An international competition to select a design for the new National Theatre (the Abbey) at George's Dock in Dublin's docklands is to be held over the coming months, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Séamus Brennan announced yesterday. The new waterside building "will give Dublin an iconic and dynamic structure reflecting the city's growing reputation as a global capital of culture and creativity", he said. "It has to be very special. If we don't get something really good here, we deserve to be shot." The competition jury includes architects from Ireland, Britain and the Netherlands with previous experience of high-profile design projects as well as eminent figures from the theatrical world, including Abbey director Fiach MacConghail and actress Fiona Shaw. Seán Benton, chairman of the Office of Public Works (OPW), who will also serve on the jury, said the site for the new theatre included both the dock basin and an adjoining area of land between the first three blocks of the International Financial Services Centre.
