The Abbey Theatre was founded by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory as a national theatre for Ireland. These revolutionaries outlined the ambition of the Abbey Theatre with their manifesto "to bring upon the stage the deeper emotions of Ireland".

The generous patronage of Miss Annie Horniman allowed for the conversion of the Mechanics Institute in Abbey Street and an adjoining building on Marlborough Street into the Abbey Theatre.

The theatre opened on 27 December 1904 with three performances including premieres of On Baile’s Strand by W.B. Yeats and Spreading the News by Lady Gregory.

The Abbey Theatre School of Acting was founded in 1912, running for many decades it produced a remarkable crop of Irish actors including Farrell Pelly, Nora Desmond, Ronnie Masterson, Des Cave, Niall Buggy, Stephen Rea, and Colm Meaney. Many of the graduates went on to work for the famed Abbey Theatre Company.

The Peacock Theatre debuted in 1927 as an experimental annex to the Abbey Theatre as well as a home for various amateur companies. The Peacock Theatre also housed the Abbey School of Acting and the Abbey School of Ballet, both of which were founded by Ninette de Valois in 1928 who had choreographed several of Yeats' plays - and ran till 1933.

On July 17, 1951, a fire destroyed the Abbey Theatre during the run of The Plough and the Stars. Ironically, the play closes to the strains of Keep the Home Fires. In September of the same year, the group leased the historic Queen's Theatre and remained there until 1966. 

It was decided that that it was preferable to renovate the old building rather than construct a new one and on September 3rd 1963 the President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera, lay the foundation stone for the new theatre and the Abbey reopened on July 18, 1966.
 
The Abbey Theatre has a seating capacity of 628 people on any one performance.

Location:

Abbey Theatre
26/27 Abbey Street Lower,
D01 K0F1

The Abbey Theatre is located 10 minute walk from the Castle Hotel.