What I can see

On the site of the old quarry on Lycabettus hill, the architect Takis Zenetos designed an open theatre with 3,000 seats and is considered a landmark of Greek modernism, because he harmonized architecture with technology. It is a removable metal structure with wooden steps. The facilities and ancillary spaces are located below the auditorium and lower than the orchestra. It was studied and designed in such a way that the viewer has excellent acoustics and view from any seat. After its reconstruction in 1977, due to a fire in 1970, plastic seats were installed and it reached a capacity of 3,850 seats. With the recent renovation and replacement of the plastic seats by wooden benches it reached 3,950. In addition, the worn metal elements of the skeleton were replaced. The renovation respected Zeneto’s design, but also incorporated EU regulations for theatres. The theatre can accommodate up to 6,000 people for events that include both seated and standing spectators.

What I can't see

The theatre’s construction was an initiative of the actress Anna Synodinou, with the aim of staging ancient dramas of the “Hellenic Scene” group, something that ultimately did not happen, due to the coup d’état of the colonels that followed. The dictators evicted the group and used the theatre for events they approved. Today, in addition to performances, concerts and other musical events also take place here.

Bibliography