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Explore The Arts


Theatre

Where can you see Susan Sarandon, Cillian Murphy, Alan Rickman, and Fiona Shaw up close and personal? A Hollywood set, perhaps, but in fact they’ve all performed in recent years on Irish stages.

For over a century, Irish theatre has been captivating audiences at home and abroad, and it’s still going from strength to strength. The programme at The Abbey Theatre (our National Theatre) mixes masterpieces with rousing new work, and the range of Dublin theatres is impressive, from the atmospheric Gate Theatre to the lively Olympia Theatre. And don’t miss the stunning new Grand Canal Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue designed by Daniel Libeskind.

Across the country, there’s more great drama to see. Try the Royal Theatre in Castlebar, the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow or one of the many arts centres, such as the Dunamaise in Portlaoise or the Belltable in Limerick. And of course the Druid in Galway, with its strong links to traditional culture.

Theatres aren’t only about plays. The Abbey Theatre, which in 1925 became the first ever state-subsidised theatre in the English-speaking world, offers a regular programme of talks, while at weekends the Gaiety Theatre transforms itself into one of Dublin’s liveliest clubs.

The Dublin Theatre Festival takes place all over Dublin city every autumn. Galway has its own theatre festival in October, and if you’re feeling adventurous why not try the Fringe Festival in September?

Interior view of the Gaiety Theatre during a performance

The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin