Caitríona McLaughlin

Caitríona McLaughlin has been Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre since 2021. She was Associate Director of the Abbey Theatre from 2017 to 2020.

Theatre

For the National Theatre: The Playboy of the Western World

As Artistic Director at the Abbey, Dublin recent productions include: Marina Carr’s The Boy, Audrey or Sorrow (in a co-production with Landmark Productions) and iGirl; Grania by Augusta Gregory; Tartuffeby Frank McGuinness after Molière; The Weir by Conor McPherson; and Translations by Brian Friel (an Abbey Theatre and Lyric Theatre Belfast co-production).

As Associate Director at the Abbey, Dublin productions include: The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh (with Conall Morrison); Citysong by Cary D Coburn; On Raftery’s Hill by Marina Carr; Two Pints by Roddy Doyle, which toured widely in Ireland and the USA; and Josephine K and the Algorithms by Stacey Gregg

Other theatre includes: Killers and other Family by Lucy Thurber (part of the OBIE award-winning Hilltown Plays) in New York; and Rattlestick and Bard Summerscape at Atlantic Theatre

Awards

Citysong – Irish Times Theatre Awards nomination Best New Play

On Raftery’s Hill – Best Director at the Irish Times Theatre Awards

Prior to directing, Caitríona McLaughlin worked as a drama facilitator in Northern Ireland, working with young people and in conflict resolution.

She created a number of works with the Playhouse Derry, Blue Eagle, BigTelly and the The Local Group. In London, she directed at the Finborough Theatre and collaborated with the Royal Court in sourcing and developing a new theatre space. She was awarded the Clore Fellowship in 2007 and subsequently spent several summers with LAByrinth Theatre Company developing new plays for Artistic Directors John Ortiz and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, at their Summer intensive.

(Published December 2025)