We urge those involved to engage in clear and constructive action to save this building for the benefit of the community and the wider creative ecosystem. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The Musicians' Union is concerned to learn of the proposal to close The Riverside Theatre in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
The Riverside Theatre is a 350-capacity venue that first opened in 1971, and is situated within Ulster University's Coleraine campus. It is one of only two theatres open during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the other being the Grand Opera House.
Despite the university supporting this civic asset for fifty years, it has stated that the "building itself has now come to the end of its life."
With refurbishment costs estimated at £745,000, on top of £495,000 annual running costs, the university have been negotiating with the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council about a lease agreement for the theatre.
Sign the petition and join the protest
We must resist eroding valuable creative infrastructure like the Riverside Theatre, and call upon the University, the Council and the Department for Communities to work collaboratively together and with local community stakeholders to protect the future of this venue.
Sign the petition to stop the closure of The Riverside Theatre:
We also encourage members to act in solidarity with Equity on Tuesday 3 June 2025 in their peaceful protest outside Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Date: Tuesday 3 June
Time: 6:30pm onwards
Location: Outside the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Coleraine Office. 66 Portstewart Rd, Coleraine BT52 1EY.
Visit the petition page for more information and to RSVP.
We must invest, develop and bolster our creative assets in Northern Ireland
Countless musicians have contributed to the history of the Riverside Theatre including Anthony Toner, Kaz Hawkins, Malojian, and The Henry Girls. Its closure will switch off opportunity for countless creatives, musicians and communities.
Charlene Hegarty, MU Regional Officer for Northern Ireland, commented: "The Riverside Theatre is a civic and cultural asset that can, and should, be saved. We must invest, develop and bolster our creative assets in Northern Ireland, not hand them over to decline and destitution.
"We urge those involved to engage in clear and constructive action to save this building and bring it back to life for the benefit of the community and the wider creative ecosystem."