The study of Greek and Roman theatre was one of the most important topics in the scientific heritage of Boris Vasil'evich Warneke (1874-1944), who was also interested in the development of theatre in subsequent periods, especially in the fate of Russian theatre culture. The authors emphasize that not only scientific studies, but also the personal life of Warneke were connected with the world of theatre. Many important problems of the history of the Greek and Roman theatre were considered by Warneke in a number of special articles and the general essay “History of the ancient theatre” (1940), which in many ways and now remains relevant.