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Roman Theatre
Brief history of the invasion of the
Romans in Greece
The Romans began to expand out of Italy in an
effort to conquer other parts of the
Mediterranean around 275 BC.
Originally, the Romans allowed Greece to believe
that they were still independent. By 146 BC,
however, they had destroyed Corinth and made
Athens a providence of the Roman Empire.
The Romans considered Greece to be weak
politically.
History, Facts and Information
about Roman Theatre
Much of the architecture, structure,
design, buildings and the plays shown in
the Roman theatre were influenced by the
Greek theatre.
The semicircular design of the building
enhanced the natural acoustics of the
theatre.
The entertainment available in the Roman
Theatre included mime, orations, dance,
choral events and different types of plays
including farce, tragedy and comedy.
Different types of Roman
Theatres and Amphitheatres
The Roman theatres and amphitheatres
were two different sorts of buildings.
The Roman Theatre being built in the
shape of a semicircle and
The Roman amphitheatre was generally
oval.
The purpose for which each type of
theatre was designed was also quite
different.
Different types of Roman
Theatres and Amphitheatres
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The Roman theatres were designed for for stage plays
The Amphitheatres were designed for the greater spectacles and
shows of gladiators and wild animals
The Circuses (circi) such as the famous Circus Maximus which
was built on a much bigger scale and designed to stage chariot
races
The Naumachiae where places for the shows of sea battles
The stadia were places in the form of the circus designed for the
running of men and horses
The Xysti were places constructed like porticos in which the
wrestlers exercised
The Odeon was a small Roman Theatre, often roofed, used for
smaller entertainment venues such as performed music poetry
readings, debates, or lectures
There were, however, some similarities between the different
types of Roman theatres such as the seating arrangements, styles
of stage scenery and props and awnings.
Roman theatres derive their basic design
from the Theatre of Pompey, the first
permanent Roman theatre. Pompey the
Great was the first who undertook the
building of a fixed theatre, which was built
of square stone. Roman Theatres, in the
first ages of the commonwealth, were only
temporary, and composed of wood.
The Roman Theatre buildings were
designed in the shape of a half circle and
built on level ground with stadium-style
seating where the audience was raised.
The Roman Theatre buildings were large
and could hold up to 15,000 people. The
theatre itself was divided into the stage
(orchestra) and the seating section
(auditorium).
The Roman theatre did not have a roof
instead an awning was pulled over the
audience to protect them from the sun or
rain. Another innovation was introduced to
the Roman Theatre c 78 B.C - a cooling
system which was provided by air blowing
over streams of water.
Roman Theatre Seating
The audience seating portion of the Roman theatre was
called the Cavea and arrange in wedge-shaped seating
sections. According to Vitruvius the gradus, "are not to be
less than twenty inches in height, nor more than twentytwo. Their width must not be more than two feet and a
half, nor less than two feet." There was a threefold
distinction of the seats, according to the ordinary division
of the people into senators, knights (equites) and the
commons. The first range was called orchestra because in
that part of the Greek theatres the dances were performed;
the second range of seating was called the equestria and
the third range of seats were called the popularia.
Roman Theatre - The Stage
The stage in the Roman Theatre was raised to about five feet high.
The Roman theatre stage measured 20-40 feet deep and 100-300
feet long. The stage was covered with a roof. There was a stage
house, or building, behind the stage. The stage wall was called the '
Frons Scenae '. There were doorways to the left and right and a
curtained central doorway from which the actors made their
entrances in the Roman Theatre. The two doors on either side of
the central door in the Roman scaenae frons were called the portae
hospitales. The door on right reserved for second actor, the left door
for person of less importance. In addition there were 3-5 doors in
the rear wall of the stage. The stage wall included columns, niches,
porticoes, statues all of which were brightly painted. The dressing
rooms were located in the side wings. The portico or passageway
behind the scaenae (scene building) of a Roman theatre was called
the portus post scaenas.