After 14 years of silence, the ancient theater of Thassos has found its voice again. Fully restored and reborn, this majestic venue, which has dominated the hillside since the 4th century BC, recently welcomed hundreds of spectators, revealing its imposing form.
Embraced by surrounding trees and overlooking the sea, the theater stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of nature and history. It has been transformed and fully restored, now radiating the authenticity it truly deserves.
The Athens-Macedonia News Agency (AMNA) reports that the radiant white marble transforms the monument under the sun’s gaze. As the sun dips into the Aegean, spectators are overcome with awe, witnessing one of the most beautiful sunsets while becoming partakers in Greece’s rich cultural heritage.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni herself praised the restoration during an inspection a year ago, calling it “one of the best projects of complete restoration of an ancient theater in Greece.” She extended her congratulations to the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kavala and its head, Stavroula Dadaki, for completing the demanding endeavor.
A historic reopening for Thassos Theater: “Fragments of Euripides”
The first official performance in the restored theater took place last Saturday evening: the National Theater’s production of “Fragments of Euripides.” Directed by Efthimis Theos and presented in collaboration with the DIAZOMA association, this event was part of the Ministry of Culture’s “Introduction to Ancient Theaters of Greece” program. This innovative initiative aims to highlight Greece’s surviving ancient theaters through a unique blend of theater and archaeology, featuring a troupe of distinguished Greek artists.
The performance’s narrative centers on a hypothetical discovery in 2022 of a papyrus in Philadelphia, Egypt, containing excerpts from Euripides’ lost plays, “Polyidus” and “Inos.” “FRAGMENTS: Euripides” delves into the Athenian tragedian’s partially surviving works, presenting a narrative and musical composition that blurs the lines between theater and archaeology.
A Collective Vision Realized
Lefteris Kyriakides, the island’s mayor, declared the reopening a “historic day” for Thassos. “After so many years, the theater breaks its silence. We are all moved by this pleasant development. The ancient theater is, in a way, reintegrating into the rich cultural history of our island,” he stated.
Christodoulos Topsidis, the regional governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, emphasized that the reopening evening was “the fruit of a collective faith and continuous effort. It belongs to all those who envisioned the revival of the theater and worked to see it become a reality.” He added, “The heart of the island’s culture beat loudly, in a space that unites centuries of history with modern creation. The theater of Thassos is regaining life, functionality and perspective.”
Stavroula Dadaki, head of the Ephorate of Antiquities, told AMNA that restoring this monumental theater was “perhaps one of the most difficult technical projects implemented in recent years by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kavala – Thassos under the supervision of archaeologist Konstantina Panousi.”
She explained that the theater’s cavea was excavated from the ground up to repair past damage, address structural issues, and establish crucial infrastructure to ensure its preservation and enable its modern function as a venue for cultural and artistic events.
Key among the works was the meticulous recording and identification of the theater’s ancient components, which were then meticulously re-positioned. Broken ancient seats were supplemented with cast material, and where ancient material was absent, new members crafted from pure white Thassos marble quarried on the island were installed.
“The restoration work of the cavea proved to be extremely problematic and much more extensive than initially anticipated, as new elements emerged,” Dadaki explained. “In total, 1,039 architectural members were lifted, designed, and repositioned, along with many other similar works. The completion of all the work is due to the project staff, who worked under extremely difficult conditions, often overextending themselves, and to the supervising archaeologist, Ms. Panousi.”
Marble’s enduring legacy
Former island mayor Kostas Hadjiemmanouil, who championed the restoration of the ancient theater to its original marble form, expressed his joy and emotion to AMNA that the theater has finally reopened. “I feel vindicated,” he stated, highlighting the culmination of a multi-year personal effort that began in 2011, brought to fruition by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kavala – Thassos and Ephorate head Stavroula Dadaki, who navigated the complex procedures. “For the inhabitants of the island, the ancient theater was our first school,” he added.
Hadjiemmanouil continued, “I feel that I won a personal bet and am fulfilling a commitment of mine to the world of Thassos, when in 2010 I promised that I would throw away the rotten plywood from the ancient theater of the island and replace it with pure white Thassos marble. I also want to highlight the unanimous decision of the KAS for the marble restoration of the monument. A decision that was based on the perfect impression of the exceptional archaeologist and architect Tony Kozelj, who lives permanently on the island and offers important work.”
With its unparalleled views of the sea and the surrounding lush forest, the ancient theater of Thassos offers visitors a truly unique experience.
