Everyman Palace Theatre

The Everyman
Awning of The Everyman on MacCurtain Street
The Everyman is located in Cork Central
The Everyman
The Everyman
Location within Cork Central
Former namesCork Palace of Varieties, Palace Cinema, Everyman Palace Theatre, Everyman Theatre[1][2]
AddressMacCurtain Street
Cork
Ireland
Coordinates51°54′05″N 8°28′06″W / 51.9014°N 8.4682°W / 51.9014; -8.4682
DesignationProtected structure[3]
Capacity650 seats
Construction
Opened1897[5]
ArchitectH. Brunton[4][5]
Website
EverymanCork.com

The Everyman, also referred to as the Everyman Theatre and historically known as the Everyman Palace,[2] is a 650-seat Victorian theatre on MacCurtain Street in Cork, Ireland.[6] It opened in 1897, and is the oldest purpose-built theatre building in Cork.[5][7] The theatre is housed in a protected[3] Victorian building with a large stage and auditorium, a proscenium arch, four elaborately decorated boxes, a studio space and a bar.

Since its foundation, the theatre has undergone a number of changes in name and use, through its days as "Dan Lowrey's Palace of Varieties" (hosting Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin),[4] life as a cinema, periods of disrepair, and redevelopment as a modern theatre in the 1990s.[2][5]

The Everyman's programme is a mix of plays, operas, musicals and concerts, but it specialises in drama and usually stages three in-house productions per year. In the summer months, it hosts productions by Irish playwrights. Other recurring events include the Guinness Jazz Festival in October (for which the theatre is a primary venue),[8] and the Christmas pantomime. A unique feature of the theatre is that its front of house ushering staff is composed entirely of volunteers.[6]

  1. ^ "Cork students to bring 'Our House' musical to the Everyman Theatre stage". The Echo. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Our History". everymancork.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Volume 3 - Built Heritage Objectives - Part 2 - Record of Protected Structures", Cork City Development Plan, Cork City Council, p. 146, 2022, retrieved 14 February 2024
  4. ^ a b "Cultural Buildings - The Everyman". Cork Heritage Openday. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Palace of theatrical delights - The Everyman celebrates 120 years". Irish Examiner. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b "About Us - About the Everyman". everymancork.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  7. ^ "News - Artistic director Talbot to step down from Cork's Everyman Palace". The Stage. 15 August 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Guinness Jazz Festival Concerts Programme". GuinnessJazzFestival.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010.