Theatre of Apollonia

Theatrum Apolloniae

TheaterCreta et Cyrenaica · Apollonia (Susa), LibyaBuilt 300 BCE

About

A Greek theatre with rows cut into the hillside outside Apollonia's walls had entertained the port town since the 3rd century BCE. Domitian's engineers added a new stone stage building late in the 1st century CE, updating the old Hellenistic cavea for Roman tastes. The theatre still stood in full use facing the sea when Trajan died in August 117 CE.

What happened here

Seating is the message: the front rows are reserved by law for the town council, and everyone can see who is sitting where. The building is a half-circle against a tall stone backdrop that also serves as a permanent set, and the acoustics are good enough that an actor can be heard without effort. The programme is mime and pantomime more than the old tragedies — bawdy, topical, sometimes politically sharp enough that performers get exiled. Audiences are loud, partisan, and quite prepared to shout a piece down. Awnings and perfumed water sprays are laid on when the sponsor is generous. Shows are attached to religious festivals and paid for by a magistrate who wants the credit, and his name is on the seating.