An Grianán Theatre
| An Grianán Theatre Irish: Amharclann an Ghrianáin | |
|
County Donegal | |
|---|---|
 An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny | |
| Type: | Theatre |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | C17261173 |
| Location: | 54°57’11"N, 7°43’53"W |
| Town: | Letterkenny |
| History | |
| Built 1999 | |
| Theatre | |
| Modern | |
| Information | |
| Website: | www.angrianan.com |
An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny is the largest theatre in County Donegal. With a seating capacity of 383, the theatre provides a range of programming including drama, comedy, music, pantomime, and family shows as well as workshops and classes.
Each year the theatre is used as a festival venue, including for the Earagail Arts Festival, and has twice hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. It is a main partner of the Earagail Arts Festival, which takes place each year in July, the Irish Aerial Dance Fest which takes place each June and the Letterkenny Trad Week which takes places each January.
The theatre was named after Grianán of Aileach (‘Stony House of the Sun’), a prehistoric ring fort located in Burt believed to date back to 1700 BC.
History
An Grianán first opened its doors on Monday 4 October 1999 and had its official opening later that year on 12 November. Magic of the Musicals was the first show performed on the An Grianán stage. It hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in the summers of 2005 and 2006 and hosted the Pan Celtic Festival in 2007.
Performances
An Grianán has attracted a number of well-known musicians, actors, and comedians in recent years, some as regular visitors.
In 2000, An Grianán was the venue for the world premiere of the new Irish musical Caisleain Oir. The entire run of performances was sold out and the production company restaged it the following year, again to packed houses. The musical is based on the Irish novel of the same name but it is in the English language. Again in 2005, another production of the musical was a complete sellout.
Exhibitions and workshops
The foyers and public galleries are used as an exhibition space.
Letterkenny Youth Theatre is run in association with An Grianán Theatre. It has run a number of small one-off productions in the past in Letterkenny.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about An Grianán Theatre) |