The board of the Abbey Theatre will meet in emergency session this morning to discuss a controversial e-mail sent by its artistic director, Mr Ben Barnes, to international arts figures last week, writes Belinda McKeon
The chairwoman of the Abbey Theatre board, Ms Eithne Healy, confirmed to The Irish Times last night that she has called a board meeting.
On Saturday The Irish Times published the full text of an e-mail Mr Barnes sent to arts figures after he survived a motion of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting of the National Theatre Society, which runs the Abbey, last Tuesday.
Ms Healy yesterday said that she had called the meeting to respond to "a number of things which have changed" since Tuesday's meeting.
While Ms Healy could not confirm that the whole board would be present, she indicated that all eight members would endeavour to attend. It is believed that the meeting will take place at 9 a.m. today in a location other than the Abbey.
Ms Healy stated that the time and place of the meeting were "matters for the board".
The Arts Council is also having a plenary meeting today at which the problems being faced by the Abbey will be discussed.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, said last night that the Minister would not intervene in the situation until a four week consultation process agreed at last Tuesday's e.g.m is complete.
In the e-mail sent by Mr Barnes on Thursday morning he claimed he had been used as a "scapegoat" for problems which were not of his making.
He also claimed that the Government had come out "strongly in support" of him.
In the e-mail Mr Barnes alleged that the board had acted against his advice by announcing a restructuring plan entailing the loss of 30 of the theatre's contract and permanent staff, and had "refused permission" for the artistic context of the cuts to be explained.
In the communication, Mr Barnes described the motion of no confidence put forward by shareholders at Tuesday's e.g.m. as "a disgraceful attempt" to remove him from his position.