After the death of Francisco Palha, in January 1890, the management of the Trindade passed through several hands before it was sold to António Serrão Franco, who contracted an artistic society that appointed as director in 1894. Under Sousa Bastos, the resident company included performers such as Mercedes Blasco and Palmira Bastos. In 1901, management was taken over by Afonso Taveira, who was responsible for guiding the Trindade through the period of instability that included the regicide, the First Portuguese Republic and the beginning of World War I, until his death in 1916.