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Roman Theatre of Saint Albans

Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402043)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402036)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402037)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402038)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402039)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402040)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402041)
Roman theatre of Verulamium : The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. The ruins one can see today were unearthed in 1847. Subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.
media credits (ID:402042)

General Information

Other name(s): Verulamium Roman Theatre
Completion: 140
Status: in ruins

Project Type

Function / usage: Roman theater
Material: Masonry structure
Architectural style: Roman

Location

Location: , , , ,
Coordinates: 51° 45' 14.56" N    0° 21' 29.88" W
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Technical Information

There currently is no technical data available.

Excerpt from Wikipedia

The Roman theatre at St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, is an excavated site within the Roman walled city of Verulamium. Although there are other Roman theatres in Britain (for example, at Camulodunum), the one at Verulamium is claimed to be the only example of its kind, being a theatre with a stage rather than an amphitheatre.

The theatre differs from the typical Roman theatre in having been built on a site that is only slightly sloping and in its plan (although there are theatres with similar plans in Northern Gaul).

Where a natural slope was available, Roman theatres tended to make use of it, as in this Spanish example, the Theatre of Clunia Sulpicia

The theatre was built in about 140AD. Urban life continued in Verulamium into the 5th century. However, by that time, the theatre had fallen into disuse. It was used as a rubbish dump in the 4th century. It was excavated in the 19th century and again in the 1930s by Kathleen Kenyon.

Access and use

The theatre is on land belonging to the Earl of Verulam and is regularly opened to the public. It is sometimes used for theatrical performances.

Text imported from Wikipedia article "Roman Theatre, St Albans" and modified on 3 March 2023 according to the CC-BY-SA 3.0 license.

Participants

Currently there is no information available about persons or companies having participated in this project.

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  • About this
    data sheet
  • Structure-ID
    20085134
  • Published on:
    20/02/2023
  • Last updated on:
    07/09/2023
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