The Theatre of Dionysus is the mother of all Western theatres. In 534 BCE, a man called Thespis introduced dialogue to ritual dances performed for the god of wine and theatre, creating the first theatrical performance. Thespian, the term for actor, comes from his name. The ancient Greek word was hypocrites.

During the golden age, audiences sat on wooden seats and watched only original works. Until 386 BCE, no play was ever repeated. The stone thrones visible today came later, after 340 BCE. Sixty-seven front-row seats belonged to priests, with Dionysus' priest occupying the central throne decorated with lion legs and armrests. More than a thousand plays premiered here in the fifth century BCE alone.

The Romans fenced the orchestra for gladiators. The colourful marble pavement dates from that period.

VoiceMap's self-guided audio tours explain how Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes used this space to challenge gods, elites and authority, tracing theatre's evolution from religious festival to political arena.