Theatre has always played an important part of the Greek culture and flourished in ancient Greece between 550 and 220 BC.  It was centered around Athens which was a significant cultural, political and military power during this period.  The origins of the theatre is believed to have started as a festival in honour of the god Dionysius, and from this festival three dramatic genres emerged; tragedy, comedy and satyr.  The festival was exported to other parts of Greece and its allies in order to promote common cultural identity.  Western theatre originates from Athens and is still an important part of the Greek culture.

 

On Corfu the first theatre came about in1720.  The Nobile Teatro di San Giancomo was named after a catholic cathedral in Corfu and was actually built in 1693 as a meeting place for the Venetian nobility of Corfu and later converted into a theatre.  It actually became the first modern theatre to be established in Greece. 
 
Because of demands by a growing audience, a decision was made to construct a new theatre; and under the then mayor, Georgos Theotokis, construction began in 1893.  He commissioned the Italian architect, Conrado Pergolesi who modeled the new theatre on La Scala in Milan.
 
Because of high construction costs the opening was delayed until 7th December 1902, but it was well worth the wait.  This was an amazing building.  It had a maximum height of 39 meters and there was a gallery at the front entrance adorned by high columns.  The entrance featured large purple columns and its high walls were decorated with frescoes of famous composers created by Italian artists. The upper floor was decorated by four Corinthian order semi-columns and a gable. The official emblem of Corfu stood at the centre of the gable surrounded by a laurel wreath.  
Because of high construction costs the opening was delayed until 7th December 1902, but it was well worth the wait.  This was an amazing building.  It had a maximum height of 39 meters and there was a gallery at the front entrance adorned by high columns.  The entrance featured large purple columns and its high walls were decorated with frescoes of famous composers created by Italian artists. The upper floor was decorated by four Corinthian order semi-columns and a gable. The official emblem of Corfu stood at the centre of the gable surrounded by a laurel wreath. 

 

 

 

 
Internally, the auditorium included three ascending levels of boxes, 64 in all, and a gallery on the fourth floor for the general public.  The first box in the first row was reserved for the committee, the first box of the second row for the Greek royal family and all boxes included gas lights. 
 
The historic stage curtain was inherited from the old theatre and was a scene from Odyssey, created by an Italian artist.
The theatre was considered one of Europe's finest, with great acoustics and richly decorated interiors depicting ancient Greek gods and musical themes, painted by Italian artists.   It was also used for dances and balls by the elite and Kaiser Wilhelm II is also known to have attended many of them whilst holidaying on Corfu.

Corfu was heavily bombed during the Second World War and sadly, the theatre was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in 1943.  The stage curtain was not in the theatre at the time of the bombing and is the only artifact remaining of this amazing building.  It has recently been restored by a local Corfiot artist and is now stored in the new theatre which is located in Mantzarou Street opposite the town hall.

 

 

 

In 1923, refugees from Asia Minor were accommodated in the theatre boxes.