Take a Tour of Theatre Royal Waterford

What to Expect

Theatre Royal Waterford opens its back-of-house to visitors on a 50 minute guided tour that goes well past the auditorium. The theatre is 242 years old and the tour uses that history as its spine: why the building carries the name Theatre Royal, whether there really is a hidden door onto the stage, and what a Flyman actually does up in the grid. Guides walk groups through the backstage passages and working spaces that an audience never normally sees.

The tour runs on a small number of set dates rather than daily. The remaining 2026 dates are Saturday 29 August at 12:00 PM and Thursday 3 September at 10:00 AM, and a July date has already passed. Places are by prior booking only, arranged with Laura at the box office, and groups of ten or more can be accommodated by arrangement. The theatre flags that the historic structure means stairs and narrow passageways backstage, so the tour will not suit everyone, and it is recommended for ages 10 and up. Admission is €12 per person.

Good to Know

• Next date: Saturday 29 August 2026 at 12:00 PM
• Also running: Thursday 3 September 2026 at 10:00 AM
• Duration: 50 minutes
• Price: €12 per person, ages 10 and up
• Booking is essential: tickets@theatreroyal.ie or 051 874402
• Group bookings of 10 or more by prior arrangement
• Backstage areas involve stairs and passageways

Getting There

Theatre Royal is on The Mall in Waterford city centre, a short walk from the Quay, the Viking Triangle and the city centre bus stops. Drivers reach Waterford on the M9 from Dublin or the N25 from Cork and Wexford, and there is multi-storey and on-street parking within a few minutes of the door. Plunkett Station, the city’s rail and Bus Eireann terminus, is across the river on the north bank, about fifteen minutes’ walk over Rice Bridge.