In ancient times, theatre and amphitheatre are the buildings most related to entertainment and leisure. Cities with the status of city capital usually had an amphitheatre because the shows (gladiator or animal fights) were more expensive. In Jublains, however, the city’s notables chose to build a theatre, leaning against a natural slope to the south of the city. An inscription kept in the museum mentions the name of the notable who offered the building to his fellow citizens “out of his own money”. It is a certain Orgetorix, whose Gallic-sounding surname shows the progressive acculturation of the elites to the Roman way of life.
Two successive states of the building are visible today, linked to stages of development of the city.
THE 1st THEATRE The first building, almost circular, is extremely original because the Roman theatres are usually semi-circular. Only known are its perimeter wall, a stage space (the orchestra) and a small stage building, both semi-circular. It was probably built in the 1980s A.D. when the city was given its urban appearance.
2nd THEATRE During the 1st half of the 2nd century AD, a second theatre was rebuilt in the same location. His plan comes closer to the semicircle but he seems rather poorly mastered. The cavea (space reserved for the bleachers), larger, is accessible by four vomitories. The stands were built of wood, also used to delimit the orchestra. The latter is particularly vast and its almost oval shape brings it closer to the amphitheatre arenas, perhaps to host larger shows.
Today, the Jublains Theatre continues to host performances and serves as a showcase for the festival Les Nuits de la Mayenne.