The Roman theatre at Mérida was built around 15 BC for Emeritus Augusta, the colony founded for retired legionaries, and it seats some three thousand people on its original stone with the scaenae frons columns standing behind the stage. The festival has staged Greek tragedy, Roman comedy and later classical adaptations there since 1933, which makes it the oldest festival in Spain.
No attendance figure is recorded here in this pass.
The season spreads across July and August as separate productions, each playing several nights.
Mérida's whole archaeological ensemble is UNESCO-listed. Extremadura in high summer is among the hottest parts of Spain — performances begin after ten at night for that reason — and the town has limited accommodation, with Cáceres an hour away.
PlanningA July–August season of individual nights in the ancient theatre.