Debate contribution: Riverside Theatre at Ulster University, Coleraine

Debate contribution by Ms Claire Sugden on 28 January 2025.

MLA

Ms Claire Sugden

Party at the time

Independent

Date

28 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Riverside Theatre at Ulster University, Coleraine

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4764273

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I appreciate my constituency colleague Cara Hunter bringing the issue to the attention of the House. It is appropriate and useful that we are discussing the issue at this level, not just for the people of Coleraine but for the tourists whom we try to attract with such facilities. It is also appropriate that we discuss the wider issues to which Mr Bradley referred. I will speak to those later in my contribution. The issue is not about Riverside Theatre on its own. Maurice will know, from our time in council, that it was talked about years ago. Similar issues were raised then regarding investment in the theatre and its viability. I appreciate that we need to ensure that we have ongoing investment in such things so that they continue, but my concern is that we do not get that investment. We have never had that investment. Those are the questions that we have to ask. What is the long-term intention with the Coleraine campus? The issue does not begin or end with the Riverside Theatre: there has been gradual erosion of courses at the Coleraine campus that we have seen going to other campuses across Northern Ireland. That is a critical part of today's discussion. We can talk about the politics of 50 years ago — I was not around then; thankfully, in some respects — but all I can talk to is where we are now and the infrastructure, opportunities and everything else that is built up around our constituency. If we pull down those structures, we are essentially pulling the rug from under a lot of what happens there. When we have these conversations about the future of Coleraine and attached facilities such as the Riverside Theatre, we have to be mindful of the fact that it is not just about the politics; it is about the infrastructure, the economy and people's lives. It is not about righting the wrongs of the past in isolation. It is very much about recognising the future and what we can do to ensure that everybody is served in it.

The Riverside Theatre has been part of the community for nearly 50 years. It is the only professional theatre in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. I think that I am correct in saying that its potential closure would leave it as the only council area without a professional venue of that kind. Given that we often sell the north coast as the premier tourist destination of Northern Ireland — other MLAs from across Northern Ireland might disagree with that, but, realistically, it is — we cannot remove those facilities, or it will undermine that offer. I appreciate that the Minister, who previously held the role of Minister for the Economy, will recognise the value of having and strengthening venues such as the Riverside Theatre. We do not have good weather, so, when a wet-weather facility is needed, people tend to go to places such as the Riverside Theatre. The theatre is not just for professional performances. The Ballywillan Drama Group has just finished a run of 16 sold-out performances of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. People talk to me about the theatre not being utilised and how it is just empty, but that has been proven to be incorrect in the past number of weeks. I could not get tickets for that show in the end. That demonstrates how important the theatre is for people who go to see the shows, the local community and the amateur theatre groups that put on those performances. Cara spoke of the theatre being a launch pad for James Nesbitt. That is absolutely the case. Other people have gone on to great success after learning their craft at the Riverside Theatre. That is the key issue, and it is the point about the arts. People are not discovered when they are walking down the street; they hone their craft in places such as the Riverside Theatre and in amateur theatre groups. Such groups are award-winning. You have only to look at the awards that a lot of our local groups get to see that performing is not just something that people do as a hobby; it is a commitment. People have to take time off work to perform in some of those things. As Maurice said, we need to look at the matter in the context of the future of the Coleraine campus. I am entirely sympathetic to Ulster University and the predicament that it finds itself in. It is struggling to fund a three-campus model in Northern Ireland. Realistically, if we are going to build up the Magee campus — I have no difficulty with that; it is in the second city in Northern Ireland, which should surely be given consideration — we will have to take courses from elsewhere. That is exactly what has been happening at Coleraine. That is what we are doing in order to build up Magee. Maybe we have to have an honest conversation about tuition fees and how we fund our universities in Northern Ireland. People want to come to the Coleraine campus. There is a reason why it has not closed: it is a destination unlike any other across the United Kingdom and even Ireland. It has a very specific offer. I give full credit to the vice chancellor, who recently announced a new veterinary nursing course. I would like us to go full circle and bring a veterinary degree to Northern Ireland, because we have a practical need for it. That degree would be well served in Coleraine because of its rural location and its proximity to the Department. We need to start looking at the reasons why we should do that and stop looking back to 50 years ago, because that serves no one. I will turn specifically to the ask of the Minister. That is probably part of a wider conversation about the arts and how we invest in them. As Cara said — it is absolutely a valid point — we are a post-conflict society, and art is how we express ourselves when other ways are not necessarily possible. There is great opportunity in that, be it through the Riverside Theatre or opportunities for other forms of cultural expression. It is really key. The conversation today is about how, certainly for my constituents and me, that begins with the Riverside Theatre. If we remove it, what are we saying to the people who are not sporty or do not do the things that tend to get more investment than the arts in Northern Ireland? It is really important for our generation and for future generations that we continue to invest in the arts, not least the Riverside Theatre, which is well established. It is a great facility, and it would be a real shame to lose it. If the Minister can do anything alongside the Economy Minister, we should look at that.

1,162 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:55 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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