SeONA McClintock TAKES UP POST AS CREATIVE DIRECTOR WITH THEATRE GU LEÒR

We are delighted to welcome Seona McClintock to the company as Creative Director from June 2023, after the departure of founding artistic directorMuireann Kelly in May 2023 to take up a new post at the National Irish Language Theatre, Galway.

Seona is a creative producer from Glasgow who has had a varied and enjoyable career working across arts and media, both in Gaelic and English. She previously worked for Theatre Gu Leòr as Company Co-ordinator, during which time she produced touring show, Cèilidh, and has returned to the company in the role of Creative Director and CEO.

Seona began her career working in the BBC’s Gaelic department as a researcher for children’s and arts TV programmes. After studying English and Drama in London, and a spell working in Italy, she returned to the industry in Scotland. She has held producing and artist development roles at a range of organisations such as National Theatre of Scotland and Magnetic North, as well as managing a freelance portfolio of work with independent artists.

More recently, Seona worked as Producer at Eden Court in Inverness, with responsibility for Gaelic and Traditional Arts. She produced and programmed their flagship summer music festival, Under Canvas, which was nominated for Event of the Year at the Trad Awards. She also commissioned new installation, music and theatre works, and created the organisation’s first Gaelic strategy. Seona joins Theatre Gu Leòr from the post of Artistic Producer at Tron Theatre.

Outside of work Seona is an avid film fan, sock knitter and reader. She volunteers with Glasgow City Football Club’s media team and is attempting to travel the world one stadium at a time.

Speaking about her new role, Seona said: ‘It feels very special to be coming full circle, back to Theatre Gu Leòr, after working elsewhere for a few years. Theatre Gu Leòr gave me my start in the theatre industry and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring some of my experience back to benefit the company and all the staff and artists who are involved with it.

The work Muireann has done for the Gaelic theatre sector is incomparable and she has done a wonderful job in establishing Theatre Gu Leòr as a successful, ambitious and steady company. She has left behind big shoes to fill, but it will be an incredible pleasure to guide this company in its next chapter.

My first job will be to get to know the artists working with Theatre Gu Leòr better, as well as the ones that might not have worked with us yet. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with Gaelic theatre artists all over the country in the coming months and years.’