When I come across the ruins of an ancient theatre, I always feel a bit better about humanity – they're a good reminder that life in the ancient world was more meaningful than just survival and preparing for the next war. This thread has ten of my favourite theatres in Turkey.

10. The 2nd century AD Side theatre is in the Roman style, built on barrel-vaulted substructures. It hosted gladiatorial shows and later was converted into an open air church. Our visit was enlivened by two mating tortoises: their knocking shells echoed around the empty theatre.

9. The 5000-seat Assos theatre was built in the 3rd century BC and refurbished in the Roman era. The theatre has outstanding views over the Aegean and across to Lesbos.

8. I visited the ruins of the ancient Lycian city Arycanda back in 2013. Although a small theatre, it was in a magical location in the hills above the crowded Antalyan coast, and beneath some cliffs. The settlement at Arycanda dates back to the 6th century BC.

7. The theatre at Ephesus is the largest ancient theatre in Anatolia: it is 145 metres wide, 30 metres tall and used to hold up to 24,000 people. The theatre was completed (to its current dimensions) during Emperor Trajan's reign. The blue crane annoyingly blemished this picture.

6. What remains of the theatre of Sillyon (in modern Antalya), a city that famously repelled an attack from Alexander the Great in 333BC. After surviving for more than two millennia, in 1969 half of the theatre was unfortunately lost down the hill after an earthquake.

5. The 10,000 seat theatre at Pergamon is perched on a steep slope leading down from the Acropolis. With 78 rows of seats and a 36 metre altitude difference between top and bottom, it’s the steepest theatre in the ancient world – no concerns about being seated behind the tall guy

4. The theatre of Aspendos is one of the best preserved in antiquity and represents an advance in theatre design. While the Greek theatre blended the theatre with the countryside, the Roman Aspendos theatre is cut off from the outside world and in its own self-contained space.

3. The Greek style theatre at Termessos is constructed with ashlar masonry and has a seating capacity of 4200. It is in an outstanding location on a mountain top with views on each side. A good place to kick back for a show on a Friday night.

2. The Greco-Roman theatre at Perge dates to the 2nd century AD and could accommodate 15,000 spectators. The podium features some impressive reliefs depicting local river god Kestros as well as the life of Dionysus.

1. My favourite ancient theatre in Turkey is at Selge, located on the southern slopes of Mount Taurus. Originally a Luwian settlement (Estlegiyas), and later Spartan, Selge was at one stage the largest city in Pisidia. The ancient theatre now contrasts with its rural surrounds.

As a bonus, the theatre from my primary school, dating to circa 1980AD. In Australia, we’re a bit loose with definitions and would call this an amphitheatre. While not quite as magnificent as the theatre at Aspendos, it still provided a venue for the whole school to come together