Theatres continue to fascinate as well as entertain us. The creation of a space for spectacle that is at once imposing and yet intimate has been a challenge through the centuries. From the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's day to the cutting-edge technology of the new Bastille Opera in Paris, the history of theatre building is here revealed through culor photography and fine-art reproductions. The reader will take a tour through time to see how buildings and performance practices are interrelated. Included are theatres of the ancient Grreks and the Elizabethans, the great opera houses of the world, famous playhouses, and the movie palaces of Hollywood's golden age.