Town Hall Theatre Galway, owned and managed by Galway City Council incorporating the state of the art 400-seater Main Auditorium and the 52-seater Studio Space at Courthouse Square, and the nearby, multi-purpose Black Box performance space (up to 550 seated, 800 standing) on Dyke Road presents an extensive and eclectic mix of theatre, concerts, musicals, dance, film, comedy and family shows year-round. The venue is open 362 days a year and 15 hours a day on average. The venue attracts audiences in excess of 100,000 annually (close to 2 million since we officially re-opened on 1st February 1996) making it the most successful theatre of its size in Ireland.
Each year, the venue is the epicentre of activity for virtually all of Galway's key festivals and cultural events including Galway International Arts Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Cuirt Festival of Literature, Baboro Children's Festival and Galway Comedy Festival to name but a few. Druid have premiered many of their acclaimed and award-winning productions at the venue before embarking on national and international tours including successful Broadway and West End runs, and an increasing number of Galway International Arts Festival's own productions tour the world following premieres at Town Hall Theatre and Black Box. Acclaimed for consistently delivering the best of national and international talent year-round to Galway audiences, the venue's programme proudly features the work of many performers, companies, musical societies and arts organisations (both professional and amateur) from across the city and county.
The building which houses the Town Hall Theatre was erected in the 1820's and served first as a Courthouse and later as a conventional Town Hall. In the 1950's, the building was converted into a cinema and was used for film screenings until it fell into disrepair in the 1990's. Galway Corporation (now Galway City Council), with the assistance of a grant from the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, undertook a major refurbishment of the building mid-90's. The building was officially opened as a municipal theatre on the 1st of February 1996 by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D Higgins, and the Mayor of Galway, Micheal O hUiginn. The opening event was the world premiere of the Druid production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh. The restoration of the Town Hall was part of a £2.3 million programme that also saw the subsequent completion of the nearby Black Box performance space. The Theatre is situated in the centre of Galway and features a fine portico overlooking the newly renovated Courthouse Square and a bar/cafe in the upper foyer.
Click here to see a 100 year old Town Hall photograph a 'who's who' of 1916 Rising!
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To enquire about renting any of our theatre spaces, bar or gallery please contact the Theatre Manager at tht@galwaycity.ie
The Town Hall Theatre and Black Box are owned and managed by Galway City Council and their programme activities are supported by The Arts Council.
11 September 2023
Re: Governance Transparency/ Arts Council Funding
The Town Hall Theatre is Galway’s municipal theatre, owned and governed by Galway City Council within policies and procedures determined in the context of legal and fiscal obligations applying to Local Authorities.
Town Hall Theatre staff are employees of Galway City Council, and the operation of the theatre is managed by Galway City Council, overseen by the 18 elected members of Galway City Council (see attached elected members and the date of their election https://www.galwaycity.ie/council-mayor) and who generally serve 5 years terms.
Details of the financial performance of the Town Hall Theatre are included in Galway City Council’s Annual Financial Statement Audited.
Town Hall Theatre employs 7 full time (one member of staff earns in excess of €60,000; one employee is in the €40,000 - €50,000 bracket and four are in the €30,000 - €40,000 bracket and one is in the €20,000-€30,000 bracket) and the full-time equivalent of 12 others, who work on a part-time basis.
Town Hall Theatre does not engage in fundraising and if it ever did in the future, would comply with best practice regarding same as part of its own statutory obligations.
A copy of this letter, a copy of the Galway City Council Annual Financial Statement and a copy of the list of elected members of Galway City Council is available on the Town Hall Theatre’s website, www.tht.ie as part of Town Hall Theatre’s and Galway City Council’s commitment to the principles of the Governance Transparency Scale for organisations in receipt recurring Arts Council’s funding.
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Elizabeth Fanning
Acting Director of Services
Housing, Economic Development and Culture
Galway City Council
