Son Amar remains — but the grand show is history

Son Amar remains — but the grand show is history

Anyone who drove up the narrow road from Palma toward Sóller in recent days saw it immediately: a new sign announces that Son Amar will continue to operate, as reported in Son Amar permanece abierto: del varieté a la sede de eventos en Bunyola. The gates are open, but what the venue long stood for – the evening variety productions with acrobatics, costumes and medieval tableaux – belongs to the past for now. Instead, the location has a different schedule: weddings, corporate parties and conferences are to become the pillars of the business.

New tenants, new concept

Responsibility now lies with Dominic Miles, the son of the late founder Margaret Whittaker, and Paul Abrey, known in Palma for his work in the audio-visual sector. At first glance this looks like a practical change of strategy; local coverage Son Amar se mantiene — pero con un nuevo ritmo en Bunyola described the offer as modified. On closer inspection, it is an economic response: without the long-standing patron, after the financial shocks of the pandemic, elaborate in-house productions are a high risk.

The grounds themselves remain impressive: an auditorium for well over a thousand guests, labyrinthine interiors, terraces and well-kept gardens under olive trees and pines. Some rooms are immediately usable, others need care — and money. The real question is not only whether Son Amar exists, but what role it will play for the island in the future.

Uncomfortable numbers, thin applause

The restructuring meant harsh cuts: around 170 jobs were affected. Severance payments were reportedly negotiated, with calculations such as 33 days per year of service. For many who worked behind the scenes for decades, that was a painful rupture. Under the olives in the car park, former stage technicians spoke softly about their prospects — the rustle of the leaves mixing with the sound of their worries.

The local economy also feels the imbalance. Caterers, technical companies, gardeners and craftsmen will retain some of their contracts, but the regular tourist evenings that supplied hotels and restaurants in Palma as well as suppliers with noticeable extra revenue will disappear. This is less a sudden collapse than a gradual reordering of local value creation.

Less glitter, more predictability — a gain or a loss?

For lovers of culture the step is painful. Son Amar was more than a venue; the show was a tourist hallmark of Mallorca. The decision to focus on predictable, bookable events is pragmatic: less production risk, more stable income. But it also reduces the public visibility of a piece of living culture.

It is the old debate: profitability versus the common good. In Bunyola, controlling and cost management are moving to the center. That does not necessarily mean the end of artistic experimentation — but only if losses are named openly and countermeasures are taken.

What is often missing from the discussion

One point that has so far received too little attention are transition strategies for employees and suppliers. Short-term severance dampens the shock, but rarely suffices for life. In the long term, retraining and placement programs would make sense — ideally in cooperation with local employment agencies and training providers.

Another topic: who will take over the maintenance of the almost monument-like grounds? Walls, stage power, lighting and the large mechanical elements need regular upkeep. Will these costs be covered solely by private events, or will public funding or sponsors be sought to help carry the cultural heritage?

Concrete proposals for a second life

A few pragmatic ideas so that Son Amar does not function only as an event hall, but remains a bridge to the cultural past:

Hybrid operation: Occasional, publicly promoted cultural evenings and pop-up shows in the off-season. Visibility without daily production effort.

Community partnerships: Cooperation with local cultural associations, schools and artists for workshops, residencies and smaller performances.

Social retraining: Continuing education offers for former stage staff, provided through regional employment agencies and chambers of crafts.

Transparent agenda: An openly accessible annual plan with fixed quotas for non-profit cultural events.

Such measures cost money at first. However, they preserve identity — memories of family celebrations, quiet nights with technical teams under the lights, standing ovations from guests around the world.

Looking ahead — a place between melancholy and pragmatism

Last week the air at the entrance to Bunyola smelled of autumn: damp leaves, olive oil and some dust from the paths. Three former technicians stood together, speaking quietly without becoming bitter. That is Mallorca often: pragmatic, a little melancholic, always solution-oriented. Son Amar will continue to exist — only differently. Whether it will ever again reach the splendor of past shows depends not only on owners and investors. It requires the courage to cooperate, targeted support for those affected and a pinch of creative imagination. Then Son Amar could begin a second life that allows remembering without being stuck in the past.