Wilfie Pyper MBE
Artistic Director & Head of Senior School
Wilfie has nearly fifty years of experience directing and, as such, is regarded as one of the leading musical theatre directors in Northern Ireland. Wilfie has worked with many of the leading musical theatre companies in the province. For some thirty-seven years, he was resident director of Belfast Operatic Company. The list of his Grand Opera House Belfast productions with them is extensive. Included in these are Oklahoma, Calamity Jane, Annie Get Your Gun, Brigadoon, Showboat, Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Jekyll and Hyde, Titanic the Musical, Christmas Carol, Pirates of Penzance, Jolanthe, Orpheus in the Underworld, Cinderella, Hello Dolly, Sister Act, Kiss Me Kate and Buddy the Elf to name but a few. Productions for other companies include Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie, Me and My Girl, Anything Goes, My Fair Lady, Oliver, Seussical, Annie, Grease, Bugsy Malone, Guys and Dolls, Mulan, Alice in Wonderland, Cats Jnr, and many others.
For ten years, he directed and toured Ireland with a group of talented performers who specialised in Percy French's works. He has also been fortunate to have had the opportunity to take several productions on overseas tours, including Mack and Mabel (Rush MS) to Sweden and a tour of India with Toccata, which featured his musical Forgiven.
Wilfie has received many accolades for his theatrical work, not least when he made history in 2012 by adding to his many AIMS awards a Best Director Award from the Association in both tiers of their annual awards, something that has never been achieved by any director in the Northern regions and only once before in the whole of Ireland.
In his career outside of theatre, Wilfie was, for many years, Deputy Head of a large primary school in Belfast, where, for some time, he hosted a four-hour children's radio programme on Saturday for BCR 96.7FM.
In 2019, Wilfie was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for services to drama and Musical theatre in Northern Ireland.
Jess Teague
Assistant Artistic Director, Head of Junior School & Head of Drama
Graduating from Queen’s University Belfast with a BA Hons in English & Drama (2.1), Jess continued with her studies qualifying as a Primary School teacher and receiving her PGCE in Primary Education with Distinction from Durham University. She has also received her Licentiate in Musical Theatre through the London College of Music (LLCM). Jess is about to start her Masters in Education (specialising in Leadership) with Ulster University in September.
Jess has been a drama teacher for nearly ten years and has taught at various schools around Northern Ireland. Jess joined The Avenue Arts Academy team in 2019 as Head of Drama and Assistant Artistic Director.
Working on various shows at the SSE Arena, the Waterfront Hall, Theatre At The Mill, The Mac and The Grand Opera House in different roles, including production and stage management, Jess has a very rounded understanding and knowledge of theatre.
Credits
Performance: Titanic: The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, HMS Pinafore, Evita, Les Misérables, Chess & The Phantom of the Opera (Island Arts Centre). The Music Box (The Waterfront Hall).
Production: Assistant Stage Manager - Cats (SSE Arena), Production Assistant - The Music Box (The Waterfront Hall), Production Manager - Evita, Titanic: The Musical, Sweeney Todd, Assistant to the Director - Lights, Camera, Action - (Various Locations), Grand Opera House The Mac & Island Arts Centre.
Direction: Fame Jr, Aladdin Jr, Seussical Jr, Matilda Jr, Legally Blonde Jr & High School Musical.
Sarah Johnston
Head of Dance & Choreographer
Sarah trained at ArtsEd, London. Since graduating she has had a unique career spanning over 33 years working successfully as a Performer then Choreographer in Theatre and TV. She was very fortunate to have renowned Choreographer Dougie Squires OBE, mentor her in her early dance career.
Sarah is a qualified Dance teacher with The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) in Modern Theatre, Tap and Ballet. She has built a strong reputation as a high-quality 'Industry-standard' Dance Educator within the UK and was Head of Dance at The ICMT campus in Belfast from 2018-2022 she is passionate about developing student's confidence and inspiring passion within Dance Education.
Credits
Choreography - Nova Jones (CBBC), The Shop At The Top of The Town (The Mill Theatre, Newtownabbey) Frankenstein's Monster Is Drunk and The Sheep Have all Jumped the Fences (E59E59 Theatre, New York + The Brian Friel Theatre Belfast), Department Store (Belfast Arts Festival), Macbeth Bouncers (The MAC Theatre, Belfast), Freak Show (Riverside Theatre, Coleraine & Irish Tour), The 39 Steps (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Beauty and the Beast (The Waterfront, Belfast), Aladdin (The Marketplace Theatre, Armagh), Freak Show (The MAC Theatre, Belfast), The World Goes Round (The MAC Theatre, Belfast), Phantom of the Opera (The Mill Theatre, Newtownabbey), Suppliant Women (Gaeity Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival), Sleeping Beauty (Belfast Waterfront Hall), Sleeping Beauty (The Market Place Theatre), Armagh Spectacular, Aladdin (SSE Arena, Belfast) Sleeping Beauty (Belfast Waterfront Hall) Sleeping Beauty (The Market Place Theatre, Armagh) Suppliant Women, Dublin Theatre Festival, Crazy (The Grand Opera House, Belfast) The Woman in White (BBC) The Faerie Thorn (Societiätstheater, Dresden Irish & Uk Tour) The Importance of being Earnest (The MAC Theatre, Belfast) Aladdin (The Waterfront, Belfast) Cinderella (The Market Place Theatre, Armagh), 1932: The People of Gallagher Street (MAC Theatre, Belfast) The Suppliant Women (The Grand Opera House, Belfast) 39 Steps (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast) Cinderella (The Waterfront, Belfast) Little Red Riding Hood (The Market Place Theatre, Armagh) Dancing Shoes: The George Best Story (The Grand Opera House, Belfast) Crazy (MAC Theatre, Belfast) My English Tongue My Irish Heart (The Waterfront Hall, Belfast: English & Irish Tour) Molly Wobbly (Leicester Square Theatre, London) Jack and The Beanstalk (The Waterfront Hall) Tinseltown The Musical (The Mill Theatre, Newtwonabbey) Cabaret (MAC Theatre) Molly Wobbly (Phoenix Artists Club, London – Broadway Baby ‘Best Choreography’ Nominee) Hunchback The Musical (The Mill Theatre, Newtownabbey) Hansel & Grettel (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast) Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast, Edinburgh Fringe Festival) The Haunting of Helena Blunden (The Waterfront Hall, Belfast) Alice The Musical (The Market Place Theatre, Armagh) The Magic Hat (KCFA Arts Theatre, Seoul) Pinocchio (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Hansel & Grettel The Marketplace Theatre Armagh) McCool (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast)
Theatre - King’s High (King’s Theatre, Glasgow) Guy’s and Doll’s (UK Tour). Dick Whittington & Cinderella (Gaiety Theatre, Ayr) The Cannon & Ball Show (Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth 1992 & The Opera House Theatre, Blackpool 1994) Aladdin (Mayflower Theatre, Southampton) A Tribute Gala to Lord Delfont (The Opera House Theatre, Blackpool) The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton) Mystique (Stageworks Productions).Billy Pearce’s Laugh In (Princess Theatre, Torquay, Futurist Theatre, Scarborough & The Opera House Theatre, Blackpool) Cinderella (The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford) Dick Whittington & Aladdin (The Grand Opera House, Belfast 1991 & 1992) Sleeping Beauty 1993, Cinderella. 1994, Aladdin 1995, (King’s Theatre, Glasgow)
Keith Pyper
Head of Music & Musical Director
Keith has been involved in Musical Theatre from a very young age assisting his father, Wilfie Pyper, in many of his musical productions. Growing up in The Salvation Army, music has always been important to him, and he has led their choir for over 15 years. Keith had the great pleasure of attending Methodist College Belfast and was heavily involved in the music programmes. Being part of the school’s Chamber Choir allowed him the opportunities to sing in some magnificent surroundings such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Windsor Castle. Here, he learned a great deal of excellent choral training from some of the best Choirmasters in the UK.
Keith is no stranger to being on stage, having performed with various theatre groups across Northern Ireland. However, his true passion is being a Musical Director. Keith was Musical Director for Belfast Operatic Company for two years and has musically directed many shows and concerts in the Grand Opera House, The Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, to name a few.
Credits
Musical Director: Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, Anastasia, Seussical Jr, Mulan, Guys and Dolls, The Greatest Show, Titanic: The Musical, A Night at the Cabaret & The Addams Family.
Keith is also the founder and Musical Director of Cantare Voices, a choir from across Northern Ireland that sings a variety of beautiful music in order to raise money for local charities. Keith also volunteers to lead the Ascert Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation Choir.
Niamh McAuley
Junior Academy Assistant
Niamh has just finished her BA in Drama at Queens University Belfast, achieving a 2.1. She also has Level 4 diploma in Musical Theatre from Trinity College London.
Credits
Wednesday in The Addams Family (Avenue Arts), Velma in Chicago (Avenue Arts), Rizzo in Grease (Avenue Arts), Anna in Spring Awakening (MMK) and Brid/ Edwina in Ceasefire Babies (NISMAT/HR Productions). She’s currently playing Emma in the play Roaches, which will be in the Feile festival this summer.
Orla Graham
Senior Academy Assistant
Orla Graham is a writer and actor based in Belfast. She trained at the Lir Academy, Dublin and with Tinderbox Theatre Company in their Play Machine course.
Orla’s recent credits include: Between Galaxies (Replay Theatre Company),Float (Crybaby Productions, Flagey Theatre),Rapunzel (GBL Productions),Float (Crybaby Productions, Assembly Roxy, Outside, Edinburgh Fringe Festival) , Re-Mix (Primecut Productions), Fallen Women (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Two Fingers Up (Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith/Cairns Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Blue Lights (BBC One/ Two Cities Television/ Gallagher Productions); Heave (DUETS Programme in association with Fishamble, Irish Theatre Institute and Dublin Fringe Festival). Float was written by Orla and her writing partner Kirby Thompson, and produced by their company Crybaby Productions, alongside Caoimhe McGee. Float has toured throughout Ireland, Scotland and Brussels.
Orla is delighted to be joining the team at Avenue Arts and cannot wait to start in September!
Amy Galashan
Assistant Choreographer for Junior & Senior Academy & Choreographer for Junior Prep & Pre-Prep
Graduating from Queen’s University Belfast with a BA Hons in Biomedical Science, Amy continued with her studies qualifying as a Secondary School teacher and receiving her PGCE in Science (Biology) with Drama as her Elective Course in Queen’s University Belfast. Amy has also been a qualified dance teacher in both Jazz and Tap with United Kingdom Alliance (UKA) since 2019.
Amy has experience in teaching dance to all age groups and has prepared students for both accredited grades and choreographed for end of year showcases.
Amy has had a passion for Musical Theatre and Dance from a young age and has completed exams in Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Tap as well as attending several workshops at Pineapple Dance Studios. Through her many years of experience Amy has a well-rounded knowledge.
Credits
Performance: Oliver, High School Musical, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, Calamity Jane, Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat, Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose (Lisnagarvey Youth Society, Island Arts Centre), Cinderella, Oklahoma, Aladdin, Sister Act, Jack and the Giant Beanstalk, Guys and Dolls, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast (Lisnagarvey Operatic & Dramatic Society, Island Arts Centre), Legally Blonde (Ulster Operatic, Grand Opera House), 9 to 5 (Ulster Operatic, Grand Opera House).
Production: Assistant Choreographer: Seussical, Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat, Grease (Island Arts Centre), Moana Jr (Braid Theatre)
Patricia McDonald
Pre-Prep & Junior Prep Leader
Patricia McDonald is an Irish actor, drama facilitator, and youth theatre director. She holds a BA in Drama from Queen’s University Belfast and has completed professional training through the Lyric Theatre’s prestigious Drama Studio programme. Patricia is also a proud member of the National Theatre of Great Britain.
With extensive experience as a drama facilitator, Patricia has worked with schools and theatre companies across Northern Ireland and Great Britain. She has consistently achieved a 100% pass rate with students undertaking LCM (London College of Music) and I-PATH examinations and has coached participants for various performance festivals throughout Northern Ireland.
In addition to her work in theatre education, Patricia has over six years of experience as a children’s entertainer. She is deeply passionate about inspiring and nurturing the next generation of performers, sharing her knowledge and love for theatre in creative and engaging ways..
Credits
Nell Gwynn – (Lyric Theatre, Belfast , The Alternative – (Brian Friel Theatre), Alice in Wonderland(Director) – (NISMAT), The Game’s Afoot – (Brian Friel Theatre), Cuffing Season – (Brian Friel Theatre), Lemons – (Queen’s University Belfast), Christmas Experience Day – (BNL Productions), Hello, Goodbye, Peace (Director)- (Brian Friel Theatre), You Stupid Darkness! (Director), ( Brian Friel Theatre)
Sophie Lemon
Pre-Prep & Junior Prep Assistant
Sophie has been performing from a very young age, attending Doogan Dance Academy for 8 years which included many shows and training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Hiphop completing a Grade 4 in Tap and Grade 5 in jazz!
Sophie attended our Senior Academy for 2 years and has been given so many amazing opportunities and training in all three disciplines through this!
She has been in many shows over the years such as Chicago, Bonnie and Clyde and Legally Blonde. Sophie directed and Stage Managed Queens Musical Theatre Society's (QMTS) production of “9 to 5” this year and enjoyed this throughly!
Sophie is studying Computer Technology at Ulster University Belfast and is currently in her final year of study.
Harriet Eadie
Pre-Prep & Junior Prep Assistant
Harriet began performing at a very young age, and was a previous Academy student for eight years.
With experience in performing in various different musicals, concerts and showcases, she developed a strong passion for the performing arts, and is delighted to turn this experience into a new opportunity of teaching what she loves.
Alongside teaching at the Academy, Harriet will begin her time at Ulster University this September where she will study Communications, Advertisement and Marketing.
Clodagh McLoughlin
Head of Social Media
Clodagh McLaughlin is a 19-year-old Business and Technology apprentice, set to graduate from Ulster University Belfast with a degree in Business Technology in 2028. Alongside her studies, she has developed a passion for journalism and social media. She runs her own political podcast and has contributed to public debate through appearances on BBC News, BBC Radio, and other various news outlets. Her work has also given her the opportunity to interview political figures and activists, including during a recent visit to the European Parliament. She also manages the social media for Avenue Arts Academy, a role she has thoroughly enjoyed and looks forward to continuing.
Away from her academic and media commitments, Clodagh is passionate about volunteering with youth groups, most recently completing work with the YMCA’s Youth in Government Programme 2025. She has a long-standing love for musical theatre, performing in productions such as Annie, Into the Woods, The Addams Family, and Titanic the Musical.
Siobhan McAllister
Director of The Avenue Arts Academy
Siobhan McAllister brings over 30 years of experience in Business Management to The Avenue Arts Academy. She holds a BA (Hons) in Business and a Postgraduate qualification in Business Management, with a specialisation in Human Resources.
Siobhan is the Director of LaDuca Shoes UK & Europe, a role that has connected her with leading figures and productions in the West End, Broadway, and beyond. Her extensive industry network and insight offer invaluable opportunities and inspiration to students.
Driven by a passion for accessibility, Siobhan is deeply committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that all young people, regardless of background, have the chance to engage with and thrive in the Arts.