Located on Parnell Street, Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre has reopened as a music and comedy venue. The theatre, whose building dates back to 1764, opened as a cinema on the 5th of June in 1913.
The Ambassador Theatre acted as a cinema until 1999 before becoming a concert venue from 2001 to 2008. During this period artists such as Amy Winehouse, Def Leppard, and Queens of The Stone Age performed at the venue. Since 2008, the venue has been used largely as a space for exhibitions.
According to The Journal, The Ambassador Theatre, which is operated by concert promoters Denis Desmond and Caroline Downey Desmond went before An Bord Pleanála for planning permission for a “rebranding” but were ultimately refused. The pair also own Millenium Theatre Company, the Olympa Theatre, and the Gaiety Theatre. An Bord Pleanála refused a plan for 1.7 metre high steel railings around the building as they stated it would negatively impact the “special character, setting and appearance” of the theatre as well as set an “undesirable precedent for similar development in the O’Connell Street Architectural Conservation Area.” The railings were proposed to offset what the Desmonds claimed to be damage from vandalism and bodily functions.
An Bord Pleanála also refused large digital signage above the main entrance door, citing that the sign would “ have an adverse and injurious visual impact on the dignity, architectural character and setting of this nationally significant Protected Structure.”
Comedian Paddy McDonnell was the first live event since the reopening to perform on the 10th of October with many more on the docket. While many of those set to perform are comedy shows, musicians including Evan Dando, Ron Sexsmith and Playback will also play.
