All Belfast's a Stage - historical theatre walking tour

Schedule

Sun Oct 12 2025 at 11:30 am to 01:30 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

The Grand Opera House, Belfast | Belfast, NI

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THE TOUR MUST GO ON!
Join Alternative Ulstours' Andrew Johnston on a walking tour of historic Belfast theatre sites, in a dramatic programme spanning nearly three centuries.
Let us set the scene and recite the script, and applaud the larger-than-life characters, both on stage and 'behind the curtain'.
• Belfast's 'Palace of Varieties', still going strong
• 'Theatreland's' ambitious Edwardian edifice
• Bedford Street's home of new writing and comedy
• Victorian Belfast's mecca for lovers of verse and wine
• Music hall memories of Belfast's original Empire
• The modest, formative theatre on Ann Street
• Shakespeare and 'strollers' in a lost tavern cellar
• Three incarnations of Belfast's 'Royal' auditorium
• Belfast's first public hall, where drama unfolded
• Noble patronage of Millfield's prestigious playhouse
• Smithfield theatres on the wrong side of the law
• On 'Rosemary Lean', the pride of Belfast's impresario
• Triumph and disaster at Belfast's rowdiest venue!
Please note:
• The walking tour starts outside the Grand Opera House on Great Victoria Street in Belfast city centre, where your guide will be waiting for you
• Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time
• The tour will last two hours and cover around one and a half miles on mainly flat, even ground
• The route is fully accessible, but please inform us in advance of any mobility issues
• The tour ends at the Deer's Head on Lower Garfield Street in Belfast city centre
• The tour will go ahead in all weathers, so please dress accordingly and stay hydrated
• There are public toilets near the start and end points, and we can make a toilet stop approximately halfway through the tour if required
• Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the tour
• Your guide is a Level 4 'blue badge' tour guide and Visit Belfast industry partner
• The tour is fully insured through Tour Guides NI
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Where is it happening?

The Grand Opera House, Belfast, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Alternative Ulstours

Host or Publisher Alternative Ulstours

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