A passion for theatre and a vision for the future

Converting a Presbyterian Church to a modern arts centre

My journey into the world of theatre began through my two daughters. My eldest first discovered her love for musical theatre after performing in a school production. She quickly caught the bug, and from there, we took the next step by applying to a theatre academy in Belfast. As she got more involved, so did I. Later, as my second daughter found her passion for the arts, it became a family affair.

Through my involvement in the theatre company, our paths crossed with the Presbyterian Church and, from that connection, a unique opportunity arose—the chance to purchase the church building itself. We seized this opportunity wholeheartedly, recognising its potential not only as a space of historical value but as a home for the arts. In April 2022, we successfully completed the purchase and that moment set us on a path toward something much bigger.

I have always loved the theatre, not as a performer or singer, but as someone who deeply enjoys the experience of live productions, whether they are pantomimes or larger-scale musicals. My family's vision evolved over time and so did our ambitions for the church. The building, which will, when refurbished, hold a 220-seat working theatre, presented an incredible opportunity to create a space where the arts could thrive. Since 2022, we have dedicated much work to transforming former church spaces into rehearsal studios, complete with pianos, TVs, mirrors and dance floors. I always believe that if you want to ensure children achieve their best, you must create an environment that offers the best, and The Avenue Arts Centre most certainly provides a state-of-the-art, secure, creative and safe place.

Our long-term goal is to modernise the building while fully respecting its historical integrity. As part of this vision, we plan to add a green room, more changing rooms, upgraded facilities and a glass auditorium facing onto the Lisburn Road, serving as a hospitality wing. Every detail has been carefully considered, ensuring we remain sensitive to the building's heritage while making it a functional, state-of-the-art creative hub. We've worked through every requirement with heritage authorities, balancing preservation with progress.

The dream is to establish The Avenue Arts Centre as a vital community hub, with The Avenue Arts Academy at its core, focusing on amateur dramatics in Northern Ireland. We understand the immense value of theatre—not just for the performances themselves, but for the confidence and personal growth it brings to students. Our academy is not about producing the next big star, but about providing a supportive space where individuals of all backgrounds can learn, grow and find joy in theatre. With strong cross-community outreach, we are committed to making the arts accessible to all and breaking down the financial barriers to accessing the arts through scholarships, low-cost tuition and Trinity Exam accreditation at no extra cost.

Of course, the passion for theatre doesn't stop here. As co-owner and Director of LaDuca shoes, the renowned Broadway and West End brand, the ambition continues to grow. The LaDuca team has exciting plans for growth in Australia and Europe. I look forward to the future and establishing meaningful industry connections that I will work to ensure will benefit everyone involved in the arts in Northern Ireland.

While this journey started with my daughters, it has become something much bigger—an opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the local arts scene, whilst ensuring the sustainability of a historic heritage building that will continue to inspire generations. We have already created so many 'magic' moments at the Avenue Arts Centre, but we have many more memories to make. We look forward to starting our refurbishment project, which will allow us to open up our space to many more arts organisations, who will have the opportunity to perform in this majestic venue on the Lisburn Road, Belfast and understand how special a place it is and one that we at The Avenue Arts Academy are privileged to call home.

Titanic - 2024