Riverside Theatre, Coleraine

The Riverside Theatre stands on the Coleraine campus of Ulster University in Northern Ireland. Built in 1976, it was once the fifth-largest professional theatre in the region. The building was recognised for its flexible staging, a rarity in Northern Ireland at the time. It received a design award on opening and another shortly after for its facilities for disabled patrons. The theatre hosted touring productions from across the UK, Europe and North America. Its programme ranged from drama and contemporary dance to rock bands, ballet and opera. The Riverside Theatre also presented variety shows, children’s performances, pantomimes and music recitals. It served as a venue for television and radio recordings. Before its closure in August 2025, it had been a well-established touring venue for nearly five decades. The theatre’s closure followed the end of funding from Ulster University. Its flexible design once made it a model for accessible and adaptable performance spaces. Visitors to the site now find a quiet building that once buzzed with rehearsals and performances. The theatre’s exterior remains, though its stages are silent. The campus surroundings include modern university facilities and landscaped grounds. The space still carries the echoes of past shows and the voices of artists who performed there. The building’s architectural features stand as a reminder of its former role in the arts.