On the banks of The River Liffey in the heart of Viking Dublin, the Smock Alley Theatre building is one of the most significant buildings in the European theatre history.

In 2009, our archaeological excavations discovered, unearthed and revealed, the original walls of the Smock Alley Theatre of 1662. In an effort to respect this extraordinary heritage and history, we are now on the road of reinstating it for Dublin, Ireland and the world. We are rebuilding a 250-seat theatre on the identical site on which there lived and breathed a famous theatre almost 350 years ago.

Our Planning Permission was granted on the 22nd of April of 2008. There were a number of significant conditions that required considerable works to be undertaken before we could put the project on site, and, in order to satisfy the Planning Grant conditions, there were also a number of technical negotiations and works involved in addressing and satisfying the conditions of the Grant of Permission. These have now been agreed and submitted for the local authority's written approval.

The Archaeological condition of the Grant has been fully undertaken, under licence No 06e1073, completed and reported on, and submitted as required not only to the local authority under Compliance, but also directly to National Monuments, Department of The Environment, National Museum of Ireland and the Architectural Archive in March 2010.

But, economic conditions have altered drastically since the scheme was originally applied for, and this has had an impact on the delivery of the full project. Notwithstanding this we – the design team, client, local authority and DAST - have been able to reformulate a deliverable phasing methodology for the development that includes all the main features of the full scheme.

The downloadable drawings describe Phase 1, 2 and 3. Phase 3 represents completion of the full scheme in accordance with the Grant of Permission.
Phase I will deliver the following: 

• Smock Alley Theatre - 177 seats
• Smock Alley Theatre - Studio 95 seats.
• Smock Alley Theatre - The Boys School 100 standing positions.
• Box Office facilities
• Bar facilities
• Green Rooms
• Dressing Rooms
• Storage Facilities
• Four studio and rehearsal spaces
• A new home for the Gaiety School of Acting - The National Theatre School of Ireland to include office space, library, student area, shower and toilet facilities.

The project has been tendered and awarded to Duggan Brothers who started on site on Monday 4th April 2011, projecting the culmination of Phase 1 by the end of February 2012.

By the end of this three-phases development, Smock Alley Theatre will be the finest venue of its size in the country, reflecting the glory days of the Irish theatre of the 17th and 18th centuries, and being transformed into an iconic venue for Dublin City, capable of delivering work to the highest possible standard.