The theatre was inaugurated on 3 March 1585 with a production of Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex". However, the theatre was virtually abandoned after only a few productions. The scenes, which had been created in wood and stucco for "Oedipus Rex", and which were meant to represent the streets of Thebes, were never removed: despite bombings and other vicissitudes, they have miraculously preserved into modern times. The original lighting system of glass oil lamps, designed by Scamozzi, heightened the illusion of space, has been used only a few times because of the high cost and the risk of fire. Scamozzi's lighting system was used when, in 1997, the theatre was again employed for a production of "Oedipus Rex".