Job Ref: ABB1125
Branch: Abbey Theatre Dublin
Location: Abbey Theatre, Dublin
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Shift pattern: 5 days a week
Hours per week: 40 hours per week
Posted date: 26/05/2026
Closing date: 05/06/2026
The Abbey Theatre’s mission is to engage effectively and imaginatively with all of Irish society through the production of ambitious and courageous theatre in all its forms. Ireland’s National Theatre is artist-led and audience-focused, driven by ambitious ideas from theatre-makers of all disciplines, relevant to our times and communicated effectively to our audiences and stakeholders.
Our vision is to build a 21st-century theatre and company where creativity drives everything we do; developing the artists and audiences of the future. We aim to be a confident, collaborative company, leading the way in how Irish theatre is developed, produced and shared, and where everyone who works with us knows they are contributing to one of the world’s great theatres.
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Job Title: Communications Manager
The ideal candidate for the Abbey Theatre Communications Manager role will be experienced, dynamic and enthusiastic with a qualification in communications or public relations. The role requires at least four years’ experience working in the area of public relations, communications, public affairs and social media. The candidate should have a passion for theatre and a desire to work alongside some of Ireland and the world’s leading theatre artists. They will have a track record of promoting theatre, managing PR and social media campaigns on a national scale and possess excellent contacts amongst the Irish media and cultural sector.
A strategic mind-set and an appetite to grow the Abbey Theatre’s reputation nationally and internationally is vital; strong media relations/strategic engagement skills and experience of reputation management is an advantage in the role. This position will have the support of the Abbey Theatre’s Communications Marketing team which manages all communications, media and marketing activities on behalf of Ireland’s national theatre.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties of the Communications Manager fall under a range of categories and include, but are not limited to:
Public relations
- Abbey Theatre spokesperson as required, handling a wide range of queries and issues, ranging from the artistic to the corporate (incl. site redevelopment, business case, funding, financial results, governance, political issues, stakeholder management)
- Contribute to the reaching of ambitious sales and attendance targets on an annual basis
- Support and work closely with Abbey Theatre artists, staff and board, bringing their work and vision to life through all our communications activities
- Support colleagues and artists with preparation and media training before interviews/ public appearances
- Ensure communications materials to support launches and campaigns including FAQs, press releases and statements
- Further develop and expand fruitful, collaborative relationships with Irish and international media to secure interesting news coverage and expand our existing network of news contacts
- Circulate information to Abbey Theatre staff and Board on a regular basis
Public affairs and strategy
- Play key role alongside Director of Communications and Marketing in leading organisational messaging that is inclusive of brand strategy, communications strategy and overall organisational strategy.
- Alongside the Director of Communications and Marketing, develop a Site Re-development communications strategy encompassing each phase of the project and considering a wide group of stakeholders
- Leading briefing and advisory sessions, and develop statements and key messaging around institutional or corporate matters on behalf of the Co-Directors, Chair, Board and SMT staff.
- Ensure widespread strategic engagement and execution of Communications Strategy and Corporate Strategy
- Develop communications action plans to ensure relationship development and regular engagement with both internal and external stakeholders
- Attend Site Re-Development Committee meetings, as a staff representative advising on communications
- Provide briefing documents and speaking notes for VIP stakeholders (such as political leaders, ministers) that may be speaking at Abbey events
- Oversee the delivery of the Annual Review and communications plan around the filing of the Annual Report
- Represent the Communications team and the organisation at relevant external and internal meetings and events including Opening Nights and launches.
- Maintain and develop relationships with media, government, departmental, theatre and industry peers.
Crisis/ Reputation management
- Alongside Director of Communications and Marketing, act as key internal voice on internal and external on crisis communications committee/ teams
- Be available to counsel on and execute a crisis communications plan if required (including outside of standard working hours)
- Project managing internal and external communications at times of crisis, reassigning and delegating other responsibilities where possible, to ensure a timely and appropriate response
- Lead on planning for potential crisis and reputation management, with the preparation of scenarios, FAQs, statements, information matrixes and stakeholder action plans
- Reviewing documents that may be issued by third parties under Freedom of Information
- Providing information/updates/reports for parliamentary questions, Joint Oireachtas Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Department, Arts Council, Dublin City Council
Team and external provider management
- Lead and line manage media and communications team direct reports, ensuring all receive regular support, through coaching, training and feedback
- Deliver supporting performance process with team.
- Set targets/objectives with the team
- Responsible for the delivery of direct reports individual projects and campaigns
- Oversee the management and be point of contact for the Abbey Theatre’s communications and public affairs agency, media monitoring agency, and media database and distribution agency
- Manage PR agencies and freelance publicists, photographers, videographers and designers as necessary
General
- Deputise for the Director of Communications and Marketing when required.
- Support the work of the Director of Communications and Marketing and undertake any other tasks as may be deemed reasonable and appropriate
- Ensure press and broadcast coverage is recorded for the Abbey Theatre Archive
- Ensure the Abbey adheres to the highest standards of GDPR through the use of a media database provider.
- Input purchases to Thrive, the Abbey’s financial management system
- Utilise Tessitura, TMS, Microsoft Teams
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal
- Director of Communications and Marketing
- Marketing Manager
- Communications and Marketing team
- Co-Directors
- SMT
- Abbey Theatre Board
- Archivist
- Community Education
- Finance
- Production
- Stage Management
- New Work
- People Culture
- Sales and Customer Service
External
- All press and media contacts
- Artists/ theatre-makers
- Theatre community
- Abbey Theatre customers
- Tourism agencies
- Arts Council
- Department of Culture
- Dublin City Council
- Government
- Communications and public affairs agency
- Media monitoring agency
- Media database and distribution agency
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please send the below information:
- Up to date CV
- Cover letter
Closing date 05th of June.
The Abbey Theatre is an equal opportunities employer
As Ireland’s national theatre, the Abbey Theatre’s ambition is to enrich the cultural lives of everyone with a curiosity for and interest in Irish theatre, stories, artists and culture. Courage and imagination are at the heart of our storytelling, while inclusivity, diversity and equality are at the core of our thinking. Led by Co-Director’s Caitríona McLaughlin (Artistic Director) and Mark O’Brien (Executive Director), the Abbey Theatre celebrates both the rich canon of Irish dramatic writing and the potential of future generations of Irish theatre artists.
Our stories teach us what it is to belong, what it is to be excluded and to exclude. Artistically our programme is built on twin impulses, and around two questions: “who we were, and who are we now?” We interrogate our classical canon with an urgency about what makes it speak to this moment. On our stages we find and champion new voices and new ways of seeing, our purpose - to identify combinations of characters we are yet to meet, having conversations we are yet to hear.
