Shakeup at Great Canadian Theatre Company

The artistic and managing directors of the Great Canadian Theatre Company have left their positions, the organization announced in two brief news releases Wednesday.

Effective immediately, managing director Charles McFarland and artistic director Lorne Pardy are no longer with GCTC.

Board member Peter Doody was tight-lipped about the reasons for the management change, but said it was a mutual decision.

"There are some personnel matters that don't have to be described in public. All that we really want to say is that we've made that joint decision, to have their roles changed at the GCTC."

The changes come three weeks after GCTC unveiled its lineup for the upcoming season.

The company says Pardy, who has served as artistic director since 2000, will retain ties to the GCTC as an artistic associate, while also directing next season's production of Democracy and acting in Life x 3.

A separate news release says McFarland, whose production of The Last Liberal is set to open Thursday night, "will seek new opportunities in leadership in the performing arts in Ottawa, and across Canada."

The theatre company credits McFarland, who's been in the job since January 2002, for his "key role in spearheading" GCTC's plans to build a new home at Holland and Wellington in Hintonburg, expected to open in early 2007.

Former artistic director Arthur Milner will serve as interim artistic director and company manager until a new artistic director is found.