Often referred to as the Grand Old Lady of South King Street, The Gaiety opened in November 1871 and is Dublin’s longest-established theatre in continuous production. Through the decades, many greats have graced its stage from Pavlova to Pavarotti, Julie Andrews to Jack Benny - an indication of the theatre's eclectic and music-based programme. At the weekends it has its own festival night where the bars are opened up and revellers can party here til the wee hours. Its handsome Venetian façade is a sight all Dubliners recognise and love. In 1971 an audience of 400m watched the Eurovision Song Contest transmitted live from its auditorium. It was the first Eurovision to be held in Ireland and marked RTE’s earliest colour transmission of an indoor event. Pass by the Gaiety any evening and you'll find theatregoers chatting outside in animated anticipation of the performance that awaits.
