Name: Pavilion Theatre
Rating: 5.0

Pavilion Theatre

Pavilion Theatre, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

The Pavilion Theatre is a vibrant cultural hub located in the seaside town of Dún Laoghaire, just south of Dublin City. Housed in a modern complex that overlooks the harbor, this intimate 240-seat venue serves as the municipal theatre for the local area, staging a diverse mix of drama, music, cinema, and comedy. It serves as one of the best things to do with kids in Dún Laoghaire for families seeking a lively, indoor cultural experience by the sea.

Ticket prices are kept affordable for family audiences, with special cinema screenings and school events typically starting around £6.00 to £7.00 (€7.00 to €8.00) per person. Standard live theatrical tickets generally range from £10.00 to £20.00 (€12.00 to €24.00) depending on the production, and discounted family bundles are routinely available for groups of four. All standard ticket sales include a small booking fee to support the ongoing development of the venue's facilities.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that blends top-tier stage entertainment with a refreshing coastal walk, this seaside theatre is a brilliant choice. Children can enjoy magical book adaptations brought to life, interactive music sing-alongs, and world-class puppetry. It provides a warm, relaxing environment where parents can experience high-quality art while introducing their little ones to the magic of live performance.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Activity Features

Interactive Exhibits & Theatres: A cosy, tiered auditorium equipped with a state-of-the-art Sony 4K digital projector and a seven-metre-wide screen for premium cinema and live events.
Educational Day Out: A wide range of school-focused matinees, classic literary stage adaptations, and cultural productions designed to stimulate young imaginations.
Sensory Play & Accessible Shows: Regular inclusion of relaxed and accessible performances featuring adjusted sound levels, screen-reader compatibility, and assistive listening systems.

Detailed Highlights

The Main Theatre Auditorium: This beautifully designed, intimate auditorium holds up to 240 seats. The layout ensures every seat offers an up-close, clear view of the performers, which helps younger children stay completely focused on the stage action.
West End Family Touring Shows: The venue frequently plays host to Olivier Award-nominated family productions direct from London's West End. Kids can see their favorite storybook characters step off the page and onto the stage in high-energy musical versions.
The Pavilion Bar Foyer: A bright and welcoming ground-floor space where families can gather before a show. Parents can sit back with a tea or coffee while children enjoy a selection of juices and light, theatre-approved treats.
State-of-the-Art Cinema Screenings: Boasting a high-spec Sony 4K digital projector, the theatre transforms into a professional cinema for family matinees. The impressive seven-metre screen and crystal-clear audio system make family movie outings feel special.
Interactive Music Matinees: Special live musical events are designed to get the entire audience involved. Children are actively encouraged to dance, sing along to nursery rhymes, and interact directly with acoustic musicians.

Detailed Inventory

The Tiger Who Came to Tea: An Olivier Award-nominated musical smash hit packed with clumsy chaos and sing-along fun.
The Lion Inside: A heartwarming stage adaptation about confidence and self-esteem following a shy little mouse on a journey to find his roar.
Tales from Acorn Wood: A delightful show bringing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's beloved stories to life with beautiful puppetry.
Dinosaur World Live: A roaringly interactive, Olivier Award-winning family show featuring remarkably life-like prehistoric creatures.
The Speks Live Concert: A lively acoustic Irish music performance where children join in with traditional nursery rhymes and high-energy songs.
Monday Night Cinema Series: Highly acclaimed global films and independent releases projected on the grand seven-metre screen.
My Real Life by Eoin Colfer: A brilliant and moving piece of Irish theatre written by the famed children's author.
Relaxed Family Matinees: Specifically adapted performance sessions with lower volume and open-door rules for total comfort.

Facilities

Toilets: Wheelchair-accessible toilets are located on the ground floor near the Box Office, featuring a convenient fold-down baby changing table.
Buggy Parking: For health and safety reasons, buggies and pushchairs are not allowed inside the main auditorium. However, the venue provides a secure storage area in the foyer where a staff member is stationed at all times.
Lockers: Secure storage lockers are not available on-site; families are advised to keep their personal belongings with them or leave large bags at home.
Food Options: The on-site Pavilion Bar sells hot drinks, juices, and light snacks. Please note that popcorn is strictly banned inside the theatre to keep the seating clean and quiet.

What to see

What Visitors Love

The auditorium feels wonderfully intimate, meaning smaller kids can see the actors' expressions perfectly from anywhere in the room.
Front-of-house staff are incredibly welcoming, polite, and great at organizing buggy storage during busy afternoon rushes.
The absolute ban on popcorn creates a wonderfully clean environment and prevents loud, distracting crunching noises during quiet moments of a play.
Its location right across from the DART station makes it one of the easiest, stress-free venues to travel to with young children.

What Visitors Don't Like

The venue does not have its own private car park, which means parents have to navigate public pay-and-display meters or nearby hotel lots.
Popular weekend matinees can sell out weeks in advance, leaving little room for spontaneous rainy-day bookings.

Pro-Tips

Book the Family Dropdown: A standard family ticket includes four passes. When booking online, make sure to select at least four seats and change the pricing tier to "Family Ticket" in the dropdown menu to apply the discount.
Arrive 20 Minutes Early: The concourse is accessed via a ramp on Marine Road. Arriving early allows you to check in your buggy and grab refreshments smoothly before the doors close.
Know the Under-3 Rule: Children younger than 36 months do not need a paid ticket for general shows if they sit on a lap, but they do require a purchased ticket if the show is specifically designed for toddlers.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Standard Family Theatre Tickets: £11.00 - £17.00 (€13.00 - €20.00) depending on the touring production.

Pricing URL: https://www.paviliontheatre.ie/events/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Box Office Hours: Monday to Saturday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (and open until late on performance nights).
Sunday Openings: On performance Sundays, the box office counter opens 1 hour prior to the scheduled showtime.

Address: Pavilion Theatre, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland

Post Code: A96 Y959

Council: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdo

County: Dublin

By Train (DART): Take the northbound or southbound DART train directly to the Dún Laoghaire Station. The theatre complex is located directly across the street from the station exit.
By Bus: Dublin Bus routes 7, 7a, 46a, and 111 all stop within a 2-minute flat walk of the theatre concourse.
By Car: If driving from the M50, take Exit 16 for Cherrywood and follow the clear signs straight into Dún Laoghaire. From the N11 northbound, take the Ballybrack exit and continue straight through the roundabouts.