- Roman Theatres were Greek in style, with a semi-circular seating area to maximise the acoustics and often built on their own foundations. They are found all over the Roman Empire.
- Whereas Amphitheatres were for Races, Games and Gladiator Displays, Theatres were for Plays, Musical Performances, Choral Events, Orations and Recitations.
Rome’s Theatres
- Pompey's Stone Theatre (55 BCE) (where Julius Caesar was murdered.)
- Marcellus’ Theatre
- Theatre and Crypt of Balbus (13 BCE)
The Paired Theatres of Lyon
- It is very unusual to have Paired Theatres, one pair exists at Lyon, the only other Paired Theatres in Gaul were at Vienne of which only one now remains in existence.
- The Roman Theatre of Lyon Fourviere has 10,000 seats. A pulley mechanism was discovered for raising the curtain from below.
- A Roman Odeon is placed next to it and has 3,000 seats for Music and Poetry readings.
- They are in the Lugdunum: Gallo Roman Museum of Lyon.
Roman Theatre at Orange
- Orange Roman Theatre is intact with its walled backstage and semi-circular seating arrangement still in situ.
Photo and map: Roman Theatre at Orange