The art of running a theatre

Although Gemma Carcaterra was steeped in theatre from an early age, the artistic director and CEO of Glór in Ennis, Co Clare, was more interested in working behind the scenes than in performing. 

She was born in Wolverhampton in the UK, where her parents run a theatre company. “But I got off it fairly quickly,” says Carcaterra.

“I was, first of all, interested in theatre, but also in the arts in general. I enjoyed being an artist, be it doing illustrations, drawing and also ceramics and furniture design.” Carcaterra completed a BA in applied arts at Derby University, specialising in furniture design, followed by an MA in industrial design at Birmingham University, with the focus on visitor attractions and museum exhibitions. She was then account manager for a company looking after the design and build of two major exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum. The museum commissioned Aidan Dooley to take part in the ‘South’ exhibition.