Name: Dunamaise Arts Centre
Rating: 5.0

Dunamaise Arts Centre

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Church Street, Maryborough, Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland

1-90 Years

Paid

Website

Contact

Message

Description

The Dunamaise Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural hub located in the heart of Portlaoise, serving as the artistic heartbeat of County Laois. Housed in a beautifully restored historic building on Church Street, this multi-disciplinary venue features an intimate 240-seat theatre, a dedicated visual arts gallery, and a welcoming café space. It stands out as a premier destination for anyone looking for the best things to do with kids in Laois.

Ticket prices at the venue are highly affordable and transparent, with family show tickets typically starting from £11.00 to £15.00 (€13.00 to €18.00) depending on the production. The centre takes pride in making the arts completely accessible to families, meaning all essential administrative fees are built directly into the ticket price with absolutely no hidden surprises at checkout. Furthermore, toddlers and infants under two years old are admitted entirely for free for lap-seating on selected family events.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines creative inspiration, world-class entertainment, and local community charm, this indoor cultural centre is a fantastic choice. Children can marvel at colourful live stage plays, participate in energetic holiday performance camps, or explore changing contemporary art displays. It provides a reliable, all-weather escape where parents can relax while children immerse themselves in the magical world of performing arts.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Activity Features

Interactive Family Theatre: A fully equipped, intimate auditorium presenting child-friendly pantomimes, musical adaptations, and touring puppet shows.
Free Public Gallery: A bright exhibition space hosting a regularly changing calendar of professional visual arts and local community showcases.
Creative Learning Workshops: Seasonally scheduled arts classes and performance camps designed to let children try out acting, dancing, and crafts.

Detailed Highlights

The State-of-the-Art Auditorium: This intimate 240-seat theatre puts children right in the middle of the live performance action. Kids will love the comfortable, tiered red plush seating that ensures even the smallest audience members get a clear, unobstructed view of the stage.
The Visual Arts Gallery Area: Located on the upper level of the facility, this calm space showcases curated collections from local and international artists. Children can learn about different art styles for free, and families can even pre-book child-friendly guided tours.
Seasonal Youth Performance Camps: During the main school holiday periods, the centre converts into a bustling creative academy. Youngsters can build confidence, learn new dance routines, and make new friends under the professional guidance of experienced stage directors.
The Dunamaise Café and Hub: Positioned right next to the main foyer entrance, this relaxed ground-floor space is excellent for a pre-show treat. Children can enjoy hot chocolates and fresh local baked goods while parents browse upcoming brochures.
Community Cinema Screenings: The main auditorium frequently doubles as a large-scale community cinema. Families can look forward to affordable, child-friendly matinee screenings of independent animations and classic family cinema releases.

Detailed Inventory

Goldilocks and the Three Beours Pantomime: A chaotic, hilariously modern Irish spin on the classic children's fairy tale.
Santa and the Three Little Pigs Production: A highly popular, 55-minute festive theatrical mash-up tailored specifically for younger children.
Camp Broadway Summer Sessions: A multi-day performance workshop where kids learn genuine Broadway stage choreography and singing techniques.
Celtic Con Family Event: An energetic, child-friendly annual pop culture and comic convention hosted inside the theatre walls.
The Wonder Walls Exhibition: A vivid, community-driven visual arts display celebrating local youth creativity.
Welcome To The Jungle Musical Showcase: A lively, high-energy musical performance packed with familiar songs and colourful costumes.
Solas Culture Night: An interactive cultural evening combining traditional Indian and Irish music and dance steps.
The Stones of Dunamaise Short Film: An educational historical film presentation tracing the ancient heritage of the local landscape.

Facilities

Toilets: Fully accessible toilet facilities and baby changing rooms are available on the ground floor.
Buggy Parking: While there is no locked external buggy bay, the spacious ground-floor foyer easily accommodates prams, and front-of-house staff will safely store your buggy during live auditorium performances.
Lockers: Secure storage lockers are not available on-site; families are advised to keep personal items under their auditorium seats.
Food Options: The on-site foyer café offers child-friendly snacks and drinks. Additionally, highly rated family restaurants like Croft Alley Pizza and Lana Asian Street Food are located within a brief 3-minute walk.

What to see

What Visitors Love

The wonderful, intimate size of the theatre means children always feel close to the stage performers.
Incredibly helpful, warm, and friendly front-of-house staff who go out of their way to assist families with buggies and accessibility needs.
Honest, transparent pricing with all booking administration fees fully included in the initial ticket price.
Brilliant location right in the middle of town, surrounded by excellent kid-friendly dining options.

What Visitors Don't Like

The venue does not possess its own private car park, requiring parents to use nearby public street parking or town centre pay car parks.
Popular family holiday shows sell out weeks in advance, leaving little room for spontaneous, last-minute weekend bookings.

Pro-Tips

Book the Lap Tickets Early: Children aged 0-2 can sit on a parent's lap for free, but you must contact the box office in advance to have a physical complimentary ticket assigned to comply with safety limits.
Arrive 30 Minutes Prior: The front doors and box office desk open an hour before showtimes, so arriving early ensures a stress-free entry and time to grab snacks.
Check the Running Times: Family shows are often shortened to around 55 minutes with no intermission, which is absolutely perfect for keeping younger kids focused.

Website

Contact

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult Standard Tickets: £15.00 - £20.00 (€18.00 - €24.00) depending on the show
Child Tickets: £11.00 - £15.00 (€13.00 - €18.00)
Toddlers (Under 2 Years): Free (requires booking a mandatory free lap-ticket in advance)
Visual Arts Gallery Admission: Free

Pricing URL: https://www.dunamaise.ie/whats-on/shows-and-events

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Box Office Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Show Days: The main box office desk opens exactly one hour prior to any scheduled evening or weekend performance time.

Address: Dunamaise Arts Centre, Church Street, Maryborough, Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland

Post Code: R32 W93P

Council: Laois County Council

County: County Laois

By Car: Portlaoise is highly accessible via the main M7 motorway from Dublin or Limerick. Turn off at Junction 16 or 17 and follow signs for the town centre towards Church Street.
Car Parking: On-street pay-and-display parking spaces are situated directly along Church Street and Market Square. Alternatively, extensive public parking is available at the nearby multi-storey park at the Midlands Park Hotel.
By Train: Portlaoise Railway Station sits just 0.3 miles away, offering direct daily rail links from Dublin Heuston and various southern lines. The venue is less than a 5-minute flat walk from the station exit.
By Bus: Multiple local town and regional bus services drop passengers at the main Portlaoise town centre stops, located within short walking distance of the theatre doors.