Middle Roman Republic (289-124 BC)

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By 290 BC Rome had become all-powerful in Southern Italy. The Romans had been victorious over the Samnites, Gauls and Umbirnas at Sentinum. They were becoming a world power with a powerful military force. The Punic wars would follow, and bring much triumph to Rome. During this time the people of Rome were beginning to feel secure in their city and their government, and they were becoming quite wealthy.

This increase in Roman power, and wealth by the people led to the true start of theatre for the Romans. Also due to their conquering of other peoples of the Mediterranean, and surrounding countries, they were also gaining influences of these conquered cultures into their own culture. Over the course of this 155-year period, one can see Roman Theatre at its height. There were the religious dramatic festivals referred to as ludi scaenici. There is evidence of these as early as 364 BC, but they reached their height during the time of Plautus and the 2nd century BC. Dramatic performance in the second century occurred at public festivals. Aediles or praetors organized these games; these officials not only were in charge of the festivals, but also added to the senatorial funds allocated for these festivals with donations of their own money. Since admission to the festivals was free to the public, these were the only sources of funds for the games.

It was during this time that all but one of the Roman playwrights lived. They are; Quintus Ennius, Gnaeus Naevives, Marcus Pacuvius, Titus Maccius Plautus, Lucius Accius, Caucilius, and Publius Terentius Afer. These playwrights all lived between the years of 260-130 BC, and all achieved varying degrees of popularity. The playwrights wrote both comedy and tragedy.

Plays were not the only form of entertainment to reach Rome during this period. Playwrights had to compete against the gladiator fights, bear baiting, and other sports, for an audience. Often these spectacles would win against the theatrical ones, due to the excitement and realness that these entertainments offered.

With the death of Terence, theatre began to die out as well, leaving the Roman's with their preferred forms of gruesome entertainment.

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