Best seats at Cork Opera House - Stalls, Dress Circle, boxes

The old Cork Opera House, opened in 1855 as the Athenaeum, burned down on 12 December 1955. Its replacement by Scott Tallon Walker was officially opened by Éamon de Valera in October 1965. So this is a modern house, not a Victorian horseshoe. About 1,000 seats on just two levels, which keeps everyone fairly close to the stage.

Stalls or Dress Circle

The Stalls are on the ground floor. They put you at eye level with the performers, which is what you want for drama, stand-up and anyone whose face matters. Middle rows give the best balance: close, without craning at the stage lip.

The Dress Circle, on the first floor, looks down on the whole stage. Pick it for musicals, dance, opera and the Christmas panto, where the full picture and the choreography count. The front rows of the circle are our pick for a big show.

The theatre warns that the standard seating chart can change from show to show, so check the plan when you book.

The boxes and the Elbow Room

Four private boxes are named after composers: Mozart, Verdi, Bizet and Puccini. They are good for a group or a celebration, but like most boxes they view the stage from the side. The Elbow Room, next to the Mozart and Verdi boxes, looks out over the River Lee.

Accessible seats and hearing loop

• Wheelchair spaces: up to five per performance, with companions, in several parts of the auditorium. Book by phone, in person or by email with the box office (021 427 0022), not online.
• Lift: to the left of the main entrance. It serves the bar, the boxes and the back row of the Dress Circle. Rows A to K are up stairs from the first-floor bar.
• Hearing loop: in rows D to G of the Stalls. Set your hearing aid to T.
• Relaxed performances: offered for the panto every Christmas.

The Half Moon Theatre

Some tickets are for the Half Moon Theatre, a 100-seat space behind the main house. Check your ticket for the venue before you queue at the main door.

Frequently asked questions

How many seats does Cork Opera House have?

About 1,000 in the main auditorium, plus 100 in the Half Moon Theatre behind it.

Does Cork Opera House have an upper circle?

No. There are two levels only: the ground-floor Stalls and the first-floor Dress Circle.

Where is the hearing loop at Cork Opera House?

In rows D to G of the Stalls. Set your hearing aid to T.

Can I reach the Dress Circle by lift?

Only its back row. Rows A to K are up a flight of stairs from the first-floor bar.