Petra already had a large theater at Wadi Musa, which was enlarged under Roman rule and could seat up to 8,000 spectators (special presentation). Towards the end of the 1st century AD, or only after the annexation of the Nabataean Kingdom and its transformation into the Roman Provincia Arabia in 106 AD, this small theater with 600 to 900 seats was added. It is unusual and unique because it was built into the already existing columned hall of the so-called temple. It may have also served as a bouleuterion, i.e. a meeting place for the city's council.

On the photo you can see the stone cavea (spectator area) divided into four sections by stairways. The upper seats were reached by stairs from the back. The substructure under the cavea consists of three chambers. The semicircular orchestra (stage area) has a diameter of slightly more than 6 meters.