It is one of the historic theatres of Portugal, and some of the best performers of Portuguese, Brazilian and Spanish drama staged there, including Ary Fontoura, João Villaret, Laura Alves, Procópio Ferreira, and Ruy de Carvalho.

The theatre is named in honor of famed 19th-century Portuguese playwright Almeida Garrett, who got inspiration to write his most famous work Frei Luís de Sousa after watching a play in Póvoa around this location.

Almeida Garrett most famous work Frei Luís de Sousa was based in one of those plays he watched in Póvoa.

The popularity of Póvoa de Varzim as a main beach resort, lead to the construction of a permanent edifice for the theatre in 1890, the Theatro Garrett, in an area near the old Sá da Bandeira Theater, which would be the reason for the demolition of the later.

The national press highlighted the operetta companies, revue theatrical entertainment and zarzuela that were presented in Garrett.