The Gate Theatre was built as an addition to the Rotunda Assembly Rooms, both of which are part of the Rotunda Maternity Hospital complex, on Parnell Square in Dublin. The Theatre has a seating capacity of 371 persons and has been in use since the late 18th century.

Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir founded the Gate Theatre in 1928. They produced seven plays during its first season, including Ibsen's Peer Gynt, O'Neill's The Hairy Ape, and Wilde's Salomé. Their productions were original and adventurous, introducing Dublin audiences to European and American theatre as well as classics from the modern and Irish repertory. Orson Welles, James Mason, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Michael Gambon all began their great acting careers at the Gate. The company played at the Peacock Theatre for two seasons until signing a contract for the 18th Century Rotunda Annex - the 'Upper Concert Hall,' the Gate's current home, on Christmas Eve 1929, in Groome's Hotel, with Goethe's Faust opening on 17th February 1930.

When the newly created Gate Theatre ran into financial difficulties in 1931, Lord Edward Longford and Lady Christine Longford stepped in to help. The Longfords collaborated with Edwards and MacLiammóir at the Gate until 1936, when a schism occurred and two distinct companies were formed, each of which played at the Gate for six months and toured for six months until Lord Longford's death in 1961.

During Dublin's year as European City of Culture in 1991, the Gate staged all nineteen of Samuel Beckett's theatrical plays over three weeks in partnership with RTÉ and Trinity College Dublin. A new wing was erected in 2008 at a cost of €6 million, significantly alleviating the space scarcity that had long been an issue. The Gate Theatre is critically acclaimed for its courageous and exciting productions, developed and led by inspirational artists.

Location:

The Gate Theatre Cavendish Row,
Parnell Square East,
D01 WY26

​The Gate Theatre is located 2 minutes' walk from the Castle Hotel.