THEATRE GU LEÒR FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TO TAKE UP NEW POST IN IRELAND

Muireann Kelly,  Artistic Director, CEO and founder of Scottish Gaelic theatre company Theatre Gu Leòr, is to leave the company in May 2023 to take up a new post as Artistic Director with Fíbín at  An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, Galway.

Originally from Co. Mayo in Ireland, Muireann spent her early career working in Dublin and toured as a young actor with the Abbey to the UK, US and Hong Kong. In the 1990’s she came to Scotland to study drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has continued to work as an actor and director in Scottish theatre ever since. In 2010 she moved with her family to the Isle of Skye, where she learnt Gaelic at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and her interest in Scottish Gaelic and multilingual theatre grew from there.

 In 2014 Òran Mòr approached Muireann to develop and direct, ‘Doras Dùinte/ Closed Door’, a new Gaelic play by Catriona Lexy Chaimbeul. Theatre Gu Leòr was then established with the aim of creating a contemporary Gaelic theatre company which would focus on bringing new Gaelic writing to the stage. Innovative use of multi-media and digital technologies together with a commitment to accessible theatre with the highest production values became vital to the work.  

Theatre Gu Leòr has taken Gaelic theatre to a wide and diverse audience across Scotland and internationally. Creative learning and professional skills development have also been an integral part of the company’s work, something which Muireann believes is essential for a sustainable future for Gaelic theatre.

To date Muireann has commissioned and produced seven national touring productions, including two international tours during her time at Theatre Gu Leòr. The company has developed and commissioned 6 new radio dramas and series, two short films and published four plays, and several children’s books based on a series of plays commissioned and produced for young audiences during lockdown.

In 2021 Theatre Gu Leòr won the Arts and Culture Award, sponsored by Creative Scotland, at the Scottish Gaelic Awards for a series of four new radio dramas Rudeigin Ri Ràdh / Something to Say in partnership with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. The radio dramas were also nominated for a Torc Award at the Celtic Media Festival in 2022.

In 2018 their production of Cèilidh was shortlisted and their production of Shrapnel also won the Arts and Culture Award in 2016. MAIM, the album of music commissioned by Theatre Gu Leòr, based on the music from the production of Maim, was shortlisted for Album of the Year 2022 at the MGALBA Trad Music Awards. Both the children’s Cora books and Maim-slè books were commissioned by Muireann at Theatre Gu Leòr and were nominated for a Gaelic Literature Award 2022.

Theatre Gu Leòr’s eighth production, and Muireann’s last as Artistic Director at Theatre Gu Leòr will be ‘Stornoway, Quebec’ by Calum L. MacLeòid – opening at An Lanntair in Stornoway at the end of March. It will then tour to Mull, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness, finishing at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow on 15th April. Full tour dates can be found at the company’s website.

In May, Muireann will return to the west of Ireland to take up the position with Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre in Galway. She succeeds outgoing Artistic Director Philip Doherty, who stepped down this Spring. She will oversee the running and artistic programme of the 148 seat theatre at An Taibhdhearc in the heart of Galway, Ireland’s only bilingual city. She will be working alongside Darach Ní Tuairisg, CEO and founder of Fíbín, as well as with the staff and boards of Fíbín and An Taibhdhearc to ensure exciting new work is made in Gaeilge and multilingual languages as well as being developed in the Gaeltacht.

Speaking of her new appointment, Muireann said: “While I am sad to leave, I know I am leaving Theatre Gu Leòr in safe hands, with an amazing team and board in place and I look forward to the new work they will develop undnew artistic leadership. I am passionate about making and developing theatre in Gaelic languages and very much looking forward to taking on the post of Artistic director of Fíbín sa Taibhdhearc, in Galway. I hope that, in the years ahead, an Taibhdhearc will become a home and a creative space for all artists working in theatre in Irish where their work can develop and flourish.”

CEO of Fíbín, Darach Ó Tuairisg, said: “As we mark our 20th year of Fíbín, I'm thrilled with the new appointment and very excited to have an opportunity to welcome and work with Muireann, whose work I have admired from afar for many years. I'm really grateful to Philip Doherty for all the amazing work he has done with Fíbín over the last 4 years as Artistic Director and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.  Muireann's vast experience of working in Gàidhlig Theatre will complement Fíbín's work. It's a very exciting time for Irish language theatre.”

Michelle Macleod, Chair of the board of Theatre Gu Leòr said: “On behalf of everyone associated with Theatre Gu Leòr over the years, I wish to thank Muireann for all her hard work and enthusiasm for the company and Gaelic drama more broadly. We will miss Muireann very much but wish her success in her new role.”