Venue: Theatre of Thorikos
Town: Lavreotiki, GR

The Theatre of Thorikos (Greek: Αρχαίο Θέατρο Θορικού), situated north of Lavrio, was an ancient Greek theater in the demos of Thorikos in Attica, Greece. It holds the distinction of being the world's oldest known theater, dating back to its construction around 525-480 BC. The theater is unusual in its design, as it is elongated instead of the typical semicircle. The theater was not exclusively designed for theatrical performances, since it also served as a venue for gatherings and meetings among the citizens of Thorikos. Enhanced through multiple construction phases, the Thorikos Theatre stands as a remarkable testament to the development of ancient Greek architecture. The initial construction phase was completed around 525-480 BC, at the ending of the archaic period. Its antiquity characterizes it as a primitive Greek structure, solidifying its distinction as the world's oldest surviving theatre. The shape of the theater can be attributed to the fact that it was constructed entirely at a time when the standardized form of theaters had not yet been established. In recent times, the peculiar shape is also believed to result from multiple expansions that have been added to the theater's seating, with some overlaying the original arrangement. The theater became elongated when it was expanded in the classical period of the 4th century BC, halfway between changes were made to it as early as 300 BC. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens conducted archaeological excavations on the theater in 1886. The ruins of the theater are located on the southern slope of the hill known today as Velatoúri. The theater stand is elongated in the middle and curves at both ends. It opens towards the southwest and its width is about 55 meters. The theater's orchestra is oval in shape and measures approximately 16 × 30 meters or approximately 443 square meters. The theatre was built with limestone from the ancient quarry located near the it. In the first phase of construction, t