Although the building is over 200 years old, the theatre was only founded here in 1928. Leading playwrights such as Samuel Beckett, Brian Friel and Harold Pinter have all had works oreimered and performed here. In 1991 The Gate was the world's first theatre to showcase all Beckett's nineteen stage plays. It has also staged four Harold Pinter festivals and premiered many of Brian Friel’s plays over the past 40 years. As this was not a custom-built theatre, delivered sets have to be cut up and reassembled inside. To bring it into the next century, a new wing is being built at a cost of over €6m.