Dublin's Gaiety Theatre may change hands again. Its British owner, Break for the Border, which bought the 127-year-old theatre in 1996, confirmed yesterday that it was considering offers. Although the theatre is profitable, the company wants to sell its music venue business in Britain and Ireland to concentrate on its pubs and restaurants. The news has led to fears in the arts world that the theatre, one of only two Victorian venues remaining in Dublin, could be converted for other uses. However, Mr Roger Beaumont, group managing director, said last night he was confident the Gaiety's future as an entertainment venue was "secure".
The Gaiety building, on South King Street, is a grade one listed building. The theatre, which employs 50 full and part-time staff, is used regularly by the Dublin Theatre Festival, Opera Ireland and the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical and Dramatic Society.
The theatre last went on the market in 1997 for £3.5 million but no buyer was found. This time, Mr Beaumont says the price is "considerably higher".
Opera Ireland called last year for the Gaiety to be converted into a fully-fledged opera house. However, the director of the Arts Council, Ms Patricia Quinn, reacted sceptically to this proposal, saying the theatre was too small.
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