On the use of ancient theatres for modern performances: a scale model approach

Ancient theatres are widely used today for modern performances including drama, music and ballets. Despite the state of conservation of the stage, the scenery is seldom designed with little care about its acoustical efficiency. Moreover, depending on the specific venue, a sound system can be employed in the performance. To clarify the acoustical impact of all these elements in ancient theatres, different stage settings and a sound sytem were investigated by means of scale model measurements. The scale model is a 1:20 scale reproduction of the ancient theatre of Siracusa (Italy). It is conceived as modular structure so that different configurations of the cavea and of the stage can be reproduced. To investigate the stage‐set effects different groups of reflecting panels were arranged on the platform and an orchestra shell was tested too. Then, to simulate the sound system, two directional high frequency sources were assembled and optimized. The interplay of stage, sound system and theatre architecture was outlined by a comprehensive set of acoustical measurements.