Outdoor theatre

Not far away from Selinunte’s Greek temples, architects Marcello Maltese and Maurizio Oddo designed an open theatre on a slope, facing the Mediterranean sea.

Nearby the ancient temples of Selinunte, in Sicily’s south-western coast, architects Marcello Maltese and Maurizio Oddo completed a new outdoor theatre on a natural slope. The complex deeply interacts with the surrounding natural elements, creating visual interactions with the Mediterranean sea. The arena can host up to 1000 spectators, showcasing a large wooden stage, a backstage, dressing rooms, the control room, a ticket office and toilets.

The project uses materials in harmony with the surroundings: completely covered in wood, the stage, the backstage, the north and south entrances resemble a box thanks to their geometric paneling. The warm colors of the arena absorb the intense sunlight, reflecting the Mediterranean nuances. The theater will bear two famous Sicilian actors’ names, Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, who both started their professional careers in Castelvetrano.