Making Space for Debate and Culture – Hire The Pearse Centre

The entrance to the Pearse Centre

The Pearse Centre is a hugely versatile venue with a lot to offer theatre groups, civil society organisations and artists – we are open to  all proposals and will try to agree terms that suit all parties, with rental by negotiation.

In 2008, the Ireland Institute added a new hall and theatre to the premises. Together, the historic house and the new hall and theatre are known as the Pearse Centre. With a capacity of about 70 and high quality sound, lighting, and projection systems, the theatre has strongly established itself as a venue for the meetings and events of the Ireland Institute and other groups, as well as for dramatic and other cultural presentations.

Amongst the theatrical presentations have been Buck Jones and the Body Snatchers, which sold out at the 2009 Dublin Theatre Festival, and Wonderland’s production of Brendan Behan’s The Hostage, which was also a huge success in the same year. Buck Jones was performed in all parts of the Pearse Centre, including the first floor rooms in the Georgian house, the new theatre, and the courtyard area for a crypt scene.

Both traditional and electronic music sessions have taken place in the theatre, as well as céilís, musical recitals, drama school showcases, and many film screenings. Both the theatre and the reception rooms in the house are used regularly by groups for rehearsal purposes.

The house has hosted several art exhibitions, with the restored Georgian rooms providing a very attractive hanging space.

Palestinian traditional music in the theatre

Robert Ballagh’s Tír agus Teanga exhibition in 2001 was very popular, as was the sold out one-night-only exhibition of the work of Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al Ali in 2013.

In addition to its own programmes, the Ireland Institute also makes the Pearse Centre available to other groups for committee meetings and public events. The Robert Emmet Association, the Desmond Greaves School, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the People’s Movement, the Irish Anti-War Movement, the Latin America Solidarity Committee, PalFest Ireland, the Progressive Film Club, and many others have used, and continue to use, the Pearse Centre.

What we have to offer: versatile performance and reception spaces

The Pearse Centre is located in a terraced, 2-bay, 3-storey over basement, Georgian house (built c. 1820) with finely-crafted Wyatt windows and a restored Pearse Street facade. The Centre offers a variety of spaces for hire, suitable for performance, rehearsal, reception and many other purposes. The spaces available include the handsome and elegant reception rooms in the Pearse Street house, comprising two large interconnected reception rooms on the first floor and another reception room on the ground floor, as well as the intimate surroundings of the modern theatre building. The venue can be used in many ways:

  • public or private lectures, meetings, and seminars
  • film screenings/festivals
  • as a complete theatre performance space for hire
  • rehearsals
  • auditions
  • theatre and community training and workshops
  • exhibitions
  • recitals
  • poetry and readings
  • book and product launches
  • céilís, dance, music, and festivals
  • corporate conferences and training

The purpose-built Pearse Centre theatre/meeting/screening space is air-conditioned and heated, and equipped with audio visual, sound, and lighting rig. Audience access is via the main Georgian house to the front on Pearse Street, and across a landscaped courtyard. There is a permanent stage, backstage area and control position. The maximum occupancy of the hall is 120 and there is a seated capacity of 70, with some tiered seating at the back. There are two audience toilets at the rear of the hall, which is wheelchair accessible. Dressing facilities with kitchenette, WC, and shower are situated in the basement in the main house.

There is free WiFi.

We hope to develop the arts and cultural use of the Pearse Centre and welcome feedback and suggestions.

Theatre and performance space specs

Stage Type

Raised platform

Stage Height

0.4m

Total Stage Area

4.5m wide x 2.5m deep

Grid Height Over Stage

2.5m

Backstage Area

4.5m x 1.5m

Theatre Total Floor Area

10m x 5.75m (semi-sprung, solid wood – no screws or nails)

Ceiling Height in Theatre

3m

Theatre/Performance Space

Flexible: in the round/end on, with a 3-row raked platform (moveable/adjustable)

Seating

Flexible: 70 seating capacity/120 standing

Loading Access

  • via Cards Lane (cars and small vans only)
  • load-in door is 1.4m x 2.3m
Lighting

  • 42 x 15A Sockets over stage and FOH
  • 42 to 24 Way Weiland Patch located back stage
  • 24 Way Chilli Dimmers rated 2.5kw located back stage
  • Total power to dimmers 100A single phase, no auxiliary power supply available
  • 8 x Source Four Junior Zoom 25/50 Profile Lanterns (750w)
  • 12 x Strand Quartet Fresnels (650w)
  • 8 x Short Nose Parcan (500w)
  • 1 x Strand – Basic Palette – Lighting Control Console

Sound

  • Dynacord D12 Speaker System (350w full-range cabinets & 700w bass bin)
  • Dynacord Powermate 1600 Mixing Console (12 + 4 stereo, 4 aux)
  • 2 x EV ZX1 Monitors & Dynacord CL800 Monitor Amplifier
  • Microphone and Speaker Patch Panels at Stage Left
  • 1 x Shure SM 58
  • 2 x Shure SM 57
  • 1 x Shure UHF – hand-held mic
  • 2 x DI Box
  • 2 x Full Heights Mic Stands, 2 x Half Stands
  • 1 x Table Mic Stand

Audio Visual

  • NEC NP40 Projector and 6 x 4 Manual Projection Screen
  • 1 x Sony CD/DVD Player (CVP-NS39)
  • VGA Socket to Projector located on stage left (also at control position)

Wheelchair Access

Access is through the load-in door from Cards Lane (off Townsend Street) into and through the Theatre, along the decked walk-way and to the reception room on the ground floor of the Pearse Street house. Accessible facilities in one of the two audience toilets at the back of the theatre.

View the Theatre, Reception and Exhibition spaces

A view of the theatre space from the perspective of the fixed control position.
The two reception rooms in the main building on the first floor, with main interconnecting doors which can be closed, subdividing the rooms.
The first floor reception rooms in the Georgian building looking towards the back, showing how presentation and performance can be oriented to give maximum visibility and interaction with an audience in the space.
Facing towards Pearse Street from the back of the house through the interconnected reception rooms on the first floor, showing the exhibition and meeting spaces available.
Afternoon sunshine in the reception room on the first floor at the front of the Georgian house.
The ground floor reception with window facing the theatre across the courtyard, making this room ideal for use in conjunction with performance events.
Viewed from the main building, the courtyard and walkway leading towards the theatre.

Booking and contact details

Hiring the space

The Ireland Institute welcomes queries about use of the different spaces at the Pearse Centre. Contact us to arrange a visit to see the premises or to discuss your particular needs. We are willing to consider all proposals and will try to agree terms that suit all parties.

Touring/Performance/Rehearsal Terms

Rental, by negotiation.

Insurance

Please note that groups may be required to provide their own insurance cover.

Contact Details

Ionad an Phiarsaigh–The Pearse Centre
The Ireland Institute,
27 Pearse Street,
Dublin 2

Phone: ++353 (0)1 670 4606

Email: theirelandinstitue27@gmail.com

Getting here

By Train/DART: Tara Street Station or Pearse Station on Westland Row, Dublin 2

By Bus: 1, 3, 5, 7, 7A, 8, 44B, 44C, 47A, 47B, 48A, 62, 63 and 86

By LUAS: Trinity stop