New location for Abbey Theatre soon
A new location for Ireland’s premier arts venue should be decided upon by the end of the year, a Government minister said tonight.
Arts Minister John O’Donoghue said he was working hard to find a new location for Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in this centenary year.
“I’m really anxious in this centenary year of the Abbey Theatre to try and finalise the location.
"The Government is obviously anxious to have the issue resolved,” the minister said.
But he added that extra funding was a matter for the Arts Council to decide on and not the Government.
Three locations have been selected for the theatre’s new home and recommendations are to be put before the Government in the coming weeks.
Artistic director at the Abbey Theatre Ben Barnes has come under attack after poor ticket sales and spiralling costs left the theatre with an end of year deficit of €1.53m for 2003.
However Mr O’Donoghue refused to apportion blame for the financial crisis.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern unveiled a specially commissioned artwork tonight by Dublin artist James Hanley RHA to mark the theatre’s centenary.
Mr Ahern said it was an honour to mark the theatre’s birthday as it had given so much to the culture of Ireland.
“The Abbey Theatre has been a national institution. It’s what has given the vehicle for all our theatrical productions down through the years.
“Without the Abbey Theatre, this country would have had a huge void in all the generations.”
Mr Ahern added that the Government was planning for the theatre’s future and that important decisions would be made during its birthday year.
Mr Barnes said more funding was needed to keep the theatre running and much more was needed to create the state-of-the-art centre Ireland deserved.
Last night Mr Barnes survived a motion of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting of the National Theatre Society.
A restructuring plan now before the board involves the loss of 30 of the Abbey’s 91 contract and permanent staff over the next 15 months.
