Olympia Theatre (Dublin)

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Olympia Theatre
Front entrance in August 2009
Former names	Star of Erin Music Hall (1879 - 1881) Dan Lowrey's Music Hall(1881 - 1889) Dan Lowrey's Palace of Varieties(1889 - 1897 Empire Palace Theatre (1897 - ?)
Alternative names	The Olympia
General information
Type	Concert and events venue
Location	72 Dame Street Dublin
Country	Ireland
Opening	1879
Other information
Seating capacity	1,300 1,600 (standing and seated)
Website
mcd.ie/venues/?c=olympiatheatre

The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall and theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located in Dame Street.

History

Opened as 'The Star of Erin' music hall in 1879 and was then renamed Dan Lowerys Music Hall in 1881. It was finally given the name of The Olympia Theatre in 1923. It ran successfully for many years up to November 1974 when it was forced to close following major structural damage (during a break in rehearsals for a production of West Side Story parts of the proscenium arch and the ceiling above collapsed). The possibility of demolishing the building was considered by the local Council and the owners, however a restoration fund was begun and City Councillors eventually placed a preservation order on the theatre.

The theatre was restored and redecorated, allowing it to reopen on 14 March 1977.^[1] In November 2004, a truck reversing on Dame Street crashed into the front of the Olympia damaging the building. A cast-iron and glass canopy from the 1890s, by the Saracen Foundry in Glasgow, was demolished during the accident but has since been restored.

Performance history

The venue hosts both domestic and international acts, including Adele, Elvis Costello, Moving Hearts, Aslan, The Script, Kaiser Chiefs, Billy Connolly and Chris Cornell amongst others. R.E.M. recorded their album Live at the Olympia at the venue. Tom Waits recorded his famous live version of The Piano Has Been Drinking here, released in 1981 on the Bounced Checks compilation. Tori Amos played her first European gig in the Olympia. Erasure played two consecutive sold-out gigs in the Olympia during their Total Pop Tour in June 2011 when they recorded some footage for the videoclip of their single When I Start To (Break It All Down).^{[citation needed]}

Pantomime history

The Olympia along with Dublin's Gaiety Theatre and The Helix Theatre presents an annual Christmas pantomimes. Its most recent productions have been Aladdin, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Robin Hood and last year's revival of Cinderella which starred Jedward as the Fairy Godbrothers. This year the Olympia pantomime features Jedward once again in Jedward and the Beanstalk.

In addition, the film An Awfully Big Adventure shot many of its scenes at the theatre.

References

↑ "Theatres, Halls and Related Articles for Dublin, Ireland". Retrieved 2008-08-07.

Sources

Anthony, Barry (2010). The King's Jester. London: I. B. Taurus & Co. ISBN 978-1-84885-430-7.

External links

Theatres in Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Active	Abbey Theatre Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair Andrews Lane Theatre An Grianán Theatre Aula Maxima, Maynooth Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Cork Opera House Everyman Palace Theatre Focus Theatre Gate Theatre Gaiety Theatre Lambert Puppet Theatre Limetree Theatre Lyric Theatre Olympia Theatre Passionfruit Theatre Project Arts Centre SFX City Theatre Siamsa Tíre Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe The Helix Mill Theatre Dundrum

Former	Capitol Theatre Eblana Theatre Irish Literary Theatre Leinster Hall Mechanics' Theatre Queen's Theatre Theatre Royal, Dublin Theatre Royal, Wexford Tivoli Variety Theatre Torch Theatre Werburgh Street Theatre

Northern Ireland

Coordinates: 53°20′39.4″N 6°15′58″W / 53.344278°N 6.26611°W / 53.344278; -6.26611

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