Theaters

If you make a living being funny in Ireland, chances are you have spent a good deal of your time on the stage in the International Bar. Glamorous it ain’t, but this place has been churning out Ireland’s finest stand up comedy for years. While you may encounter a nervous first-timer cutting his/her teeth on the live stage, stuttering their way through a set, you are equally likely to come across an Irish household name along the lines of Des Bishop or Ardal O’Hanlon.

The performance space upstairs is small, dark and cramped. Arrive late at your peril as you will be left standing at the back, or worse, occupying on-stage stools where you will inevitably become the subject matter of many of the gags. Line ups vary – Monday nights feature comedy improv, while for just €5 on Sunday nights, enjoy some established stand ups try out new material. The space plays host to other theatre and music from time to time, and the ground floor is a popular pub.

Upstairs, however, is where this place comes into its own and a look at some of the faces gracing the walls will confirm this.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the campus of Trinity College, the Samuel Beckett Theatre plays host to a more alternative line up of theatre than some of Dublin’s other options.

A good example of a black box theatre, the performance space is housed in a rustic timber building which is also home to Trinity’s department of Drama.The interior is sparse and basic, but that is not to say that performances here are anything of the sort.

Output is diverse, including everything from opera and dance to postmodern experimental theatre, with a strong emphasis on edgy, innovative productions. The theatre plays host to companies from all corners of the globe, with a particular highlight of the calendar being the annual showcase by final year Drama students of the college itself, as well as featuring in the Dublin Theatre Festival in September. Comfortable viewing this is not, but a challenging evening’s viewing is virtually assured.

Children can be overlooked when it comes to culture – an injustice against which this marvelous institution has been crusading since it opened in 1995. The Ark is all about providing the most excellent elements of professional theatre, music, writing and arts to our youngest, most thirstily imaginative citizens. They do a great job and run a full and varied programme of diverting and educative events throughout the year.

The last time I had the pleasure of looking around here, the theatre space was decorated from floor to ceiling in the most colourful kids’ creations. The room was a tropical garden of verdant felt, blossoming pink cardboard cups, shiny foil pools and bouncing pipe-cleaner creepers. It was a symphony of interesting sound and sensation – a show before anyone even took to the stage. And it’s totally built for littler people too – a Lilliput to a near-6ft grown-up. Check the website for upcoming events, which can be booked online or in person.

The spring season is now in swing, with events including the magical Mandscape exhibition and Big Bad Wolf theatre workshops, as well as productions such as the acclaimed Zoe’s Play (for the over-eights).