Theatres of the Future

Pliny the Elder, writing in the first century A.D., describes two Roman theatres: One sat 80,000 people and consisted of three stories of marble, glass, and wood respectively; the other consisted of two theatres back-to-back which could be rotated with the audience seated inside to form an amphitheatre. It is unlikely that either ever existed, but each conjures up visions of grandeur and technical marvel and both could be considered Classical versions of a theatre of the future. Futuristic architecture, theatrical or otherwise, excites the imagination and fulfills fantasies. It uses new materials, unusual shapes or forms, promises greater comfort or luxury than currently possible, and uses new or potential technology to eliminate inconvenience and create wondrous new spectacles. Such architecture is futuristic simply because it satisfies the popular image of what the future should be the stuff of science fiction and fantasy.