In the mid-60's, the actor Alexis Minotis recommends the Fortezza fortress as a suitable space to construct a theatre, and the architect Dimitris Pikionis writes a report stating that in Fortezza "all the significant plays of Cretan Medieval drama will be performed". In the beginning of the 70's a small place is formed in the bastion of St. Elias with some seats and performances start to open during the summer.

 

In 1987, the city of Rethymno presents the 1st festival of Renaissance theatre. The premier is on the 4th of July 1987 with the performance "Erofyli" written by the Rethymnian Renaissance writer, Georgios Hortatsis. Performances continue to be presented next year and the festival is renamed as "the Renaissance Festival of Rethymno". Other kind of artistic performances are also included (music, dance, art exhibitions, speeches), all connected to the Renaissance or the Venetian Period, when the city of Rethymno underwent cultural revival.

In 1993, the "Erofyli" theatre is founded, with 500 seats. Rethymno proudly presents one of the country's most significant festivals, advertised in newspapers and magazines in Athens and other parts of Greece.

 

(From the text of Manos F. Tsakonas: "20 years of Renaissance Festival", Rethymno, 2006).