The theatre is a very large structure and beautifully built and was used for plays, orations of poetry and many other entertainments of days gone by. Its sheer size is quite astounding as the seating is all of solid stone blocks with aisles fitted with steps to easily access the differing seating levels. Apparently most theaters and other large public buildings were gifts to the people by very wealthy Romans to raise their profile for elections to the senate etc, a little different to nowadays when the people pay for the buildings and also for the election of the senate etc.