Dublin’s first theatre opened on Werburgh Street in 1637 but rebellion in 1641 saw the demise of this theatre and it was turned into a cow parlour! It would be 25 years before another theatre opened in 1662 along West Essex Street, then called Smock Alley. Only two or three theatres had previously been launched in London so Smock Alley, as the Dublin’s new playhouse was called on account of its location, is one of the oldest theatrical sites in these islands and certainly the oldest in Ireland. It was the first theatre outside London to receive the royal patented title of The Theatre Royal. Many famous playwrights and actors graced the theatre throughout the 18th century.
However, competition from other theatres emerged and Smock Alley, having become a little derelict and losing the title The Theatre Royal to a competitor on Crow Street, closed in 1787. It then became a whiskey store before being remodelled by 1815 into the Roman Catholic church of Saints Michael and John. Due to a falling population, the church closed in 1989 to become a Viking museum until 2002. The Gaiety School of Acting then took over and the former Smock Alley Theatre was reborn and continues in that role today.
