Description

The construction of the municipality theatre of Piraeus was decided during the time of mayor Trifonas Moutzopoulos in the year 1883.
In the next elections in 1883, the elected new Mayor was Aristidis Skilitsis- Omirides which along with the municipality’s council adopted and inspired its construction.

In 23th October of 1883 Athenian newspapers republish from the Piraeus newspaper “sfaira” detailed information about the project, for example height, width, length and scene characteristics, attendance specifications, heat and so on.

This is how it all started in the place bought and formed by Ar. Skilitsis in the central Korai Square according to plans issued by the Piraeus architect I. Lazarimos with a starting initial planned cost of 450.000 drachmas which was raised despite the effort. The whole project was completed after 12 years during the time of Mayor Theodore Retsinas in the year 1895.

Description
The municipality theatre represents the pure classic tradition and is influenced by the German school of Ernest Chiller. The building is rectangle shaped, with dimensions of 34X45 meters. The calm and conservative appearance of the front is also indicated by the facade located in the central entrance which is included of four Corinthian style, pillars and gable. In the roof there is a room with a roof with its own gable and facade.  

In the interior there is a petal-shaped public hall room with a square, also mezzanines and balconies are situated in four floors with a total attendance capability of 1300 people. The whole building was lightened by a gigantic chandelier operated by gas which still survives today. The actors enjoyed large dressing rooms and a luxury hall. The original scenery still survives today and is considered one of the few survived Baroque stele monuments in Europe. With dimensions of 20X14 meters and has a faced and place for an orchestra. Around the petal of the hall is the two floor foyer which originally was used for dance parties and shows of philanthropy organizations at the time. Also exhibitions of great painters used to take place. For sometime the theatre also was the host of the municipality’s painting exhibition and the municipality’s library.

According to its size and its classic appearance the municipality theatre of Piraeus is considered today the most important Greek theatre monument of the 19th century and surviving up to this day.  

Repairs and reconstruction
In the honor of the Mayors who didn’t neglect to show their interest for this architecture miracle in our city there was much repairing, reconstruction, rebuilding involved during the decades, in order to excellent preserve this miracle’s shape and according to the time being appearance. During the last decades there have been numerous attempts to reconstruct the theatre; in 1980 it was declared a protected national monument of art. Sadly there were some damages due to earthquakes, of 1981 and 1999 especially. In January 2006 its complete reconstruction was decided. During this process the original wooden scene was found and numerous other findings, most of which are among the few that still survive today in Europe. This process took a whole five years from 2008 to 2013, in which year and in September the theatre was delivered and begun its operation again.

(source: http://www.pireasnet.gr)