Debate contribution: Riverside Theatre at Ulster University, Coleraine

Debate contribution by Ms Cara Hunter on 28 January 2025.

MLA

Ms Cara Hunter

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

28 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Riverside Theatre at Ulster University, Coleraine

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4764267

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is a privilege to speak on this important issue, which matters so much to me and my constituents. We all feel strongly that the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine is a huge part of who we are and of our experience growing up on the north coast. For many of us, the Riverside Theatre is the place where we first stepped on stage, sang in a choir, danced in a musical and learnt about the importance of theatre and the arts in our lives and in our community. For many actors in our community, it was where they first knew that they wanted to step into the world of acting, music and dance. Many from the north coast whose names are recognisable stepped on to the stage of the Riverside Theatre, including Jimmy Nesbitt. That shows that the Riverside Theatre is a huge part of our home that is worth defending. That is why I am here today. This issue is really worth political attention, and it means so much to our constituents, so I welcome the fact that a number of representatives are here to speak to it. I have spoken with staff at the university and understand the range and complexity of the challenges that they face. Of course, Ulster University has a three-campus approach, while other universities have only one. We recognise that the Riverside Theatre is over 50 years old and in dire need of investment, regeneration and, frankly, wholesale renovation. Joined by cross-party colleagues, I make the case that we need to rescue the Riverside Theatre, and I highlight the fact that the wider Coleraine campus needs attention and investment from the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities. We must ensure and secure the future of the Riverside Theatre. We cannot sacrifice the arts. We must recognise the importance of the arts in our society and community, and the Riverside Theatre is at the very heart of that. We know that the theatre's future is "under review". It is said to be quite old and that it requires a lot of capital infrastructure to improve it. We know that assurances cannot be given by Ulster University that the theatre will remain open, which is why we are here today. There is so much concern. My inbox is piling up with correspondence from people contacting their local representative because, rightfully, they are concerned. I want to see the Riverside Theatre remain open. I have been contacted by secondary-school students, university students, pensioners and parents. The closure of the theatre would impact on us all. It has brought so many people together over its lifespan. It really is a hub of our community, and it cannot close. Closing the theatre cannot be seen as acceptable, and it demands the investment that is necessary for it to remain open. The arts are the heartbeat of any community, and the Riverside Theatre is more than just a venue. It is a sanctuary for creativity and connection. Theatre is not just about entertainment but about education, empathy and empowerment. The Riverside Theatre has inspired generations, fostering imagination and providing a platform for voices that might otherwise have gone unheard. The theatre is where we come to understand ourselves and, of course, one another, and the Riverside Theatre has long been a cornerstone of Coleraine's identity. Its closure would be an immeasurable loss to our community and its future. I know that the Minister has ties to Coleraine, so I hope that we will hear more about that in his response. In a world that is increasingly becoming dominated by screens and by isolation, spaces such as the Riverside Theatre offer a rare and essential opportunity for face-to-face connection, shared experience, a sense of communal joy and storytelling. We live in a post-conflict society, and the arts are a really strong and valued way in which to bring together people from all different backgrounds and beliefs. Over the past decade, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's budget has been slashed by a staggering 63%. In Northern Ireland, we now invest a mere £5·07 per person in the arts. Compare that with Wales, where investment stands at £10·51 per capita, or down South, where it has soared to the equivalent of over £21 per person. The recent announcement of the Arts Council in Ireland's budget rising to €134 million, which is its highest level to date, shows that the gap between the North and the South when it comes to the arts is truly stark. For me, this is not just about numbers. The debate on the closure of a theatre is about the wider issue of how we view the arts and how we as a society want to be. The arts are not a luxury but a necessity. They drive economic growth, improve mental and physical well-being, foster social cohesion and, again, help heal any divisions in a society that is still grappling with its past. In Northern Ireland, from Oscar-winning film-makers to Turner Prize-winning artists and from theatre companies tackling difficult social issues to community projects working with the most vulnerable, we are international leaders in demonstrating how the arts can transform lives, yet that extraordinary potential is being choked by financial constraints. At a time when the South is making historic investments in its culture sector, here in the North, we are going in the opposite direction. That is not just unfair but self-defeating. It sends a damaging message to those in our creative community that their work is not valued, which is forcing talent to seek opportunities elsewhere. We cannot afford to let that happen. Over the years, we have seen how Northern Ireland has been a place where the acting sector and film-making can thrive. We saw that with 'Game of Thrones'. We have seen it at Titanic Studios. We have Kneecap, who are doing so well and are prospering. There are so many, certainly in the north-west, who are doing so well, and, for many young people, that all starts in their local community theatre. Minister, I therefore call on you to work closely with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and the Minister for the Economy and to work with urgency across the wider Executive to find the funding that is so desperately needed to enable a much-loved facility to remain open. If possible, I would like you to detail in your response what discussions you have had to date about the Riverside Theatre and any solutions that you think are possible. I cannot reiterate enough how passionate people are about the Riverside Theatre. Many young people who aspire to be involved in the arts have reached out to me and spoken about their love for theatre and for the Riverside Theatre itself and about just how much it means to them. It is the first place that so many people fall in love with music, art and dance, and it is so important that we continue to inspire future generations. The best way in which to do that, Minister, is to keep the Riverside Theatre open. I have said my piece.

1,196 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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