Archeologists, architects and dignitaries in Greece have formed a lobby group calling for urgent government action to rescue the country's ancient open-air theatres.

The group publicized their plight this week, saying 76 of these sites are in need of emergency repair.

The Herodes Atticus theatre at the foot of the Acropolis hill in Athens was shut down in 2006 for repairs. It's used regularly for staging plays and events.
(Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press)

"Ancient theatres need to be constantly preserved, some need to be restored, but what they mostly need is to be used," classical archeology Prof. Petros Themelis said.

One of the group's more prominent members is former Socialist culture minister Stavros Benos: "The image of our monuments is discouraging."

Most maintenance funds are used for about 30 open-air venues, which regularly hold events and plays.

Just two years ago, two of the main open-air theatres used for performances had to be shut down for repairs: the Epidaurus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Built in the fourth-century BC, the Epidaurus theatre two hours north of Athens attracts thousands of tourists every year who flock to watch Greek plays by Euripides or Sophocles.

The Epidaurus is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, known as the Herodeion and built between 160 and 174 AD, is home to an annual festival of Greek theatre, and also hosts concerts and ballets. It sits at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens.

While much attention has been lavished on those two sites, the sixth- century BC Dionysus theatre in Athens — where the ancient Greek plays were originally performed — is in disrepair and cannot host any events.

The group is lobbying for all the ancient theatres to be restored and used on a regular basis.

"We might restore them, but nature will destroy them again [if they are not used]," Themelis warns.

The group also points out that another 28 ancient theatres are known to exist, but have not yet been located or excavated.