3Olympia Theatre — Attraction in Dublin

Without a doubt, this is my favourite venue in Dublin. However, they consistently disappoint me at the end of the night with the way their security team behave as soon as the concert ends. They are consistently rude, arrogant, and confrontational and have been this way since I started regularly going to gigs here (2019). For a team that is supposed to help direct you out of the venue or towards your coats in a helpful and efficient manner, they have consistently become confrontational, passive-aggressive, or just plain rude. As I was getting my coats last night (The Academic) I walked past a member of their team telling a group of teenage girls (who were only trying to get their coats) that "we've just had a great night, why do you always have to ruin it". From what I saw and heard, the girls did nothing to warrant that comment. There is no need for petty and childish remarks like that towards ANYONE after a concert, never mind a group of teenagers just trying to leave. I've had them act in a similar fashion previously to people I've attended with, and I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with these attitudes as it turns an overall very positive experience sour very, very quickly.

In comparison, their door and bar teams are always lovely and often go above and beyond. Shout out to the lovely gentleman scanning tickets (has glasses, didn't catch a name) who dealt with me patiently as my tickets had an issue with loading despite a queue forming. Again, he was at the door on the way out, checking on people and being an overall sound lad. A striking comparison to the behaviour of...

The seating needs to be assessed here. The Olympia theatre is truly beautiful, but I would advise against going for upper circle seating. It’s mostly ‘unreserved’ and I have to admit it was my first time ever sitting in the upper circle and it will be my last. You have to queue in the lane way, no problem but I found myself like a headless chicken, playing magical chairs just to find the best seats to see the stage - but no matter where you sit, it’s just awful. And I am baffled how the ticket prices are the same price as circle and stalls, with the seating so bad you’d expect it to be cheaper but it still costs €40/€50 per person. To note; there is no lifts. It’s stairs all the way up, so for elderly or anyone who may have mobility issues this might be difficult. I did notice a lot of elderly given out about the stairs and how high the seating is. There is a good bit of obstruction in this area too. I also observed how everyone sitting was leaning over to the seat in front of them which made it worse to see the stage. I have been to many shows / theatres where the top tier seating is high but the stage can still be seen perfectly. Here is another story. Also Keith Barry show. I think I’ll give him a miss in the future, same old,...

Went for The Weir, Circle B12. A beautiful theatre, really so lovely. It is such a pity Circle seating is very very cramped with too little leg room (imagine sitting in the back seat of car + frontseat seats are pushed fully back) May be ok if a young child (except maybe tall for their age kids or tall pre teens, anyone with long legs) or you're under 5 ft tall, but anyone else will be sitting uncomfortably for the duration of any show. A bit too warm + stuffy also, seemed no air con but was also a full house.

Great view, accoustics good, Circle level feels a bit higher up relative to stage + actors than most other theatre venues of Dublin. Good access to Luas (7mins walk) + Dart Tara Station (14 min walk). Staff polite, helpful + professional.

Ladies toilets are either side of Circle, next to seating + the only ones available to you upon arrival from street into Circle entrance + up the stairs (as no lobby as such in Circle).

Could be a better experience with an investment in Circle seating - as there are other options for theatre i wouldn't be inclined to return to venue unless there was a rare +...