Dublin Theatre Festival

Festival Location: Dublin, Ireland

Festival Type(s): Arts Festivals, Cultural Festivals

The Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival is Europe's oldest specialist theatre festival and the only English speaking contemporary theatre festival left in the world. Founded in 1957, it has grown to be Ireland's premier cultural event, and continues to lead the way in the presentation of outstanding Irish and international performance.

The policy was - and remains - to bring the best available international theatre to Dublin and to balance the programme with Irish productions, especially new plays. There was controversy in the very first year when, after some complaints, the Director of Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo at the tiny Pike Theatre was charged with presenting "a lewd entertainment". The run of the play was not interrupted and the judge rightly threw out the case.

Since then, the Festival has thrived and continues to present an exceptional programme of work every year.