Ambassador Theatre

I was here for the Animals Inside Out exhibition so I suppose I only have half an impression of what the place is like as a theatre, but it worked out great for this event! The staff were all really sound and informative, despite us not coming in until the absolute last minute of entries. The theatre is definitely aging, but it seems fairly clean and reasonably well kept together. The ladies bathrooms show the age, but they were clean! They’re also down a stairs of their own, which was a little creepy in the empty theatre!
The exhibition, I suppose, is not really what we are reviewing here, but it was just excellent. Just the right amount of interesting and unnerving.

When the Ambassador was a cinema, it gave film fans the grand old glamour of bygone era and I was very sorry when it closed its cinematic screen for the last time fifteen years ago. I went to see the Terracotta Army exhibition here recently, and was glad to see that the Ambassador still retains its romantic feel. I really wish it was seen as a more intrinsic and active part of the Dublin arts and entertainment scene.

This is a classic old theater building at the south end of Parnell Square.
Its rating is going to completely depend on what’s exhibited at the time you visit.
Until end of Nov 2014, it has the Chinese Terracotta Warrior exhibit. This was excellent.
There is a fee (17 euro) which is steep especially compared to the free museums but special exhibits like this one are always fee based. It’d really be a waste if you don’t invest 20 minutes to watch the documentary film first tho. If you’re in that kind if hurry skip this one. All the info is in the film.
If you find an event of interest at this venue — go. You’re right in the thick of action here, it’s not out of the way at all.

Of all Dublin’s venues, I’d say the one I’ve frequented the most is the Ambassador. This is largely due to my love of punk and emo as a youngster. The Ambassador is a small scale venue, holds under 1,000, and although quiet on the concert front of late due to the residency of the ‘Bodies’ exhibit, frequently hosts gigs from some top notch punk and metal bands.
The Ambassador is known in Dublin for two things. Firstly, it’s the strangely impressive 1940’s building at the top of O’Connell street that used to be a cinema. Secondly, it’s known for the hordes of teenagers with bits of metal stuck in their faces that swarm towards it on weekends.
While certainly an impressive exterior design, the place is in dire need of a makeover. A dingy, almost catacomb-​like hallway leads you to a large spherical auditorium and stage. The bathrooms are filthy and far too small for a venue of it’s size, not to mention the fact that there’s only one cubicle.
What really brings the venue down though is the fact that it doesn’t really work as a venue. The acoustics are abominable due to the enormous ceiling, it’s nigh on impossible to see anything from the back of the venue from the ground floor, as a balcony extends over half the standing area and worst of all, if you have to get something from the cloakroom, your looking at a fourty minute plus wait due to queuing in the narrow, labyrinthine corridors.
I have been to some great gigs in the ambassador, and have great memories, but I can’t help but feel that the experience would have been much better if a few simple changes were made to the layout of the building and if staff were slightly more accommodating.
The Ambassador is an interesting place to see a gig, but really pales in comparison when you place it next to other small scale venues such as the Academy or Andrew’s Lane Theater.

One of the greatest gigs I’ve ever been to was Dropkick Murphy’s in the Ambassador. Three chord American punk only really works live, if at all, and the Ambassador is a great place for it. Wide and flat, it’s perfect for moshing and with very understanding bouncers. So understanding in fact that they didn’t mind when the whole crowd got up on stage.
The acoustics, as Rob said, are atrocious. But does that really matter when you’re doused in sweat and covered in bruises?

Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre is a glorious building at the top of O’Connell Street.
Formerly a cinema, the Ambassador now hosts a variety of concerts, exhibitions and live music performances.
The venue itself is quite impressive — a large spherical structure with grand old architecture and those gorgeous red curtains… I was particularly impressed to discover they have a ladies’ powder room — how very 1940s! It was obviously constructed in the days before the population took a turn for the obese, for the staircases are rather narrow and do not easily accommodate two modern ‘normal’ sized women. Scary sign of the times, huh?!?
Many great bands have performed here over the past few years, including Vampire Weekend, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand and Amy Winehouse. Additionally, the Bodies Exhibition has just finished a very well-​received six month residency at the Ambassador. Hmmm wonder what’s coming up next?