Athens Epidaurus Festival — Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Performances

The Epidaurus strand of the Athens Epidaurus Festival is one of the great pilgrimages of European theatre: to sit in the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus on a summer night and watch Greek tragedy and comedy performed where it has been performed for more than two thousand years. Built in the 4th century BC on the Peloponnese, the theatre is celebrated for acoustics so precise that a whisper from the orchestra carries to the topmost of its roughly 14,000 seats, and for a setting — a bowl of stone against the Argolid hills — that needs no scenery. Founded in its modern form in 1955, the festival brings leading Greek and international companies to this stage each summer.

What to expect

The Epidaurus performances run on Friday and Saturday nights from late June to late August, concentrating on ancient Greek tragedy and comedy alongside other major productions, staged as the light fades. The programme is usually announced in February or March. Audiences travel out from Athens for the night, and the ritual of the journey is part of the experience.

The theatre lies in Argolis, about two hours from Athens; the festival runs coach transfers from the city for many performances. Book tickets and transfers ahead through the festival's official channels, and bring a cushion — the seats are ancient stone.

The festival's celebrated performances at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus are held in the Peloponnese, roughly two hours from Athens. Fly into Athens International Airport (ATH, Eleftherios Venizelos). On performance days the festival and KTEL operators run special coaches from central Athens direct to Epidaurus and back after the show — by far the simplest option. Otherwise, drive or take a KTEL bus toward Nafplio and continue to the theatre. For the festival's Athens venues, the metro serves the centre (Acropoli and Syntagma stations); double-check each event's location, as Athens and Epidaurus are far apart.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Greece (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
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