Looking for ways to dive deep into Irish culture this upcoming St Patrick’s weekend? Then you’ll be happy to find out that the legendary Abbey Theatre in Dublin is offering Backstage Tours as part of the St Patrick’s Festival. And what you’ll be even happier to know is that GCN has a pair of tickets up for grabs for one of these incredible behind-the-scenes tours.

One of Ireland’s leading cultural institutions, the Abbey Theatre was established in 1904 in Dublin City. Inspired by the revolutionary ideals of its founders and the rich canon of Irish dramatic writing, the Abbey Theatre’s mission is to imaginatively engage with all of Irish society through the production of ambitious, courageous and new theatre in all its forms.

Now you have the possibility to explore Ireland’s national theatre in a new light with the Backstage Tours, which will take visitors behind the scenes of a theatre production. Folks who book one of these fascinating Backstage Tours will have the opportunity to discover the Abbey’s role and connection with the Irish independence movement and see its extensive portrait collection highlighting key figures of the Irish Literary Revival and the Abbey’s history.

What’s more, attendees will be able to walk the dressing room corridors and drop into the Hair and Makeup area where performers get ready for the stage, with a chance to witness how wigs are made. Participants will be invited to sit in the centre of the Abbey auditorium and then step onto the stage for a chance to see the theatre from a performance’s point of view.

On stage, visitors will discover the stories behind the design, costumes and props for the current productions. At the end of the tour, there will be the possibility to relax in Pegeen’s café and be treated to a snack and lunch while still in the ambience of the theatre.

Tickets to the Backstage Tour at the Abbey Theatre are €18 for adults, €16 for seniors and students and €14 for the Senior Group later. No more than 26 people can be booked for each tour, which will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Backstage Tours will be running throughout March and you can book one on the Abbey’s website.

But if you’re feeling extra lucky today, enter GCN’s competition to win a pair of tickets to the tour. For a chance to win, simply answer the following question:

In what year was the Abbey Theatre founded?

The competition closes at midnight on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Winners will be contacted directly and shared on social media.

By submitting this form, you give GCN consent to process your personal information for the purposes of conducting this competition. More information on how we protect your privacy can be found here.

This competition is now closed, please visit our Competitions page for more.