Fully restored Municipal Theatre of Piraeus opens its doors to the public

After 14 years of silence, the fully renovated Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, a historic theater that first opened some 118 years ago, in 1895, officially opened its doors to the public again on Tuesday evening, in the presence of Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

“The reopening of the Municipal Theatre is a shining example of consistency and continuity in a country that is in need of continuity and consistency. It is a part of the glorious history of this city, the history of our country, which now is no longer a ruin, but ready for new pages in history. This is the great symbolism of this work. A country does not prosper by erasing the history and leaving the past to decay, but by highlighting its right to have its past as a springboard for the future," Samaras stressed in his address.

Mayor Piraeus Vassilis Michaloliakos said the port city of Piraeus and Greece now again have what he called a temple of art and culture."Piraeus today comes out of a decades-long cultural stagnation and again becomes a strong power and a seafaring center, as well as a pioneer in culture and a growth leader.”

"The Municipal Theatre of Piraeus reopened after a long struggle. What is now required is to ensure steady operation, is lasting government funding to keep it open to the people," said Dimitris Koutsoumbas, leader of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), who also attended the event.

Source: Athens News Agency