Wexford Festival Opera confirms McLoughlin as chief exec

Published Thursday 15 May 2008 at 12:30 by Michael Quinn

Wexford Festival Opera has confirmed David McLoughlin as its chief executive.

A co-founder and chair of the Dublin International Film Festival, McLoughlin was appointed last September on an interim basis after the abrupt departure of his predecessor Michael Hunt following a messy public dispute with the company that ended in the Irish High Court.

McLoughlin takes the reins as the 57-year-old company prepares to open its new €34 million home later this year. His five-year appointment will see him work alongside artistic director David Agler to manage the company’s annual autumn season and a mooted new springtime festival dedicated to new opera writing.

McLoughlin is also currently involved in negotiations with two leading Irish theatre and dance companies to bring them into permanent shared residences in the new venue, which will have a main 781-seat and 250-seat studio performance spaces. A programming manager is also to be appointed to ensure both venues become year-round propositions.

Wexford’s 2008 season returns to its traditional three-opera format for the first time since 2005 and will launch the new Theatre Royal on October 16.