First opening its doors in 1879 as the Star of Erin Music Hall, the venue now known as the 3Olympia Theatre is one of Dublin's most cherished and historic stages. Founded by the music-hall impresario Dan Lowrey on Dame Street, it has worn several names across its long life, trading as Dan Lowrey's Palace of Varieties and then the Empire Palace Theatre before settling, in 1923, on the Olympia, the name it carried for almost a century until a 2021 sponsorship deal added the 3 prefix. Architecturally, the theatre is a treasure. Behind a restrained Georgian Dame Street facade lies a richly decorated Rococo-revival interior, all gilt, elaborate plasterwork and the colonnaded boxes and balconies characteristic of grand Victorian theatres. It even hosted the first screening of a cinematic film in Ireland in 1896, underlining a heritage that runs deep through the cultural life of the city. Disaster struck in November 1974 when, during rehearsals for West Side Story, the proscenium arch collapsed and the roof fell in, closing the theatre for nearly two and a half years. Its survival owed much to the determination of Dublin City Council, the local community and the Irish theatre world, and a major restoration saw it reopen in 1977. Further refurbishment in 2016 has helped preserve the building for future generations. Today the theatre is prized for its versatility. Able to host both fully seated shows, with a capacity of around 1,247, and partially standing events that push capacity towards 1,600, it stages a packed calendar of live music, comedy and theatre throughout the year. Full bar and catering facilities, professional production staff and a Ticketmaster box office support a programme that ranges from intimate gigs to major touring productions. A working theatre at the heart of Dublin, close to Temple Bar and the River Liffey, the 3Olympia remains one of the city's best-loved music and performance venues. Its blend of breathtaking period interiors, flexible staging and a rich, sometimes turbulent history gives it a character that newer rooms cannot replicate, and ensures its enduring place in the cultural fabric of the capital.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 72 Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, D02 K135

Website: https://www.3olympia.ie

Capacity: 1289

Opening Date: 22/12/1879

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