Southern Theater

Southern Theater

Introduction The grand theater south of Jerash was once a central hub of city life. With 32 tiers of seating accommodating 3,000 spectators, the stage backdrop, constructed from rose-colored limestone and white stone, glows with a golden-brown luster in the sunset. The doors on either side of the stage were originally two sluice gates, which are believed to have been designed to create the effect of a water stage. Nowadays, the annual summer music festival takes place in Jerash’s 2,000-year-old theater every July, where thrilling gladiator battles are also reenacted, transporting visitors back to the era of Roman rule. To enhance audience engagement, after an intense fight, spectators can decide the fate of the defeated gladiator: his chariot is dramatically “torn apart by five horses.” Tourism professionals in Jordan believe that such events bring vitality to Jerash, broaden visitors' horizons, and leave them with unforgettable memories.

Irbid, Jordan