Roman Theatre, St Albans facts for kids
The Roman Theatre in St Albans, England, is an amazing ancient site. It's found inside the old Roman city of Verulamium. This theatre is special because it's the only one of its kind in Britain. It has a stage, unlike other Roman structures that were more like amphitheatres.
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Discovering the Roman Theatre
This ancient theatre was built around the year 140 AD. The city of Verulamium was a busy Roman town for many centuries. However, by the 5th century, people stopped using the theatre. In the 4th century, it was even used as a place to dump rubbish.
People started to uncover the theatre in the 1800s. Later, in the 1930s, a famous archaeologist named Kathleen Kenyon led more excavations. Her work helped us learn a lot about this important historical place.
What Makes This Theatre Unique?
Most Roman theatres were built on hillsides to use the natural slope for seating. But the theatre at Verulamium is different. It was built on land that was almost flat. Its design is also a bit unusual compared to typical Roman theatres. However, some theatres in Northern Gaul (an ancient region of Europe) had similar layouts.
Visiting the Theatre Today
The Roman Theatre is on land owned by the Earl of Verulam. It is often open for people to visit and explore. Sometimes, special plays and performances are even held there, bringing the ancient stage back to life!
See also
- List of Roman theatres
- St Albans Museums
