ITALY: COLOSSEUM TO STAGE IT'S FIRST MAJOR SPECTACLE IN 1,500 YEARS, A PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAY OEDIPUS REX

Record ID: 389908

  • Title: ITALY: COLOSSEUM TO STAGE IT'S FIRST MAJOR SPECTACLE IN 1,500 YEARS, A PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAY OEDIPUS REX
  • Date: 17th July 2000
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (JULY 17-18 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) WIDE VIEW OF COLOSSEUM TOURISTS INSIDE COLOSSEUM TOP SHOT OF COLOSSEUM WITH STAGE STAGE CLOSER VIEW OF STAGE TOURISTS LOOKING AT STAGE STAGE-SET STATUES WHICH WILL BE USED FOR PERFORMANCE ON STAGE VARIOUS OF STATUES OF MEN AND WOMEN IN MODERN DAY COSTUMES ITALIAN CULTURE MINISTER GIOVANNA MELANDRI WALKING IN COL
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Entertainment,History
  • Reuters ID: LVAETDW6CGTKLFX5W1TM6X7FFLMQ
  • Story Text: The Colosseum, Romes ancient arena of death and slaughter, is to stage its first major spectacle before a paying audience in 1,500 years.
    Italian stage designers and carpenters put the finishing touches to a specially-built stage in Romes Colosseum on Monday (July 17) for a performance of Oedipus Rex by the Greek National Theatre on Wednesday (July 19).
    The amphitheatre, which today is normally the haunt of foreign tourists, was suddenly full of eery-looking modern-day statues. The figures of men and women were adorned in modern-day attire such as T-shirts, suits and dresses. They adorned the stage in various guises - standing and seated.
    They are part of the stage-set for Wednesdays performance.
    The amphitheatre, completed under Roman Emperor Titus in 80 A.D., will not be showing the gory combat brought vividly to life in the recent box office smash Gladiator, but a more civilised performance of Greek tragedy.
    Italian Culture Minister Giovanna Melandri toured the monument on Wednesday and unveiled the 1.5 billion lire ($724,500) stage built over part of the floorless Colosseum.
    Melandri, when asked whether the plays would be a regular feature in the monument, said: This is an experiment. We are trying, we will see how it works and then we will decide. The important thing for now is that after 1,500 yrs the colosseum reopens to theatre, art and culture.
    It was not clear what will happen next as archeologists will need to study the impact of the wooden structure over the ancient walls.
    The decision to build the stage is also part of a pilot project aimed at protecting the remaining stone passages from further damage.
    The festival caps years of restoration work and was made possible by the building of a wooden structure over a section of an underground labyrinth which once housed gladiators and wild beasts.
    The passages, clogged with earth over the centuries, were dug out by order of French emperor Napoleon at the end of the 18th century.
    The festival will include three tragedies by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles from July 19 to August 6.
    On Tuesday (July 18) the Greek National Theatre was rehearsed Oedipus Rex in preparation for the performance on Wednesday night.
    The Director of the Greek National Theatre Vassilis Papavassiliou said: Yes of course I can remember that in Vicenza in 1585 it was the first time that Oedipus Rex was presented in a theatre made by Paladio - I can say that it is a moment very emotionally charged for me - a moment very emotionally charged for - for us all.
    On Tuesday the players played to a sparsely filled auditorium. However, on Wednesday 700 spectators are expected to attend. They will sit or stand at the eastern end of the Colosseum around the podium where the emperor, his court and senators used to give the thumbs-up or down to decide the fate of a floored gladiator.
    When ancient Rome ruled the known world, the then marble-clad building provided entertainment for up to 70,000 citizens both rich and poor.
    Prices this time round are more than the couple of denarii the masses paid. Standing room costs 40,000 lire (20 US Dollars) and 100,000 (50 US Dollars) will get you a seat.
    The Culture Ministry says it will be in any case be very rigorous in choosing any future cultural initiatives to take place at the Colosseum.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register