Roman Theater

Roman theatre began in the 4th century B.C, which they stole ideas from the Greeks and improved them. Roman theatre had three major influences, Greek drama, Etruscan influences and Fabula Atellana, this helped them create comedies and added more entertainment like acrobatics, fights and athletics. Just like Greek theatre, Roman theatre also had festivals to honor the Gods but the Romans deity was the Goddess of Love (Venus). In this paper I will describe structures of Roman theatre, like the size, how they look, and amphitheaters and lastly I will talk about some of theatres that are still standing today.

Roman theatre used two different types of buildings, either a regular theatre or an amphitheater. They both were constructed out

of the same material, Roman concrete, and provided a place for the public to go and see numerous events throughout the Empire. A roman theatre is usually built in the shape of a semi-circle and were designed for stage plays. While Roman amphitheaters were usually oval shaped and were used for entertainment and sometimes plays. Another characteristic is the cavea were wild animals were usually kept before the combats in the Roman amphitheater. Amphitheaters where usually used for gladiatorial contests, fights with various animals, and sometimes sea battles.
Then Roman theatres were usually used for plays. 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, it was built of square stone. Roman Theatres, were usually temporary, and composed of wood. The most famous wooden temporary theatre was Marcus Scaurus’ and was built to celebrate his position of Aedile. This temporary theatre was used for barely even a month and the scenes of this temporary theatre were divided into three different partitions, one above another, “the first consisting of one hundred and twenty imported pillars of marble; the next, of the like number of pillars, was shaped in glass. Between the pillars were set three thousand statues and images of brass”. Romans spent a lot of money for these temporary theatres, for one wooden theatre they had 360 marble columns that were imported for the stage and was used for barely a month. These Roman theatres, constructed of wood were always torn down after the festival for which they were used for. This was due to a delay on permanent theatre structures that lasted until 55 BC when the Theatre of Pompey was built.
Some of the characteristics of Roman theatres are similar to earlier Greek theatres due to its influence on the Roman triumvir Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus.

Much of the architectural influence on the Romans came from the Greeks, and theatre structural design was no different from other buildings. However, Roman theatres have specific differences, they were usually built upon their own foundations instead of on a hillside and was completely closed on all sides. Roman theatres were shaped with a half circle or orchestra space in front of the stage. Usually the audience sat here or the actors also would sometimes perform in this space. The stages in the theatre was usually raised to about 5 feet high and they were pretty large. They could be around 30 feet deep, 200 feet long and could sit around 10,000 peopleAll theaters were outdoors and this helped with lighting and sound. Romans would built theaters anywhere, sometimes even on flat land, by raising the whole structure off the ground. This caused entrances and exits to be built into the cave, as is done in large theaters and sports arenas today. It also created more of an enclosed atmosphere and helped keep out the noises of the city. A tarp could be moved over the top of the theater to create shade on hot and sunny days. Around 78 BC Romans added a cooling system that consisted of blowing air over water. Roman theatres were built everywhere and influenced a lot of local architecture, there are numerous theatres around the world with uniquely Roman characteristics. Another characteristic is the decorated background of a Roman theatre stage is usually called the scaenae frons. This area usually had many different entrances to the stage and a grand entrance. The Roman theatre also had a podium that would sometimes support the columns of the scaenae frons. The scaenae was originally not part of the building itself, and it was only constructed to provide a background for the actors. The scaenae frons was usually two

or sometimes three stories in high and was central to the theatre's visual impact and was made to be seen by the Roman audience at all times. They also had dressing rooms in the side wings, sometimes even had trap doors. Tiers or balconies were supported by several classic columns. This style was influenced by Greek theatre but it was called the scene building. Next is the area of a theater surrounding the stage opening and that is called the proscenium. Another characteristic is the vomitorium, which is a passage situated below or behind a tier of seats in an amphitheater, through which big crowds can exit rapidly at the end of a performance and it was also a pathway for actors to enter on and off stage. Next is the proscaenium and that was a wall that supported the front edge of the stage. The Roman theatre also sometimes had a podium, which supported the columns of the scaenae frons. The scaenae was originally not part of the building itself, constructed only to provide sufficient background for the actors.
There are a few Roman theatres that survived and are still here today. Only a few theatres have survived the centuries following their construction, and this provides us with little evidence about the specific theatres. Arausio, the theatre in Orange, France, “is a good example of a classic Roman theatre, with an indented scaenae frons, reminiscent of Western Roman theatre designs, however missing the more ornamental structure. The Arausio is still standing today and, with its amazing structural acoustics and having had its seating reconstructed, can be seen to be a marvel of Roman architecture”(AHE). This theatre was built early in the 1st century CE and it is now owned by the city of Orange and is the home of a summer opera festival. This theatre was founded in 40 BC and played a key role in the life of citizens. Most citizens spent a large part of their free time there, the theatre was seen by the Roman authorities as helping spread Roman culture through the colonies, but also served as a way of distracting citizen from what was happening politically. The entertainment offered was open to all and free of charge. The theatre was constructed with yellow and white limestone with the tiers of seating, and was built into the side of St. Europe hill. The stone seating had three tiers and this gave the theatre a capacity for about 9,000 people in the audience. Each tier had its own gates and entrance tunnel, and spectators could not access another tier once inside the theatre like it is today. The first three rows of seats were reserved for VIPs and to this day some seats still have names carved into them.
Another ancient theatre to survive in Rome, is the Theatre of Marcellus, which was started by Caesar and completed by Augustus around the year 11 or 13 (crystalinks.com). It stands on level ground and is supported by radiating walls and concrete vaulting. It also has a passageway with attached half columns runs around the building. At the theatre, locals and visitors watched performances of drama and songs. The theatre was named after Marcus Marcellus, Emperor Augustus's nephew, who died five years before it was finished. The theatre was finally completed in 13 BC and formally inaugurated in 12 BC by Augustus. The theatre was 111 m in diameter; it could hold about 15,000-20,000 people in the audience says the AHE (Ancient History Encyclopedia). The theatre was built from concrete “faced with stones in the pattern known as opus reticulatum, completely sheathed in white travertine”. Now the upper portion of the theatre is divided into multiple apartments, and is sometimes used as a venue for small summer concerts.