Roman Theatre

Romans built theatres throughout their republic/empire.

Amman, Jordan

Aspendos, Anatolia (Turkey)

Bosra, Syria

Bosra, Syria

Ephesus (Turkey)

Leptis Magna, Libya (coast of North

Africa)

Merida, Spain

Plovdiv, BulgariaAs shown here, this theatre is still used for performances.

Côte d’Azur, France

Sagunto, Spain“It is semicircular in shape and can seat 8,000 spectators. The Roman theatre was built within a dip in the land, which is why its open air concerts have wonderful acoustics. Recently, rehabilitation work has been done to provide a look of unity to the stage and the steps, making conditions adequate for theatre and cultural events.”http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Arte%20y%20Cultura/Monumentos/

In January 2008, the highest court in Spain ruled that the restoration of the Sagunto theatre “violates Spain’s Law of Historic Patrimony which forbids the reconstruction of historic structures except to assure their stability and maintenance” and the changes must be removed.http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/080128spain.asp

In addition to theatres patterned on the Greek model, Romans built round structures, the best known of which is the Colosseum in Rome.

Historians disagree about whether these circular buildings were used for theatre, in addition to feats of strength.

The lower level, under the floor, was used to house animals, and perhaps gladiators, prior to their battles.

Colosseum top view

Colosseum

Some historians believe that aqueducts piped water in to flood the Colosseum for miniature sea battles.

This is how the Colosseum might have looked when it was completed in the 1st century CE (AD). Note the statues in the arches.

II. Roman Theatre

A. Festivals called ludi (games) were entertainment for the masses

1. Gladiators

2. Theatre

3. Miniature sea battles (perhaps)

B. Performance spaces were built all over the empire.

1. Arches supported theatres built on flat land

2. Theatres held up to 10,000 people, the Colosseum in Rome held 40,000

to 50,000.

C. Types of plays

1. Tragedy and comedy adapted from the Greeks

[public performance abandoned by 100 BCE]

2. Farce

a. Subject: cheating, fighting, gluttony, and sex

b. Stock characters [drunkard, swindler, fool, glutton]

Types of plays

3. Mime

a. Crude

b. Ridiculed morals & eventually Christian sacraments

4. Pantomime

a. Plots from mythology & history

b. Performed by a single actor/dancer

c. Story sung by chorus

D. Actors

1. Slaves, freedmen, foreigners

2. Women in farces & mimes

Actors

Miscellaneous

E. Misc

1. Christians excommunicated for attending theatre by 300s CE (AD)

2. Theatres were closed or abandoned in 500s [as Roman Empire fell apart]

Contrast Greek & Roman Theatre

How the the purposes of theatrical performance differ?

How did this effect the types of performance?

In which culture was the actual language of the performance important?

How did the way actors were regarded by the respective cultures differ?