The General Archive of Navarre (Pamplona, Spain) preserves valuable documents related to 16th- and 17th-century theater in the former Kingdom of Navarre. Among them are three court rulings from 1664–1668 that detail legal disputes surrounding the renovation and use of Pamplona’s corral de comedias, originally built between 1606 and 1608. These documents offer rare insights into the architectural features, materials, contracts, and social dynamics of a medium-sized Golden Age theater. The legal cases reveal tensions over construction bids, financial disagreements among masons, and even a duel over seating privileges—highlighting the significance of theater in public life. 

Corrales de comedias played a central role in shaping Spanish Golden Age theater and influenced dramaturgy, actor performance, and audience experience. The venues’ layouts reflected gender and social hierarchies, shaping how audiences engaged with performances. With the support of a Center for the Humanities grant, this project aims to analyze the above-mentioned rulings, transcribe parts of the documents, and write an article to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The final goal is to contribute to our understanding of early modern performance spaces.