Two of the key staff of Scotland's national theatre are to leave and run the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Neil Murray, executive producer of the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) and Graham McLaren, currently associate director, will become the joint directors of the renowned Irish national theatre.
Fiach Mac Conghail’s tenure as director of the Abbey Theatre will end in December 2016 after 12 years in the role.
Mr Murray, who helped launche the NTS, and Mr McLaren will be responsible for programming from January 2017 on.
They will start as Directors Designate on 1 July next year working alongside Fiach Mac Conghail to "ensure a smooth transition."
Dr. Bryan McMahon, chairman of the Abbey Theatre said: "I am delighted to welcome Neil Murray and Graham McLaren, as the new Directors of the Abbey Theatre. They will share the leadership together as a team.
"The Board’s appointment of two people with diverse yet complementary skill-sets to lead the Abbey Theatre is indicative of the Board’s ambition for the Abbey Theatre’s future evolution and growth. "
Both figures have been key staff at the NTS.
In a statement they said: "We are thrilled and honoured to be offered the opportunity to run the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theatre and one of the world’s great companies.
"We will join the Abbey Theatre from theNational Theatre of Scotland, which has proved to be a successful, revolutionary venture, and, of course, the Abbey Theatre has its own unique history and place in world theatre."
They added: "We believe in the concept of a national theatre that reaches all of the country. This applies to touring work, but also addresses the issue of where shows and projects are rooted and made, regardless of geographical remoteness or perceived social barriers."
Laurie Sansom, director of the NTS, said : "Neil Murray and Graham McLaren have each been central to the Scottish and UK theatre landscape for over twenty years. In their roles, they have brought everything from Medea to Black Watch onto stages at home and overseas.
"In his post as the National Theatre of Scotland’s Executive Producer, Neil has been with the Company since its inception and has been instrumental in steering us towards the national and international renown we’ve achieved.
"Graham, as Associate Director, has been integral to the shaping of our creative programme and has directed some of our biggest successes, among them Yer Granny and In Time O’ Strife.
"That Graham and Neil have been snapped up by one of the world’s leading theatres is testament to their zeal and expertise in nurturing theatre-makers and serving audiences. It is an enormous feather in the cap of Scottish theatre and a testament to the founding principles and successes of the National Theatre of Scotland that they will now run The Abbey, the national theatre of one of our nearest neighbours."
Thomas Kilroy, playwright and Abbey Theatre Board member said: "We had two things in mind in making these appointments. One was the preservation of the Abbey Theatre heritage and its canon of dramatic writing.
"The other was leadership, bringing the theatre forward into a challenging and exciting future.
"I believe that Neil Murray and Graham McLaren can meet these goals."
Murray is currently Executive Producer of the National Theatre of Scotland where he has worked since its inception, in 2005.
Previously, for six years he was the Director of the Tron Theatre, Glasgow where he was responsible for producing Tron Theatre Company productions and programming all visiting work.
He has been particularly involved in the international work of the company which has seen them tour to China, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Poland and Ireland.
He has also been involved in their work transferring to the West End of London (Let The Right One In) and Broadway, New York (Macbeth).
McLaren is currently Associate Director of the National Theatre of Scotland.
A director and designer, he has been working in theatre for more than twenty years.
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