The Civil War of 1936–9 was a conflict between powerful ideological forces of Left and Right that clashed not only in Spain but elsewhere in Europe during this period. The democratically elected Second Republic's left-liberalism was violently challenged, and eventually overthrown, by a right-wing coalition ultimately headed by the rebel General Francisco Franco, whose subsequent dictatorship lasted almost four decades. Theatre was neither neutral in the war nor untouched by it. Rather, the warring factions sought to use theatre to support their cause. The victors shaped post-war theatre in their image, but many on the losing side sought exile or perished. Respected artists such as José Bergamín (1895–1983), Max Aub (1903–72) and Rafael Alberti (1902–99), for example, forged new lives in Latin America, while Federico García Lorca (1898–1936) was murdered early in the hostilities.

Theatre's wartime role is fruitfully explored through three overarching questions which, when addressed, offer an insight into theatre praxis during the conflict. First, how were theatre spaces utilised by the opposing factions? Second, what repertoire was played in these spaces? Third, to what extent might the ideology of each camp have exerted influence, both on theatre spaces and their repertoire?