There’s a thing isn’t there called Been On A Course Syndrome, well I think I’ve caught something similar Been On A Trip Syndrome.
I’ve just spent a few days in Cartagena, Spain – a town that is attempting to maximise the value of its Roman Heritage (and ruins). Living in Colchester its hard not to make comparisons, and draw parallels.
Cartagena has a magnificent ruin of a 7,000 seat Roman Theatre, discovered as late as the 1980’s and for a whole host of reasons (including ruins under low grade housing that can be removed, substantial ruins in good condition, some historical good fortune including not being burned to ashes by you know who, a powerful consortium combining the LA, the University, chamber and local history groups driving interest, subsequent EU funding and a desire to rebuild the towns fortunes based on its culture and history) the town has been able to both preserve and substantially invest in its ruins.
Alongside the Theatre are two different approaches. The temple, and a town house are preserved and displayed ‘underground’ – under existing buildings – whilst the Forum is maintained under a contemporary canopy practically in the centre of the town.
Everywhere you go there is evidence of joined up thinking – in the signage, in the promotion, in the way the town is communicating, in its joined up message (many of the key sites are run by the consortium), by the enthusiasm and dedication of the staff and there seemingly omnipresent t shirts bearing the slogan ‘Follow Me!’.
European Restoration
Standards of restoration are different from country to country, and you notice more on the continent reconstruction and repair designed to give you a sense of what the ruin would have looked like. It quite often leaves you trying to work out whats genuine and whats not…
But reconstruction…theres a thing
Colchester
There were 5 Roman Theatres in the UK, and 2 of them (maybe even 3?) are in Colchester. A smaller one now buried under the houses of the Dutch Quarter, and the outline of a 5,000 seater at the Gosbecks architectural park. Neither are really ‘must see’ attractions, unless you are a real Roman enthusiast.
But I cant keep thinking isn’t it amazing that Colchester has 2 Roman theatres plus an enormous Circus?
So – and heres the mad bit – could we build a new one?
Building a Roman Theatre
Yes I realise this is bonkers, a giant theatrical folly even, but imagine for a moment….
This isn’t new
Lets face it one of the most successful attractions in London is Shakespeare’s Globe and increasingly in transport heritage teams are rebuilding from plans and blueprints now ‘lost’ vehicles. We might not be able to build on the sites of these original theatres , but we could recreate.
Yet it would be a first
No one else I’m aware of is rebuilding a Roman Theatre, and what a giant statement that would be – about Colchester and its heritage.
But wouldn’t it be one giant red herring
Two things to think about here.
The first is the ‘partnership’ that might build such a thing. When you visit the Forum at Cartagena you quickly become aware how the Romans would build commercial units on the ‘borders’ of their baths and indeed temples. It does make you think about what the outer circumference of what a ‘new’ theatre could be used for, if sensitively and cleverly designed. You only need to look at what is happening in cricket stadia at the moment (which partly share the shape of an amphitheatre) to get a sense of how something might work (ie Headingley Cricket Ground in partnership with one of the Leeds Universities, the rooms around the perimeter are teaching spaces when not in Test Match mode or The Rose Bowl, where the rooms around the perimeter form a fully functioning hotel). A flat, hotel room, student flat on the ‘edge’ of a new Roman Theatre – each room named after an object,place or artefact found here in the town – could be an attractive proposition. The strength of the scholarship behind any build, the living history opportunities and the wider impact could make for a really strong ‘case for support’
Second is the programme or the sustainable business model. Many people doubted the Globe could be made let alone work, and its record stands for itself. And yes I recognise that there isn’t a classic repertoire of Roman texts that are consistently in demand – but look at what Roman Theatres were actually used for? Essentially for entertainment. A ’new’ Roman Theatre would be a unique event space for concerts, festivals, graduations, showcases, open air cinema (on the Romanesque curtain …yes the Romans had curtains which marked the beginning and end of shows)– even party conferences perhaps (!). Of course during the day it exists as a visitor attraction, an educational resource, a gateway to Colchester’s genuine Roman remains and ultimately a magnet bringing people to the city. It’s business model would be built across its commercial elements (the hotel/ Housing), its learning elements and its events elements. Each would feed of each other.
(But what about the weather – well yes there is that – although the Romans were ahead of their time here too installing temporary roofs in several of their theatres to ward off the sun rather than rain. We might have to look at something more substantial (think Wimbledon perhaps) but there is a precedent to build on).
Which of course points to the fact there is a thin line between historical authenticity and commercial drivers, but its not an impossible line with careful planning, scholarship and quality design. Many recent projects have shown how you can sensitively join old with new (in order to enhance the old – look at the recently re-opened Dragons Hall in Norwich for example).
We don’t know enough – this was over 2,000 years ago
Weirdly we know more about Roman Theatres than we do about the theatres of Shakespeares time. Across Europe there are several extant ruins, and of course we also have the footprint of not one but two theatres right here in Colchester. And on top of that Vituvius dedicated two of his ten volume treatise on architecture to building theatres (including slightly dodgy ideas about acoustics…)
The Greek and Roman amphitheatres have influenced hundreds of theatres designs (including of course The Mercury at Colchester), and they work as spaces…
And with that I’m going to get off my high horse – or should I say elephant (Claudius’ of course) – and stop imagining!