The Project Arts Centre’s is perhaps the most innovative and dynamic of Dublin’s theatres. Price-wise it is also the most student friendly, with many of the exhibitions in the gallery space being free of charge.
The Project’s programme includes all contemporary art forms: theatre, dance, live art, video and film, jazz, electronic, classical and popular music. I shall stop before I start to forget that this is a theatre page but the list goes on.
The Project actively seeks to support emerging artists, as well as those that are already established, an ethos which results in an eclectic mix of performances that are almost always of a very high quality. The Project excels at staging everything from classics of world theatre such as Frank McGuinness’ version of Strinberg’s Miss Julie (January-March 2008) to youth theatre events such as September 2008’s production of Philip Ridley’s contemporary play Fairytaleheart. Of course, there have been some rogue productions that seem to have made it to the stage only for their complete zaniness but these are few and far between.
The Project Arts Centre originally started as a three-week festival at the Gate Theatre in November 1966. The initial idea was to produce a single play but this quickly evolved into a season of cultural events. A permanent centre was finally established on Lower Abbey Street in 1967. The Project was to move a further six times until it came to its current location in Temple Bar in 2000.
Throughout the course of its history the Project has hosted some renowned companies and actors. The venue at East Sussex Street was where Gabriel Byrne and Liam Neeson developed their skills. In the 1980s Rough Magic became Project’s flagship theatre company.
You may have to exercise fierce self-control to make it to The Project without being distracted by the bright lights, pretty colours and drunkards of Temple Bar but it is well worth it. Although it closes long before its neighbours, there is also a very cute and cosy bar upstairs – complete with fairy lights for anyone who is missing that Christmassy feeling.