Druid seeks a Chief Executive Officer

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of one of Ireland’s leading theatre companies.

Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will strategically and operationally lead the organisation to realise Druid’s vision of Irish performance for the world.

Operating from Druid’s office in Galway, the CEO will work in partnership with the Artistic Director, who will create the artistic vision and ensure its successful execution.

The opportunity arises due to the upcoming departure of Druid’s Executive Director Anneliese Davidsen, who will leave Druid this autumn to relocate to London.

Anneliese’s achievements during her tenure as Executive Director include:

• Delivery of an ambitious, multi-stakeholder 50th anniversary programme
• Record-breaking national tours of The Shadow of a Gunman by Sean O’Casey and Three Short Comedies by Sean O’Casey
• Galway and Dublin runs of The House by Tom Murphy (★★★★★ The Arts Review) and Macbeth by William Shakespeare (★★★★★ The Irish Times)
• Galway and New York runs of Endgame by Samuel Beckett (★★★★★ The Observer)

Adrian O’Neill, Chair of the Board of Druid: "Along with my colleagues on the Board, I want to thank Anneliese for her time and achievements at Druid and wish her all the very best for her next steps. She leaves the company in great shape as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, taking its productions of Macbeth to Dublin and of Endgame to New York."

Garry Hynes, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Druid: "I’m very grateful to have worked alongside Anneliese during such an important period in Druid’s history, as we marked the company’s 50th anniversary, reflecting on the past and planning for the future of Druid. I wish her the very best in her relocation to London."

The CEO will join Druid at a time of great success for the company, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations have included:

• a record-breaking national tour of Three Short Comedies by Sean O’Casey
• a five-star double bill production of Synge’s Riders to the Sea and Shakespeare’s Macbeth in Galway and Dublin
• a New York transfer of last year’s five-star production of Beckett’s Endgame
• two new publications (a new history of Druid Theatre, fully illustrated with images from the Druid archive, and a new play collection, Druid Theatre 1975-2025: 50 Years of New Irish Plays)
• two commemorative stamps by An Post
• a photography exhibition and design exhibition
• a symposium at the University of Galway
• and more anniversary programme to be announced

Planning is also underway for Druid’s 2026 programme and the next fifty years of ‘one of the greatest, bravest, most exciting theatre companies anywhere in the world’ (The Arts Review).

How to apply

Candidates for this role will be sourced through both an advertised and search process. Druid is an equal opportunities employer. 

For more information on the role and application process, please download the candidate brief below.

Applications should be sent to office@druid.ie.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 12 September 2025 at close of business.