Pompeii Theatrum Mundi

When the Great Theatre returns to being a theatre

For a few summer evenings, the cavea of the Pompeii Archaeological Park ceases to be just a monument and returns to its original function: hosting spectators. This is the essence of Pompeii Theatrum Mundi, the summer festival that the Teatro di Napoli - Teatro Nazionale has been producing since 2017 in collaboration with the Pompeii Archaeological Park, in the town of Pompeii, in the province of Naples, Campania.

A festival, not just an outdoor season

The formula has remained the same over the years: a few titles, all of international significance, each performed for two or three nights. It is not about hosting touring shows, but about challenging directors and choreographers to engage with a venue that is unforgiving: the stone, the evening air, and the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius behind the audience. Many of the productions staged here are national premieres or works specifically conceived for this cavea.

The ninth edition, in 2026

The 2026 edition took place from June 18 to July 12, featuring four titles spread over eleven evenings: three texts from the Greek repertoire and one contemporary dance creation. The artistic direction is entrusted to Roberto Andò, while the Pompeii Archaeological Park is directed by Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

• The Bacchae by Euripides, directed by Theodoros Terzopoulos - June 18, 19, and 20, at 9:00 PM
• L.A.V.A., choreographic creation by Emio Greco, Pieter C. Scholten, and Roberto Zappalà - June 26 and 27, at 9:00 PM
• Alcestis by Euripides, directed by Filippo Dini - July 3, 4, and 5, at 8:00 PM
• The Persians by Aeschylus, directed by Àlex Ollé - July 10, 11, and 12, at 8:00 PM

The Great Theatre

The Great Theatre is one of the oldest masonry theatres in the Roman world: the cavea, built against the natural slope, dates back to the Samnite period and was later remodeled in the Augustan age. After the eruption of 79 AD, it remained buried under ash for centuries; today, it returns to welcome the public, with a limited capacity that makes the acoustic experience surprisingly intimate, much like in ancient times. Those sitting on the stone tiers look at the stage and, just beyond it, the Vesuvius landscape: it is this dual view that makes the evening different from any other outdoor performance.

A collaborative project

The festival was born from the meeting between a theatrical institution and an archaeological one, and this is its hallmark: the site is not used as a simple backdrop, but as a dramaturgical interlocutor. The productions involved over the years include the major Italian National Theatres, the INDA of Syracuse, and international dance companies, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Campania Region, and the Municipality, and in dialogue with the Campania Teatro Festival.

How to enjoy the evening

For those arriving from outside the region, the most natural combination is an afternoon visit to the excavations followed by the evening performance: the site is reachable by train from Naples and Salerno and does not require a car. A few tips will make your evening more comfortable.

• Performances in the evening, at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM depending on the title
• Public entrance from the Piazza Esedra gate, different from the daytime tourist entrances
• Seating on stone tiers: it is advisable to bring a cushion and a light jacket for the second part of the evening
• Large, international audience: it is best to arrive well in advance of the start time