Theatre appears to have been introduced to Britain relatively soon after the Roman invasion under Claudius (AD 43). Tacitus mentions that a theatre had been built in the Roman colony of Camulodunum, the first provincial capital of Britain, which in AD 60/61 “rang with shrieks” in an omen of the forthcoming revolt of Boudica. The theatre was likely built in the AD 50s, potentially less than a decade after the Romans had gained a foothold in southern England. By the second century AD theatres had been constructed in a number of Roman towns, suggesting that there was a demand for live enH tertainment within the province, although perhaps less so than in other areas of the Empire.
Theatre shows would have provided a leisuretime alternative to the more brutal sports entertainments such as gladiatorial fights, boxing matches, and perhaps chariot races, which would have taken place at other venues within the province, particularly amphitheatres.
Known theatres
There were probably far more theatres in Britain than we have
