Restoration plans of ancient theatre

Works will soon start for the restoration of the ancient theatre of Dionysus, which stands under the holy rock of the Acropolis for more than 25 centuries. This theatre has historical importance for all humanity as this is where the first plays ever were performed in the 5th century BC. Although it evidently carries the marks of time that has passed , the restoration plans will give a bit of its old glory.  More seats will be added to the theatre, increasing the shuttles at 26 from 13 that survive today. When works will be complete, 500 more seats will be added to the 1,600 that exist, although in the ancient times the theatre had a capacity of 15,000 spectators. For the restoration, workers will not use stone from Piraeus, like the original material, because there is difficulty to mine this stone today. Instead, stone from Corinthia, Central Peloponnese, will be used, while 128 small statues that have been excavated from the area will also be used.  Moreover, the plans include the restoration of a cave above the theatre, a monument donated by Thrasylos, an Athenian general. This monument had been intact for 20 centuries but unfortunately it was destroyed in 1827 during the siege of the Acropolis by the Turks. At the entrance of the theatre, a statue of Menandros, the great ancient poet, will stand. This will be a copy of an ancient statue that is today cut in half, one half is hosted in a museum in Naples Italy and the other half in Florence. The restoration is expected to complete in 5 years.