Executive Director’s Farewell

Having led the venue since July 2011, Pavilion Theatre’s Executive Director Hugh Murray is stepping down today, 9 September 2025.

His tenure is evidenced by countless milestones for Pavilion Theatre – programmes presented, projects completed, artists supported, audiences entertained, and a grateful, resilient team built for whom his mentorship and leadership have been invaluable. 

He shared the following message:

This month marks the beginning of my final programme (of 38) for Pavilion Theatre, a journey that began in July 2011 when I joined as Director.

From the outset, my ambition was to put Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, firmly back on the map and see it regarded among the best theatres in Ireland. I believed the programme should drive the profile of the theatre, never any one individual. The goal was to try and secure and promote the best art, build large and loyal audiences, and thanks in large part to the vision and commitment of Ronan Fingleton, Pavilion’s Technical Director, nurture a space that could be enjoyed through to the next generation.

Pavilion Theatre has a long and rich history, and I’ve done my best to advocate for it. For the artists, producers, companies, and partners, by helping deliver strong, engaged audiences for their work; for the audiences, by ensuring a memorable and enjoyable experience; and for the staff, by fostering a positive culture and an inspiring place to work.

The most fulfilling aspect of this role, creatively, was the opportunity to programme across the genres, curating a vibrant offering that balanced artistic quality with broad appeal. I’ve often heard it said that Pavilion has “great audiences.” It certainly does — and I want to thank everyone who supports the theatre. Long may that continue to grow and thrive.

To all my colleagues, past and present — thank you. It’s always been a team effort, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together. I also want to acknowledge our volunteers and board members, who have so generously given their time. And a special thank you to Ned Sullivan and Enda Cunningham, for their consistent support, guidance, and encouragement over the years.

Mary Hanafin, Chair of Pavilion Theatre’s board, commented:

The board of Pavilion Theatre appreciates the enormous contribution of Hugh Murray to the development of the venue, and we wish Hugh continued success in his career. Our talented team remains committed to providing the best possible experience for our loyal patrons.