Olympia Theatre

The Olympia Theatre is one of Dublin's oldest and most beloved entertainment venues. With its iconic canopy stretching over Dame Street and its ornate Victorian interior, this historic theatre has been at the heart of Dublin's cultural life for nearly 150 years, hosting everything from music hall variety shows to international rock concerts.

The theatre opened in 1879 as the Star of Erin Music Hall, one of many music halls that sprang up across Britain and Ireland during the Victorian era. These venues offered a mix of song, comedy, acrobatics, and novelty acts, providing affordable entertainment for the working classes.

The original building was designed by architect John Barton, featuring the cantilevered canopy that remains the theatre's most distinctive external feature. This iron and glass structure, stretching across the pavement, has sheltered generations of theatre-goers waiting for the doors to open.

In 1897, impresario Dan Lowrey took over the venue and transformed it into one of Dublin's premier entertainment destinations. Under his management, the theatre was renamed Dan Lowrey's Music Hall and became famous for its variety shows featuring international stars alongside home-grown Irish talent.

The theatre saw performances by some of the greatest entertainers of the era, including Charlie Chaplin, who appeared here as a young performer with Fred Karno's comedy troupe. The intimate atmosphere and excellent acoustics made it a favorite with performers and audiences alike.

The theatre was renamed the Olympia in 1923, and under various managements has continued to adapt to changing tastes in entertainment. It has served as a cinema, a dance hall, and a venue for boxing matches, but live performance has always remained at its heart.

The building underwent significant renovations in the 1970s that modernized facilities while preserving the essential Victorian character. The intimate auditorium, with its ornate plasterwork, red velvet seats, and gilded boxes, retains the atmosphere of a bygone era of theatre.

The Olympia's stage has been graced by an extraordinary roster of performers over the years. Legends of Irish entertainment like Maureen Potter and Danny La Rue were regular performers, while international stars from Laurel and Hardy to David Bowie have appeared here.

In recent decades, the theatre has become a favorite venue for rock and pop concerts, comedy shows, and theatrical productions. Its relatively intimate size — capacity around 1,800 — creates an electric atmosphere that larger venues cannot match.

The Olympia Theatre continues to host a diverse programme of events, from concerts and comedy to Christmas pantomimes and theatrical productions. The best way to experience this historic venue is, of course, to attend a show — though even a walk down Dame Street offers a chance to admire the famous canopy and imagine the generations of audiences who have passed beneath it.

Standing just steps from Dublin Castle and City Hall, the Olympia Theatre represents a different but equally important aspect of Dublin's heritage — its vibrant tradition of popular entertainment. In an age of streaming and digital media, this grand Victorian theatre remains a temple to the irreplaceable magic of live performance.