Everyman Palace Theatre

The Everyman, also referred to as the Everyman Theatre and historically known as the Everyman Palace,[2] is a 650-seat Victorian theatre on MacCurtain Street in Cork, Ireland.[6] It opened in 1897, and is the oldest purpose-built theatre building in Cork.[4][7] The theatre is housed in a protected[3] Victorian building with a large stage and auditorium, a proscenium arch, four elaborately decorated boxes, a studio space and a bar.

Since its foundation, the theatre has undergone a number of changes in name and use, through its days as "Dan Lowrey's Palace of Varieties" (hosting Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin),[5] life as a cinema, periods of disrepair, and redevelopment as a modern theatre in the 1990s.[2][4]

The Everyman's programme is a mix of plays, operas, musicals and concerts, but it specialises in drama and usually stages three in-house productions per year. In the summer months, it hosts productions by Irish playwrights. Other recurring events include the Guinness Jazz Festival in October (for which the theatre is a primary venue),[8] and the Christmas pantomime. A unique feature of the theatre is that its front of house ushering staff is composed entirely of volunteers.[6]