Théâtre Romain

Theater, comes from the Greek “theatron” meaning “to see”, “to witness”.

The Roman Theatre of Fréjus is the first building built for shows in Forum Iulii. Perhaps initially built in wood on the slope of the hill, it was rebuilt at an imprecise time, certainly at the beginning of our era, fitting into an urban plan dating back to the years 15-20. Its current state hardly reflects its monumental aspect, despite the clearings and reconstructions carried out by the architect J. Formigé between 1919 and 1929. Its original capacity is estimated at 2000 spectators.

The plan of the Forum Iulii theatre is classical: it has a semi-circular shape and, unlike the Greek theatre, all the artists move on the stage.

During the official city festivals (ludi), it hosted tragic performances by Virgil or Seneca, Farces by Plautus or Terence, or mimes and pantomimes. While Latin theatre was originally associated with religious ceremonies, Greek theatre was linked to the cult of Dionysus; it quickly evolved towards secular forms of representation, in which writing, acting and staging were clearly codified.

The actors are all men, as in Rome the stage is forbidden to women.

The 83,80m long façade wall (porticus) was decorated with niches, statues and columns, which made it a very rich backdrop and allowed the sound to be reflected into the stands. It has almost completely disappeared and the stage (proscaenium) only shows razed foundations. Piers, ruins and foundations of towers ("basilicae") which served as boxes are still visible.

The stands ("cavea") have disappeared. They were divided into three parts representing the three classes of Roman society. Augustus established a very precise and immutable code governing the placement of spectators in all the monuments of spectacle. Soldiers do not mix with civilians, people dressed in dark clothes are grouped in the middle part of the cavea, married men are separated from singles but their wives are relegated to the highest stands, as are people of modest means. Closest to the arena are the box of honor and the podium reserved for notables. Of the ancient building, only elements of the radiating walls that supported the vaults remain. A single paved passage providing access to the second level is still present, where its water drainage channels remain cut into the stone.

The construction is made of a regular apparatus of sandstone from the Esterel Massif bound with lime mortar.

Since 1997, the theatre has resumed its functions as a performance building and contemporary stands, built in 2001, can accommodate, with the chairs, 1000 spectators. This theatre is dedicated to the actor Philippe Léotard, born in Fréjus.

For over 20 years, the theatre has hosted the national theatre festival Nuits Auréliennes. In a setting of greenery and ruins, the dramaturgies are all the more sublime.