The Tivoli Theatre was a theatre on Francis Street in The Liberties, Dublin which opened in 1934 and operated until 2019 when it was demolished and replaced by "StayCity Aparthotel Tivoli", a 4-star hotel.[1]
 The final logo of the theatre before its destruction in 2019 | |
 The Tivoli Theatre in 2012 | |
 | |
| Former names | Tivoli Cinema |
|---|---|
| Address | 135 Francis St, The Liberties, Dublin 8, Dublin Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′32″N 06°16′35″W / 53.34222°N 6.27639°W |
| Owner | Anthony "Tony" Byrne |
| Genre(s) | |
| Capacity |
|
| Construction | |
| Opened | 21 December 1934 |
| Renovated | 1987 |
| Closed | 2019 |
| Demolished | 2019 |
| Years active |
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| Architect | Vincent Kelly |
| Website | |
| https://www.tivoli.ie/ (defunct) | |
History
editThe theatre opened on 21 December 1934 as a replacement for an earlier Tivoli Theatre located on Burgh Quay, which had closed in May 1928.[2] Built to the designs of architect Vincent Kelly with seating provided for 700.[3] The Tivoli Theatre opened as a cine-variety theatre, but by the late-1930s it had converted to full-time cinema use and was renamed Tivoli Cinema.[3]
The Tivoli Cinema was closed in September 1964 following a fire.[3][4] It remained derelict for several years until purchased by former footballer Anthony "Tony" Byrne, who converted the cinema into a theatre and music venue at a cost of roughly £250,000.[5] Byrne placed a theatre on the first floor with 560 seats and a music venue on the ground floor with a capacity for 1,000 people (standing).[4] Following this refurnishment, the venue reopened in 1987 and was renamed Tivoli Theatre.[3][4] At the time of closing, the upper theatre could seat 475, and the lower venue was in operation as a nightclub called "District 8".[4]
The walls of the car park had become a noted street art location and the planning permission to demolish the theatre required the extant art to be photographed and documented before demolition.[6]
The theatre was demolished and replaced by apartments and a hotel in early 2019. One of the conditions for planning permission set by Dublin City Council was that the premise would retain a "performance and exhibition space" where entertainers and artists could continue to perform.[5] However, after the new site's construction, news media in 2023 reported that the area was used for little more than storage space.[7][8]
Notable Performances
editThe venue hosted musical performances by The Cranberries, Oasis, Blur, Sinéad O'Connor,[9] Suede, The Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine,[10] Deadmau5, Perfume Genius,[11] and $uicideBoy$.
That Petrol Emotion played the Tivoli three times,[12] including their Irish farewell gig in 1994. Recordings from that concert were included on the live album Final Flame (Fire, Detonation And Sublime Chaos).
From October 2014 until October 2018, the Tivoli Theatre was the primary venue of Irish professional wrestling promotion Over the Top Wrestling.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Final curtain for Tivoli Theatre as hotel plan given green light". Irish Independent. 18 July 2018.
- ^ "About". Tivoli. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d "About Tivoli". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Grennan, Dan (22 February 2017). "Tivoli Theatre and District 8 facing potential closures". The Liberty. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b McCormack, Chris (1 December 2021). "City of phantoms: How did Dublin enter cultural collapse?". Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Dublin's Tivoli Theatre will be knocked for a hotel - once the developer preserves its graffiti". Journal Media. 18 January 2018.
- ^ McCormack, Chris (13 August 2023). "Tivoli Place: Aparthotel's theatrics devoid of community culture". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Lanigan, Michael (24 May 2023). "The "cultural space" off Francis Street meant to compensate for the loss of the Tivoli Theatre is still mostly used as storage". Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "www.sinead-oconnor.com". www.sinead-oconnor.com. 9 October 1984. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "PIC: Rage Against the Machine made their Irish debut 22 years ago today and the review is gold". JOE. 2016.
- ^ "Perfume Genius, Tivoli, Dublin review: 'Hadreas veered, with a wink and a pout, from pummelling electro-pop to soul-baring dirges'". Irish Independent. 2017.
- ^ "The TPE live archive". Archived from the original on 3 May 2003.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "This is OTT: Irish Wrestling's renaissance has begun in Dublin". 18 April 2018.