Song and dance about theatre's demise just melodrama

FROM HIGH dramatics to high-rise, Andrew's Lane Theatre is to be transformed into a seven-storey office block with a new theatre at basement level. The owners of Andrew's Lane, tucked away on a back lane between Exchequer Street and Trinity Street, are due to lodge a planning application for the D2 theatre site.

The theatre, which was opened by Maureen Potter 18 years ago, was purchased for €9.25 million by a consortium headed by former Tesco executive Martin Garvin last year - €7.5 million over the guide price. The new owners are looking to knock the theatre to make way for a seven-storey office block. A new theatre is proposed for a double-height basement and a box office, wine bar, restaurant and shop are planned for ground level.

The site where Andrew's Lane now stands was home to a printing works and a clothing company before it was was purchased by stockbroker Hugh ODonnell. He brought Pat Moylan on board and together they created a vibrant and quirky theatre space.

In its relatively short life, Andrew's Lane Theatre hosted a number of plays that went on to have successful world tours such as Marie Jones' Stones in his Pocket, John Breen's Alone It Stands and Aidan Dooleys one man play, Tom Crean, Antarctic Explorer.

At the time of its sale, owner Pat Moylan said she made the "very difficult decision" to sell the intimate venue because she couldn't afford a modern revamp.

The news that the theatre had been purchased by a dastardly property developer prompted a chorus of disapproval from people lamenting the demise of so many of Dublin city centre's cultural venues.

Now it seems that the outcry was unwarranted. The new basement theatre will cater for an audience of around 200, roughly the same as the existing Andrew's Lane.

With a double height ceiling the new venue should be a lot roomier than the current venue, which is to put it mildly a little tight.

Garvin will no doubt be casting his eye across the road to a vast site owned by Eircom. The two-acre site is mainly used as a surface car-park. Given Eircom's decision to sell up many of its city centre properties now that it's moving to new headquarters opposite Heuston Station, it's likely the site will be up for grabs soon.