The Lycabettus Municipal Theatre is planning a rich and eclectic program of events from May until the end of July that will once again make it a highlight of Athens’ summertime cultural life, ranging from rock concerts to ancient theater.
“The Lycabettus Muncipal Theatre is returning this year as well as an open space of culture, a place of meeting and cultural expression for all. With a program that unites great Greek and international artists, music and theater, Lycabettus is once again becoming a benchmark for the Athens summer,” said Athens Mayor Haris Doukas about the program prepared by Athens Technopolis.
The theater’s season opens on May 15 with the legendary Patti Smith, while highlights in June include a tribute to Greek songwriter Yiannis Spanos, the band Pyx Lax, Chris Isaac and finally a tribute to Greek artist Chronis Aidonidis. In addition to music, a number of theatrical performances are planned, including the Ancient Greek comedy Ecclesiazusae by Aristophanes.
July will begin with a Beth Hart concert to be followed by an Opera Gala featuring the Athens State Orchestra, an evening of jazz, soul and Marvin Gaye with Jose James, a rendering of the Ancient Greek tragedy Medea by Euripides, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant with Saving Grace, a tribute to the work of Greek composer Thanos Mikroutsikos and will culminate with a first-ever appearance in Greece by Godsmack.
The crown of Athens: A brief history
The theater was the brainchild of the legendary Greek actress Anna Synodinou, who envisioned a space where ancient drama could be performed against the backdrop of the modern city. In the mid-1960s, she successfully lobbied for the conversion of an old quarry into a cultural sanctuary.
Designed by the pioneering architect Takis Zenetos in 1964, the theater is a masterpiece of modernist architecture. Zenetos designed a lightweight, shell-like steel structure that “sits” inside the crater of the quarry, minimizing the impact on the natural rock while providing perfect visibility and acoustics.
After being declared structurally unsafe in 2008, the theater remained closed and silent for fifteen years. Its grand reopening in late 2023 was one of the most anticipated cultural events in recent Greek history, following a meticulous €5 million ($5.8 million) restoration by the Municipality of Athens that modernized the seating and safety features while preserving Zenetos’ original “floating” design.
Related: Athens From Above: Discover the Views From Lycabettus Hill
