Western Canada Theatre’s artistic director moving on

May 30, 2016 | 12:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — Western Canada Theatre is looking for a new artistic director, but this time under much happier circumstances than the previous search.

After six years, Daryl Cloran is leaving to take the same position with the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.

He says the Citadel is one of the biggest regional theatres in Canada 

“The Citadel is one of the biggest regional theatres in Canada. It’s a big, beautiful complex with four stages inside. There is great opportunity for dreaming big on those stages. Western Canada Theatre’s operation budget is $2 million, whereas the Citadel’s is $12 million,” said Cloran. 

Cloran adds he and his wife also decided if they wanted to move their family, this was the best time.

He says he’s satisfied with how he’s leaving WCT.

“This season that we just finished was the best-attended season in the 40 year history of Western Canada Theatre. It feels like the company is in a really strong place and that the community is really behind us and excited about the kind of work that we’re doing.”

Cloran was hired after two successive artistic directors resigned due to health issues, both dying a short time later.

“When I got here, the company had been through so much tragedy with the loss of both artistic directors back to back. Lori (Marchand), our general manager, was carrying the company on her back. I showed up when the company was in a tough spot and spent the last five or six years getting in a really strong place where we have a great team here now and a great reputation, not only in town, but across the country for the high calibre work that we do.”