The theatre has a capacity of 432 patrons over 3 tiers within the auditorium which is a traditional horse shoe shape. The stage is the smallest in Ireland and is framed with a Proscenium arch. A special Waterford Crystal chandelier, donated by the company in 1951 decorates the ceiling. In 2007 the theatre closed for extensive renovations and reopened to great acclaim in 2009.
The vestibule is a beautifully renovated Georgian room decorated with 3 Waterford Crystal chandeliers and houses the Waterford Municipal Art collection. The theatre now hosts civil ceremonies in the vestibule and the whole building is available for conferences.
The Theatre Royal aims to become the powerhouse for theatre arts in the south east and has been the traditional venue for local and national entertainment down the generations. It is has hosted the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera since its inception in 1958 and is the home stage for long established amateur societies.
The Theatre Royal is increasingly staging its own work and seeking to tour its own productions within the region with the assistance of Waterford City Council and The Arts Council. Theatre Royal Productions led by Director Ben Barnes brings acclaimed artists and creative teams from Ireland and overseas to work closely with local Waterford talent. The aim is to cultivate indigenous artistic expertise and knowledge whilst also producing world class theatre for the city and the region. Recent work included King Lear Review (2010) and Hamlet Review (2011 & 2012) and productions of Jim Nolan’s Sky Road (2007) Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane (2010), Eugene O’Brien’s Eden (2011) and Shelagh Stephenson’s The Memory of Water (March 2012).
Theatre Royal is right in the heart of Waterford historic Viking Triangle, the building is directly across from Waterford Crystal and is situated alongside Bishops Palace and the Waterford Museum of Treasures on the mall.
- Rory's Stories - Keep 'Er Lit
AutumnRory's Stories - Keep 'Er Lit Rory is back on the road with his brand-new show, ‘Keep ‘Er Lit’, as he tries to navigate and survive in this ever-changing world.
- Vladimir & Anton Jablokov
AutumnVladimir & Anton Jablokov Join violinist Vladimir Jablokov and his brother Anton Jablokov for an unforgettable evening filled with beautiful classical melodies and themes from movies and musicals, performed in their unique, energetic style.
- David McSavage - If That Makes Sense
AutumnDavid McSavage - If That Makes Sense David McSavage is stand-up comedy’s answer to spontaneous human combustion, an explosive and always surprising phenomenon that simply cannot be contained in a box or transposed to TV.
- Thanks for the Dance: The Leonard Cohen Story
AutumnThanks for the Dance: The Leonard Cohen Story After their first appearance in the Theatre Royal Waterford which sold out last May, Cohen Unlimited are bringing back this great show to the Theatre Royal to celebrate what would have been Leonard Cohen's 90th birthday with their celebration tour.
- Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time
AutumnEd Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time TV favourite Ed Byrne brings his Best Reviewed Show at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival, British Comedy Guide's No 1 Comedy show of 2023, and his most personal show to date to Waterford!