The Stage

Archaeologists unearth remains of Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre

Published Monday 17 August 2009 at 16:00 by Anthony Garvey

Part of Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre, dating back to 1662, together with related artefacts, have been uncovered by archaeologists in the Irish city’s Temple Bar area.

The excavations are part of an €8m project to reinstate the theatre on its original site, which has been occupied over the years by a church and, most recently, by a Viking adventure centre. The Department of Arts has provided almost €4m for the restoration and the Gaiety School of Acting, which is promoting the project, hopes to raise the rest through private donations.

The school’s director, Patrick Sutton, said the excavations had uncovered part of the theatre’s original walls as well as stage timbers. Among the artefacts found were an actress’s ceramic wig curler, clay pipes, a broken wine bottle and oyster shells. “Oysters were obviously the popcorn of the day,” he suggested.

Smock Alley, he said, shared productions with Convent Garden. David Garrick was among those who performed at the Dublin venue and the theatre also staged works by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, whose play, The Rivals, is currently running at the Abbey.

Hollywood star Liam Neeson, a patron of the Gaiety School, has lauded the restoration plan, describing it as inspirational. A foundation is being established in the US to help with funding and it is hoped to have the theatre rebuilt by 2012.