Clean Break CEO leaves for role in Canada

ERIN GAVAGHAN is leaving theatre company Clean Break after six years as Executive Director and joint CEO to become the Managing Director at the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Gavaghan joined the company, which uses theatre to help women who have experienced or are at risk of entering the criminal justice system, in 2018 alongside Artistic Directors ANNA HERRMANN and RÓISÍN MCBRINN, forming part of a new leadership structure. She subsequently became Joint CEO, following McBrinn’s departure in 2022.

Gavaghan started her career at the Royal Albert Hall as a Steward's Administrator before becoming Front of House Manager and, subsequently, General Manager at Soho Theatre. She went on to take up the post of General Manager and later Executive Director at Siobhan Davies Dance and serve as a Board Trustee at Deafinitely Theatre.

NATASHA BUCKNOR will take up the role of Interim Executive Director and Joint CEO for Clean Break this Autumn. A freelance consultant and Associate at Counterculture, she is a Trustee at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres and was recently Head of Operations at English PEN and Interim CEO at VocalEyes. 

Herrmann said: “Erin has brought her passion for theatre and her values of equity and inclusion alongside her rigour with finance and operations, her love of all things data and her expertise in people management. 

“Amongst other achievements, she has spearheaded brilliant work on company culture, wellbeing, governance and impact measurement. She leaves the company in a strong, healthy position with an abundance of love and respect for her across the staff team, trustees, and membership.” 

Gavaghan added: “Working with the women at Clean Break has been such a rewarding experience, one that has generously offered me the opportunity to learn and grow into the leader I want to be.”