exits and entrances

There's an article on The Stage about the closure of Dublin's Andrew's Lane Theatre.

Owner and artistic director Pat Moylan said it had been a very difficult decision to sell what she regarded as "a small jewel in the heart of the city", but that the theatre needed extensive renovation and she could not afford the cost. A leaky roof spilling rain into the auditorium in recent weeks testified to the urgent need for repairs.

The article goes on to report that John O'Donoghue, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, has said that "an international design competition for the new Abbey will be launched shortly and that a jury has already been established to select the winning entry." Mr. O'Donoghue believes that after the selection the construction of the new Abby will take a mere 18 months.

I've noticed that politicians seeking re-election are awfully optimistic.