a meeting place par excellence. The Italianate auditorium is the core of the building, accessed on various levels by a semicircular gallery with staircases at either end, adding a touch of theatricality to the space. The second building houses the storerooms and set workshops. The project includes a repertory theatre (900 seats), an experimental theatre (400 seats), an open-air theatre (400 seats), rehearsal rooms and a bar.

On November 12, 1996 it opened with Àngels a Amèrica (Angels in America) by Tony Kushner, and directed by Josep Maria Flotats. The building, like the Royal National Theatre in the UK, contains three theatre spaces: Sala Gran, Sala Petita and Sala Tallers, showing many different types of productions mainly in the catalan language. Its current artistic director is Sergi Belbel.

Picture gallery