Roman Theater of Orange
When visiting the Roman Theater of Orange, visitors will be provided with an audio guide which comes with the ticket. This allows you to go at your own pace and better appreciate the site. I like these kinds of guides since I usually find out that there is much more information they provide than you actually care to know. There are numerous spots all over the theater grounds for visitors to visit. I dutifully followed the guide and came to appreciate the theater and Roman society as a whole because of this. Although I have visited a few theaters in Europe before, I think this is the first one I have seen with a stage backdrop.
Scaenae Frons at the Roman Theater of Orange
The stage backdrop is actually called a scaenae frons. It is probably the most striking of the structures here in the theater. It almost gives the appearance of a church. The scaenae frons here in the Roman Theater of Orange is one of only a few Roman theaters which still have it. It is a pity that the other theaters have lost theirs but we are fortunate that the one in Orange is still there. The scaenae frons provides an impressive background to whatever performance is held here. In contrast to the seating area, the scaenae frons looks extremely old. Apparently, the seating area has been restored and repairs for the safety of tourists.
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