Abbey Theatre – riots, fire and the national stage
26/27 Lower Abbey Street, dublin
Founded by Yeats and Lady Gregory and open since 27 December 1904, the Abbey was the first state-subsidised theatre in the English-speaking world, survived riots in 1907 and a fire in 1951, and launched O’Casey, Behan and Friel. Main-stage seats start at €15, the Peacock studio seats just over 100 for new work, and backstage tours run Monday to Saturday. The Luas stops two minutes away – don’t bother driving.