Terraces, orchestra and stage

The terraces, the cavea

Capable of accommodating 10,000 spectators, the terraces were carved out of a hillside to make construction easier and render the final building more stable. Divided into three sections, the cavea were accessed by radial staircases. The upper section was crowned with a portico.
When it rained or was very hot, a large canvas canopy, the velum, was used to protect the audience. The system was put in place using beams fixed to the corbels at the top of the walls. The velum could therefore either cover the stage or the entire theatre.

The orchestra

With a diameter of 19 metres, this semicircle is the epicentre of the terraces. The legacy of Greek tradition, in tragedies it housed the choirs who often represented the voice of Destiny and provided the audience with explanations of the drama through singing and dancing. Over the centuries, the Roman theatrical repertoire developed and the voice of the choir gradually faded. The floor of the orchestra, initially beaten earth, was then covered by ornamental tiling that is now lost.

The stage

The stage is flanked by two towers called basilicae. These towers housed the rooms that served as foyers. During the performances, actors, chariots and scenery were gathered here ready for their entry on stage. The upper level or levels are thought to have been used as stores for the scenery and props.
61 metres wide and 13 metres deep, the stage consists of a floor resting on beams. It had trapdoors set in it enabling actors or machinery to appear as if by magic.
An ingenious system of cables, winches and counterweights allowed the actors and working scenery to be hidden from the audience using a curtain that was around 3 metres high.
At the edge of the orchestra and the stage was the pulpitum wall, a straight wall decorated with statues used as fountains.