Who We Are

Claire is an energetic and experienced leader with 15 years’ experience in marketing, strategy and sales, having worked for Coca-Cola, Heineken and the National Trust in Ireland, Northern Ireland and London. She has always had a passion for theatre and in 2014 set up Blunt Fringe Productions, which specialises in nurturing professional musical theatre in Northern Ireland. Three years ago, she moved into working full-time in the arts sector, initially at the MAC, Belfast and is currently head of development and marketing at the Lyric Theatre.

No stranger to the stage, Claire has been performing in community theatre since school and went on to perform with the R&R Dublin, St Agnes’ Choral Society, Belfast and others. While living in London she was a member of the Twickenham Operatic Society, which saw her perform as a leading lady at the prestigious Richmond Theatre. Her ambition to appear on a West End stage “just once” came true before she left London, when she performed at a gala concert at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – the largest theatre in the West End. Claire lives in Belfast with her husband John and their three children, Maggie, Elsie and Flora.

After many years working at the top level in media and events locally, nationally and internationally, Karin moved home to Belfast almost a decade ago, working as a freelance charity fundraising consultant predominantly within the arts sector. She is currently fundraising manager, on a freelance basis, with the Belfast International Arts Festival.

A board member of the Institute of Fundraising NI and Pintsized Productions, Karin is very much immersed in the local arts scene but is also fanatical about sport, particularly rugby, soccer and Formula 1.

A champion for the dance industry, Fleur trained at the London Studio Centre (achieving a BA Hons in Theatre and Dance) before working as a professional dancer within the commercial, corporate and theatrical sectors. This inspired her subsequent career as a choreographer and creative producer and she specialises in live performances with a strong dance/theatre element, whether it’s for the musical, fashion or corporate market.

Fleur also works independently, as well as being the co-producer and choreographer for Peter Corry Productions. Another string to her bow is being a humanist wedding celebrant.

Outside of work, Fleur is a big sci-fi fan and she enjoys relaxing with a good cup of tea or a gin and tonic. She’s also half-Mauritian and loves spicy food.

For more than 25 years, Niamh has worked across the Northern Irish voluntary, community and arts sectors in a variety of roles. These include policy and community engagement, along with development and management roles for festivals, dance, theatre, and community arts events. She joined Theatre NI in 2016 and continued in her position following the merger with Dance NI.

With degrees in Public Administration and Information Management, Niamh also holds a variety of professional training qualifications, including one in Arts and Intercultural Dialogue and Executive Leadership. After graduating, she worked in finance in the City of London, before travelling in South East Asia and Sydney, where she took another job in finance.

Niamh previously taught on the Arts and Entrepreneurship module for the Performing Arts Degree at Ulster University, with Doctor Tanya Dean. She recently acquired certification to teach English as a foreign language.

Gail has worked in the Arts and Cultural sector for over 30 years.  She graduated from Queens with a BEng in Aeronautical Engineering.  She started working part-time in the sector after the birth of her third child and has remained there ever since.  She has primarily worked in community arts but has a passion for theatre and dance.  She has also been involved in Irish, Disco and Ballroom dancing over the years.

She completed an Advanced Diploma in Management Practice in 2009 with commendation.  She joined Theatre and Dance NI in September 2021 and is very excited to be part of the team.

Based in Bangor, Molly Rose is a professional dancer, performer, choreographer, teacher and facilitator. Originally from Birmingham, she trained at Liverpool John Moore’s University and graduated with a BA First-Class Honours in Dance. Her notable work includes a 10-day tour around Baltimore, Maryland, as well as performing at Birmingham International Arts Festival, Liverpool Light Night and The Tate.

In 2018, Molly embarked on an MA in Arts Management specialising in Dance at Queens University, Belfast, graduating in December 2019 with a Commendation. She has remained in Northern Ireland ever since, establishing her career as Project Development Officer with Theatre and Dance NI and as a facilitator teaching dance across the island. Molly was also chosen as the Northern Ireland representative on the UK National Dance Network and its Steering Committee.

Having relocated from Scotland to Northern Ireland back in 2014, Hayley has worked in the local arts sector since then. With more than 11 years’ experience in bookkeeping and finance across industries including construction, hospitality, health and beauty, and recruitment, she became finance officer for Theatre and Dance NI in 2018. She also works for Replay Theatre Company as their finance and operations manager.

Hayley began her career with an apprenticeship in Business and Administration. She went on to obtain further qualifications in Bookkeeping (IAB), Accounts and Payroll (Sage), and Management Practice (Ulster University). She is also currently working towards her Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping with AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) and is looking forward to continuing to support Theatre and Dance NI and Northern Ireland’s wonderful creative sector.

Ben McDaid initially joined Theatre and Dance NI as part of his Graduate Development and Future Leaders Programme (Funded by Department of Further Education, Facilitated by SERC) as a Membership Development Intern. Ben had just completed his MFA in Musical Theatre at the Guildford School of Acting, and prior to his two years training, studied at St. Mary’s University College, Belfast in Primary Education with Music, graduating 2017.

During his time with TDNI, Ben helped members to avail of all the membership benefits and organised skills development training that built on essential skills and connections within the sector.

Molly Corry joined the Theatre and Dance NI team as part of a Graduate Development and Future Leaders Programme as a Marketing Intern. Originally from Belfast, she recently graduated with a 1st class English Literature BA from the University of Leeds.

Shannon O’Kane is a student training at Guildford School of Acting, originally from Kilrea, Northern Ireland. Currently i’m in her final year of ‘Theatre and Performance’ and gaining a scholarly and practice based knowledge.
”As a teenager, my goal was to become a performer, I achieved a diploma in practical acting at age 17 and have performed on Her Majesty’s Theatre, London with ‘West End Stage’ at age 14. Studying at a drama school has further solidified my love for the collaborative nature of the arts and I have found new interests within education and outreach. I am grateful to be an intern at Theatre and Dance NI and I am enjoying supporting the team to shape the future of Northern Ireland’s artistic landscape.”

After currently obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Dance, a primary discipline of interest and experience is dance, alongside having the chance of performance opportunities, and previously focusing primarily on dance theory and practice. However, since currently undertaking a master’s degree in Arts Management at Queen’s University Belfast, this has provoked new interest of having a theoretical and practice approach of the arts as a whole. It has centred my ambitions towards being involved in supporting and researching to help maintain appreciation and vast opportunities for what art and culture can offer societies.