Great Theatre of Pompeii, Roman theatre in Pompeii, Italy

The Great Theatre of Pompeii is built entirely in opus incertum on the slope of a hill near the Doric Temple, with a horseshoe-shaped cavea rather than the standard Roman semicircle. Its seating held about 5,000 spectators in three tiers: the marble-clad ima cavea for decurions, the media cavea for guilds, and the summa cavea, of which only a small section survives after the earthquake of 62. Two covered parodoi led to the orchestra, and the stage front, in opus latericium, imitated a two-storey palace with three doors.

Built in Samnite times, the theatre was completely rebuilt in the 2nd century BCE and enlarged around 80 BCE, when the cavea gained about ten metres. Between 2 and 3 BCE the gens Holconia funded a full restoration under duovir Marcus Holconius Rufus, carried out by the freedman Marcus Artorius Primus. After the earthquake of 62 CE the stage was rebuilt, and in 79 CE the eruption buried it; systematic excavation of the area began in 1763.

Seating was graded by rank: decurions in the marble-clad ima cavea, guilds in the media cavea, the plebs in the summa cavea, with tribunalia boxes for honoured guests. Performances were comedies, tragedies, mimes, pantomimes and Atellan farces, with dance and music; during intervals the audience moved to the Quadriporticus behind the stage.

Access to the theatre follows designated pathways within the archaeological complex, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended for navigating the site. The space offers limited shade, making early morning or late afternoon visits more pleasant during warm months.

The stage front was built in opus latericium, about 1.5 m high, with two small staircases the actors used to reach the stage; niches at the sides housed the staff keeping order. A curtain rose from below to above. During breaks the audience gathered in the Quadriporticus behind the stage, later used to lodge gladiators and their families.