The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Arts at Trinity College Dublin today announced the appointment of Gemma Bodinetz as its new Director & CEO. Bodinetz has joined from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she has been the Director of Drama, Dance, Production & Film since 2021.

A graduate of Trinity College Dublin where she read Drama and Classical Civilisation, Bodinetz started her career in London as an assistant director to a range of leading figures in theatre including Harold Pinter, Sir Richard Eyre, Sir Trevor Nunn and Howard Davies.

"I have watched from a distance with enormous admiration the burgeoning of The Lir Academy under Loughlin Deegan’s inspirational directorship," she said. "These will be very big shoes to step into, but I am hugely honoured and delighted to take up this role, and along with the present team and Board, steer The Lir Academy into its next exciting chapter."

The Lir. Credit: Camilla Cerea.

"My four years as a student at Trinity College Dublin began my love affair with Ireland and a lifelong appreciation of its enormously rich theatrical and cultural landscape. My firmly held contention is that our ability to share stories of the human condition is not a luxury, but a healing necessity."

"This is a really exciting appointment and everyone at The Lir Academy is very much looking forward to Gemma joining us to lead the organisation this September," said James Hickey, Chair of The Lir Academy. "She brings a unique perspective to the role through her experience and very strong commitment to the vision for The Lir Academy as set out in our Strategic Plan."

Bodinetz has led a long and decorated career in arts and theatre. She was appointed Artistic Director of Liverpool’s Everyman and Playhouse Theatres in 2003.

She co-led the transformation of the theatres to be among the most dynamic commissioning houses in the UK and a central part of the city’s 2008 European City of Culture celebrations. Under her guidance, she implemented a drive to reach out to local communities and encourage new theatre-makers and audiences to the arts.

Gemma Bodinetz. Credit: Brian Roberts

Bodinetz and her team also delivered a £28 million campaign to rebuild the Everyman Theatre. It was re-opened to a hugely positive reception in 2014 and won the prestigious Stirling Prize.

She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Liverpool by John Moores University in 2014 for her outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Liverpool and awarded a Companionship at LIPA in 2015. She was the recipient of the inaugural Artistic Leader of the Year 2017 by Hope University, Liverpool and won Best Director at the UK Theatre Awards for artistic directorship of the Everyman Company in 2017. On top of that, she has twice been Merseyside Woman of the Year.

"Our students will be the next generation of storytellers and I can think of no more joyful responsibility than ensuring that The Lir Academy continues to find and nurture the most diverse range of talented, authentic and courageous performers and performance makers," she said.