A Lovely Open-Air Theatre Is In The Works For Grand Canal Dock

Plans to create a “Greek style” open-air theatre in Dublin, along the Liffey at Grand Canal Dock, using stonework from the city’s original Abbey Theatre building have been announced, and it sounds like just the sort of thing the city needs.

If anyone has ever been to the outdoor Delacorte Theater in NYC’s Central Park then you’ll know just how amazing it is to watch a play under the stars with a beer in hand.

The plans for the ‘Singing Stones’ project are headed by developer Harry Crosby, Gate Theatre’s former director, Michael Colgan, broadcaster Gay Byrne, U2’s studio and production manager, Sam O’Sullivan and architect David Brown.

The build will use old stones from the original Abbey Theatre, which burnt down in 1951, and whose stone facade and side walls were saved by Daithí Hanly, Dublin’s city architect, where they gathered moss until now.

Mr Crosbie told The Irish Times that “Yeats is a poet of world-standing and these stones have resonance with the foundation of the State so it is fitting that they will come alive again for the public in Dublin for the next 100 years.”

The open-air venue, which still has to get the green light from the council, is ony going to be used for free events and they are looking for a corporate sponsor to give €250,000.

‘Singing Stones’ is all about community spirit, and are asking schools, colleges, bands, dance troupes, poets, comedians to come up with ideas for shows that could be put on.

Might be nice to arrange some sort of sliding roof too? This is gonna be gorge.

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