How to Get the Most Out of the Dublin International Theatre Festival

The Dublin International Theatre Festival will be held September 6-21, 2008, in the charming, immensely walkable capital of Ireland. Theatres from all over the world participate and the quirky Fringe Festival is everywhere from cafeterias to street corners.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Comfortable shoes
• City Map
• Festival program

Big Theatres. Small Theatres. Fringe Theatres. International Theatres

1. Big Theatres. The Abbey Theatre is not only famous for Irish plays but for the portraits of theatre personalities on the lobby walls. Other principal theatres are the beautiful Gate, the Gaiety and the Olympic, both of which were originally music halls.

2. Small Theatres. Rough Magic is one of many excellent small theatres. Check the Festival Programme and Time Out Dublin for a complete list of them and their festival productions.

3. The Fringe. Like Edinburgh Festival's Fringe, the Dublin Fringe presents plays wherever they can. Street corners, Bewley's Cafeteria on Grafton Street, school auditoriums. For information, contact [e-mail] or the Fringe Festival Office on Sackville Street.

4. International Productions. In the past, these productions have been done on everything from horseback to Kabuki ramps. They validate Dublin's growing reputation as an international city. See the Festival Programme or Time Out Dublin for full information.

Tips & Warnings

• Tickets may be purchased without administration charge at DublinTheatreFestival.com or at the Festival Box Office, Clarence Hotel, Temple Bar, Dublin. There is a charge for buying tickets by phone.
• Program information may also be found in The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, Time Out Dublin.
• Take time to walk around this beautiful city where, in Festival season, mimes and musicians add to the streets' color and activity.
• Booking in advance, both for popular plays and hotel rooms, is strongly advised.