Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland
P. 114
112 DUBLIN AREA B Y AREA
ENTERTAINMENT IN DUBLIN
Although Dublin is well served by theatres, in grand old pubs to the latest dance tracks in
cinemas, nightclubs and rock venues, what a post-industrial setting. The many pubs and
sets the city apart from other European capitals venues around this area make the city centre
is its pubs. Lively banter, impromptu music south of the Liffey the place to be at night.
sessions and great Guinness are the essential The north side does, however, boast the two
ingredients for an enjoyable night in any of most illustrious theatres, the largest cinemas
the dozens of atmo spheric hostelries here. and the impressive 3Arena, a con verted
One of the most popular entertain ment 19th-century rail ter minal beside the docks.
districts is the rejuvenated Temple Bar area. It is now the venue for all major rock concerts
Along this narrow network of cob bled streets, and stage musicals, as well as a number of
you can find everything from traditional music classical music performances.
The Samuel Beckett Theatre
is renowned for its sparse yet
powerful productions. The
main venue south of the Liffey,
the Gaiety Theatre, stages a
mainstream mix of plays, often
by Irish playwrights. Some of
the best fringe theatre and
modern dance in Dublin can
be seen at the Project Arts
Centre in Temple Bar. Smock
Alley Theatre hosts guest
produc tions by experimental
theatre groups, as well as
student productions. Bewley’s
Café Theatre offers intimate
lunchtime drama. The Olympia
The outside of the Gate Theatre, located on the north side of Dublin Theatre specializes in comedy
Entertainment Listings and popular drama, and
accepts phone bookings by occasion ally stages rock and
Listings for clubs, cinemas, theatre credit card only for many of Irish music concerts. Most
and other entertain ment can be the major shows and events theatres are closed on Sunday.
found in most newspapers, such in and around Dublin, while Every October, the Dublin
as the Irish Times and the Irish Dublin Tourism (Suffolk Street) Theatre Festival takes over
Independent, particularly on sell tickets for most of the top all the city venues with main
weekends. Hot Press, a national theatres and major rock gigs. stream, fringe and inter
bimonthly newspaper covering national plays.
both rock and traditional music, Theatre
has comprehensive listings for
Dublin. The Herald is also a sound Ireland’s national theatre,
source of infor mation for the the Abbey (see p92), is the
latest concerts, movies and gigs. city’s most popular venue,
For bar and restaurant reviews, concen trating on major new
try the The Ticket, a free supple produc tions as well as revivals
ment that comes with Friday’s of works by Irish playwrights
Irish Times. Look out for Totally such as Brendan Behan, Sean
Dublin, a free listings magazine O’Casey, J M Synge and
found in most pubs and cafés. W B Yeats. The smaller Peacock
Theatre down stairs features
Booking Tickets experi mental works. Also on
the north side, the Gate
Tickets for many events are Theatre (see p94) is noted for its
available on the night, but it is interpretations of wellknown
usually safer to book in advance. international plays, and the
All the major venues take Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
credit card payment over the hosts West End musicals, ballet, Record shop and ticket office in Crown
tele phone. Ticketmaster opera and theatre productions. Alley, Temple Bar
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