Statement by TUV Vice Chairman and Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle:
“It is deeply disappointing that Ulster University has chosen not to work constructively with the council to explore options to keep the Riverside Theatre open. Instead, the university presented a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum: unless council agreed to take on the lease, full running costs, and liabilities, the theatre would close in summer 2025.
“This is not a partnership—it’s an offload. And once again, it reflects the ongoing marginalisation of Coleraine in favour of the university’s Jordanstown and Magee campuses.
“The Riverside Theatre has meant a great deal to me personally. I’ve enjoyed many performances there over the years, and I know how much it matters to the people of this area. It’s Northern Ireland’s fifth-largest theatre and the oldest professional venue outside Belfast. It has hosted remarkable talent—including our very own James Nesbitt, who began his career on its stage.
“It didn’t have to come to this. I firmly believe a solution could have been found if the university had been willing to engage properly. But council cannot be expected to shoulder all the costs and risks, particularly when we lack the specialist expertise to run such a venue.
“It’s also regrettable that no support or intervention came from Stormont’s Department for Communities, despite the cultural and economic importance of the theatre.
“The closure of the Riverside will be a massive loss to Coleraine and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens area—not just in terms of the arts, but in the vibrancy, identity, and opportunities it brought to our community.”