In an outspoken letter sent to a number of international arts figures, the artistic director of the Abbey Theatre, Mr Ben Barnes, has strongly criticised both the theatre's board of directors and its advisory council.
Mr Barnes, who survived a vote of no confidence at the extraordinary general meeting of the National Theatre Society earlier this week, made the criticisms in the letter sent by e-mail to "international colleagues".
The recipients included the artistic directors of the English National Opera, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and the San Jose Repertory Theatre.
Mr Barnes told his colleagues of the failure of "a disgraceful attempt" to remove him from his position as artistic director, a reference to last Saturday's e.g.m. at which shareholders put forward a motion of no confidence in him.
The shareholders were concerned about falling box-office revenues, a deficit likely to reach €2.5 million by the year's end, and the announcement that 30 of the theatre's 91 contract and permanent staff are to be shed as part of a restructuring plan.
In his letter, Mr Barnes criticised the announcement of staff cuts while he was on a tour of Australia as an attempt to scapegoat him for problems not of his making.
He said it was against his "advice and wishes" that the board of directors brought forward proposals for staff reductions on September 2nd. By announcing this plan in his absence, Mr Barnes writes, the board of the Abbey "refused permission" for its artistic context to be elucidated.
Mr Barnes said the financial crisis was precipitated by a shortfall in fundraising for the centenary programme, which had been "explicitly endorsed" by the board of directors.
Stating that the Government "came out strongly" in his support, Mr Barnes referred to the attendance of both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, at the Abbey on Wednesday evening for the unveiling of a painting commissioned for the Abbey centenary.
In a statement yesterday Mr O'Donoghue said that, while the day-to-day running of the theatre, and its artistic policy and programming, were a matter for the board, he was anxious to ensure that the current difficulties within the Abbey were resolved.
Mr Barnes confirmed yesterday that he had written the letter, but said it was intended only as a message to "friends in other countries". In it, he refers both to the personal distress occasioned by the events of recent weeks and to his belief that his position has been "considerably strengthened" by their outcome.