£5.4m project will extend and modernise 2,500-year-old venue

An ancient theatre in Athens which is thought to be the birthplace of modern theatre is to be restored.

The Theatre of Dionysos stands on the southern side of the Acropolis Hill. It will be rebuilt by extending and modernising stone seats, although no new performances have yet been planned to take placed there.

It is hoped the £5.4m project will be completed by 2015.

Architect Constantinos Boletis described the building as being “of immense historic significance”, the BBC said.

Over 2,500 years ago, works were performed by playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides.

During the fourth century BC, the theatre was rebuilt in limestone and marble, and could seat up to 15,000 spectators.

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