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Capel Street Theatre

1745 establishments in IrelandTheatres completed in 1745Theatres in Dublin (city)
Charles Macklin by John Opie
Charles Macklin by John Opie

Capel Street Theatre was an 18th-century theatre located on Capel Street in Dublin, Ireland. The Capel Street Theatre had two distinct periods in its history. The first theatre on the site was called the 'New Theatre in Capel Street' or 'City Theatre in Capel Street' and was built by William 'Harlequin' Phillips on a strip of land 50 feet by 100 feet that he leased on the West side of Capel Street between Little Strand Street and Mary's Abbey. In 1744 Phillips and his wife were members of the United Company in Dublin; they and other members of the troupe became increasingly dissatisfied with their treatment, so Phillips, his wife and members of the Company went to the small playhouse he had built and which opened in January 1745. The theatre stood some 50 feet back from the street behind Nos 136 and 137 Capel Street and was reached by way of a passageway. The theatre's auditorium had boxes, lattices, an orchestra pit and first and second floor galleries. However, the theatre had been built hastily causing concerns about its safety, forcing the manager to issue a statement that he would obtain the necessary certificates from Master Builders. This theatre closed in 1749 and the building was appropriated for other uses.The second theatre was known as the City Theatre and was in the same building as the earlier theatre and opened on 26 February 1770 with the investors being Mr. Dawson, Mr. Mahon, and Mr. Wilkes. The theatre opened with a production featuring William Thomas Lewis. Dawson was the manager of this new erected company, and by the experience he had had, was, in many respects, equal to the task. He was active, industrious, and intelligent, well acquainted with the world, and prompt to improve every opportunity fortune threw in his way. The theatre was elegantly ornamented and beautified; the scenes new painted, by Jolly. The wardrobe, as might be expected, light, but fashionable, and shewy. Every arrangement being adjusted, in the best manner the times would permit, the new adventurers opened on Monday February 26th, 1770, with a new comedy, never performed in this kingdom, written by Hugh Kelly, Esq and then in reputation in London, called False Delicacy. The theatre closed in 1784.Among the actors to appear here were: Charles Macklin, Elizabeth Younge, William Thomas Lewis, and Henrietta Amelia Leeson. The dramatist Robert Houlton wrote works for the theatre for a season, sharing the honours with Walley Chamberlain Oulton.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Capel Street Theatre (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Capel Street Theatre
Mary's Abbey, Dublin

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Latitude Longitude
N 53.3468 ° E -6.2686 °
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The Capel Building

Mary's Abbey
D07 HW57 Dublin (North City ED)
Ireland
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Charles Macklin by John Opie
Charles Macklin by John Opie
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National Leprechaun Museum
National Leprechaun Museum

The National Leprechaun Museum is a privately owned museum dedicated to Irish folklore and mythology, through the oral tradition of storytelling. It is located on Jervis Street in Dublin, Ireland, since 10 March 2010. It claims to be the first leprechaun museum in the world. The Irish Times has referred to it as the "Louvre of leprechauns".Tom O'Rahilly designed the museum (with the collaboration of two Italian designers, Elena Micheli and Walter Scipioni) and is its director. O'Rahilly began working on his museum in 2003. He views it as a "story-telling" tourist attraction designed to give visitors "the leprechaun experience" and introduce visitors to Ireland's rich storytelling history.Visitors to the museum follow a guided tour involving several different rooms; each serving as sets for the stories and information. The basics of Leprechaun folklore are explained, including what it is that defines a leprechaun. A history of leprechaun references in popular culture is included, such as Walt Disney's visit to Ireland which led to his 1959 film Darby O'Gill and the Little People. There is a tunnel full of optical illusions, a wooden replica of the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and a room where items such as furniture become unusually large to give the effect that the visitor has become smaller in size.References to other creatures are included in the tour such as the púca, fairies, banshee and many more. At the end of the tour visitors arrive at a shop where they can purchase souvenirs and merchandise.