Minister for Arts John O'Donoghue is expected to appoint a new chair to the Abbey Theatre within weeks, following the acceptance of major reform plans at an extraordinary general meeting over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, the Abbey's 21-member advisory council voted overwhelmingly to dissolve itself in favour of a new corporate governance structure. The reforms will see the National Theatre Society replaced, after more than 100 years in existence, by the Abbey Theatre Ltd, a company limited by guarantee.
A nine-member board will replace the advisory council, or shareholding body, that has owned the theatre up until now and elected much of its board.
The reforms come in response to the financial and managerial crisis that has engulfed the Abbey since it emerged this year that the company had losses in 2004 of €1.85 million. It faces accumulated losses of €3.4 million. Government sources say Mr O'Donoghue is considering nominations for the new chair and is expected to make an appointment in the coming weeks.
Under the new arrangements, the Minister may nominate the chair and two members of the nine-person board. The other six members would be appointed by a selection committee made up of the Abbey chair, the chair of the Arts Council and an independent person from the arts sector, nominated by the Minister.
At present, the Abbey's board consists of two Government nominees, four nominees of the National Theatre Society's shareholders, one staff representative, one actor and one playwright.
Some members of the Abbey's advisory council, including writer Ulick O'Connor (the only member to oppose officially the reform package), have expressed concern at the level of Government influence in the new board.
However, a spokesman for Mr O'Donoghue said yesterday: "The structure is designed so that the interest of the taxpayer is represented, but the vast bulk of the board will be independently selected . . . The State has no interest in interfering in the artistic remit of the Abbey."
The board and advisory council have asked that the Minister consider the appointment of a prominent actor and/or playwright in his board nominations.
The changes were welcomed by the chair of the Arts Council, Olive Braiden, at the weekend.
She said: "Following this significant change, the Arts Council is committed to working with the new board to ensure the stability and confidence of the theatre into the future. We want the Abbey Theatre, as one of the country's main national cultural institutions, to reaffirm its primary purpose of providing the highest quality theatre."
The Arts Council, which warned it would not continue to fund the Abbey unless the new structure was put in place, is due to meet next month to discuss funding and other matters for the theatre.
The corporate governance reform comes when plans are at an advanced stage to relocate the Abbey to George's Dock, near the IFSC.
The Office of Public Works is examining aspects of a possible move, while Government sources say Mr O'Donoghue is anxious to proceed with the relocation as soon as possible.
The Sunday Independent reported yesterday that plans to relocate the Abbey to the area followed contact between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and financier Dermot Desmond. The financier, the original promoter of the IFSC, reportedly contacted the Taoiseach in December 2004 regarding the move.
Three months later, Mr O'Donoghue indicated the theatre could move to George's Dock. A spokesman for Mr O'Donoghue said the Department was engaged in talks with the Dublin Docklands Authority, which is a public body, in relation to plans for the relocation of the theatre to George's Dock.
Government sources meanwhile were anxious to play down the connection between Mr Desmond's support for the theatre being moved to the IFSC and the likely choice of the docklands as a site for the Abbey. Mr Desmond could not be reached for comment.
