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The Grand Opera House is Northern Ireland's premier theatre, presenting an outstanding programme of drama, dance, opera, comedy, musicals, pantomime and family shows. In line with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's mission 'to place the arts at the heart of our social, economic and creative life', our Vision and Mission statements are:

Vision

Enriching Lives

Mission Statement

The Theatre is a meeting place for the community where culture, entertainment, experience and participation mix naturally and provide an enriching experience for everyone.

Aims & Values

The Grand Opera House aims:

To present a world class theatrical experience

To extend and enhance our reputation nationally and internationally

To exercise the responsible stewardship of our landmark building

To maintain a distinctive Education and Outreach Programme

To sustain and develop a successful organisation

To provide a positive experience whether visiting or working at the Theatre

The Grand Opera House's overriding principles are to respect and champion all arts activities, raise the profile of artists based in Northern Ireland among audiences and critics nationally and internationally, and bring the best national and international productions to Northern Ireland.

Michael Ockwell Chief Executive

Michael is our visionary leader. He loves football but is also passionate about contemporary dance. Michael introduced the concept of the ‘House Full’ board to the Grand Opera House and since it arrived, we just can’t stop using it.

Brian Forsythe PA to the Chief Executive

Brian aspires to be Simon Cowell's PA, but failing that he would settle for dinner with Dame Maggie Smith, preferably a Chinese Banquet. Brian loves all things 1980’s and his favourite word is ‘Fastidious’. Which he is.

Adam Knight Operations Director

When Adam isn’t working at the Theatre, visiting other theatres or getting involved in community theatre, he’s busy collecting theatre memorabilia and travelling the world. If he didn’t work in theatre management, Adam would definitely be on the stage. He has a fine singing voice.

Marianne Hood Hospitality Director

…or the ‘Director of Fun’ as she is better known. Marianne wants to be a restaurant critic who would like to invite Oscar Wilde to dinner. Her guilty pleasures are listening to Bee Gees music and watching back to back episodes of Come Dine With Me. Marianne uses up a lot of words but her favourite word, without doubt, is ‘integrous’. She owns a Rabbit named Bugsy.

Karen Steele Finance Director

Karen has dreams of becoming a sculptor but admits that if she won the lottery the first thing she would buy is a new wardrobe full of clothes. Her last meal would be a chip butty followed by cake, ideally shared with George Clooney. She likes to dunk a Ginger Nut biscuit in her tea.

Sian Mawhinney Head of Sales & Marketing

In her spare time, Sian loves furniture restoration and building work. Sian has a serious addiction to coffee and is delighted by anything vintage. Sian owns an iPad but admits that she doesn’t really know how to use it.

Angela Bryans Human Resource Manager

Angela is a fan of Clint Eastwood films, especially Grand Torino. Her iPod has Blondie, Muse and Led Zeppelin on it. If Angela won the lottery and was forced to buy something for herself it would be a little silver sports car. Any type. She enjoys yoga, is pet-free and has shunned modern technology in favour of an eight year old flip phone.

Senior Management team

Gerard Lawlor House Manager

If Gerard could be invisible for the day he would steal biscuits from his colleagues. Not content with being the Chairman of Cliftonville FC, Gerard dreams of becoming the MD of a rich topflight football club. He also dreams of starring in the Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and his favourite song is ‘Any Dream Will Do’.

Ross Hickey Box Office Manager

If Ross wasn’t our Box Office Manager he’d love to be a crime scene investigator. In Miami. When he’s not really busy selling tickets, Ross plays the drums and has a secret desire to play air guitar on stage with the Foo Fighters.

Aine Dolan Community & Education Manager

Aine is passionate about shoes and has plans to buy two West Highland Terriers called Sindy and Hobson. If she could be invisible for the day she would sit in on a cabinet meeting to hear what they really talk about. Her favourite song from a show is ‘Don’t cry for me Argentina’ from Evita.

Stephen Prenter, Chair

Stephen Prenter FCA is Managing Partner at BDO Stoy Hayward, the fast growing firm of chartered accountants and management consultants. He is one of Northern Ireland's leading corporate finance experts and business advisers.

Widely respected for his guidance on acquisitions and mergers, management buy-outs, development of growing businesses and active support in corporate recovery situations, he has extensive connections with the financial and government communities in Northern Ireland, London, Dublin and internationally.

Under his leadership, BDO Stoy Hayward has grown from a green field start-up in 1989 to more than 150 staff, and is recognised among Northern Ireland's foremost firms of accountants, business advisers and management consultants.

Stephen was Chairman of the Ulster Society of Chartered Accountants for the year 1998-99. His other roles include Honorary Treasurer, Queens University Belfast and Chair of the Trust at the Grand Opera House. He has long-standing involvement in the Arts having served for six years as a Director of the Ulster Orchestra. He was also a director in Craftworks Northern Ireland.

Stephen has played a key role in a number of government sponsored initiatives and research on venture capital, seed capital, financing for growth and strategy.

Alex Graham

Alex Graham has been Chief Executive of the Ulster Reform Club since 1998 and the Company Secretary of the Ulster Reform Club Building Company Ltd since 1999.

He is responsible for all aspects of running Northern Ireland's premier business and professional persons club. In addition, Alex is responsible for looking after and ensuring the maintenance of its very significant listed Clubhouse, which is one of Belfast's most historic buildings.

Prior to running the Ulster Reform Club, Alex was involved in contract catering and facilities management at a senior level. He was Group Operations Director for Mount Charles Catering Ltd for eight years (Northen Ireland's leading independantly owned contract catering organisation) and was previously Operations Manager (West of Scotland) for Compass Plc.

Ann McGregor

Ann McGregor (BA Hons, MA Marketing) was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Ireland Chamber in June 2008. She was formerly Chief Executive of Enterprise NI - the network of local enterprise agencies and a director with Business in the Community.

She commenced her career in the private sector working in production/materials management with Roche Manufacturing, Schering Plough and Bird's General Foods before moving into local economic development with the Local Enterprise Agency network specialising in small business development and support.

Ann is a currently a member the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting. She represents the Chamber in the Business Alliance, the Organised Crime Task Force, and the Economic Development Forum. She is also a Board Member of Young Enterprise.

Jim Rodgers

Jim Rodgers served as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2001/02 and again in 2007/08, and Deputy Lord Mayor in 1997/98.

He has been a member of every Committee on Belfast City Council, including Strategic Policy and Resources, Development, Parks and Leisure, Health and Environment, Licensing and Town Planning. He is presently the Chairman of the Council's Audit Panel and a Member of the Housing Forum and Old Peoples Working Group.

Jim serves on a wide range of Boards and Committees, with his most recent appointment being to Libraries Northern Ireland. He is now in his second term on Sport Northern Ireland having been first appointed in 2005. He has just completed a four year term as Chairperson of the Belfast Education and Library Board.

Director of the Glentoran Football Club and the team's Chief Scout/Young Development Officer for almost twenty years, Jim's sporting interests include Association Football, Rugby, Cricket, Bowls, Golf and Athletics. In 2003 was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours List for services to Local Government.

Mairead Regan

Mairead is Group Human Resources Director, UTV Media plc. UTV has undergone significant change, transforming itself from purely a regional television company into one of the most successful media groups in the UK and Ireland, with interests in television, radio and new media.

Mairead has been instrumental in implementing the successful integration of strategic acquisitions which have seen staff numbers more than quadruple to over 900.

Prior to her role in UTV, Mairead was Human Resources and Training Manager with CAPITA Management Consultants where she was responsible for CAPITA's training and human resource management activity. She was also Human Resources Executive with LEDU where she worked both internally with staff implementing change processes and externally, providing advice Client companies.

Mairead is a Board member of Northern Ireland Screen, Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for the NI Skillset Media Academy and a member of the Skillset Northern Ireland Skills Panel.

Peter Johnston

Peter Johnston was appointed Controller of BBC Northern Ireland in October 2006 and following a structural realignment of BBCNI within the wider BBC, he was appointed Director BBC NI in April 2009.

He is a member of the BBC's Direction Group chaired by the Director-General, Mark Thompson and of the BBC's Journalism Board chaired by Deputy Director-General Mark Byford.

Peter has overall editorial and managerial responsibility for BBC NI and leads 650 staff. Under his leadership, this team produces over 8500 hours of local radio and television content each year and a range of online content. He provides the vision and creative leadership necessary to deliver BBC NI's portfolio of multiplatform programmes and services and is responsible for maximising public value through creativity, innovation and efficient use of resources.

Peter Johnston was born in 1966 and educated at Ballymena Academy and Imperial College London where he completed a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering and Management.

He is also a member of the Council of the NI Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Skillset NI.

Tim McGarry

Tim McGarry is a former solicitor who specialized in anti-discrimination law. In 1996 he became a full time writer, comedian and broadcaster.

His television credits include Give My Head Peace, Dry Your Eyes, Hearts and Minds and The Blame Game.

Tim has produced and appeared in numerous shows at the Grand Opera House over the last decade. He is much younger than he looks.

Official Charity

The Grand Opera House are extremely proud of our association with the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC).

Through the efforts of our social committee and staff, we are committed to supporting NICFC as our Official Charity, organising a number of fundraising and other special events throughout the year.

Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children provide practical and emotional support to young people and their families who are living with cancer. Every week, another three children, teenagers or young adults are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland.

In the aftermath of diagnosis, NICFC provide stability and support, helping them to turn a negative into a positive. 'You hit the floor, but NICFC picks you up' explains Maureen from Loughinisland.

Treatment for cancer can be extremely isolating and scary for children and young people. NICFC have a highly skilled team of youth workers who visit the children and young people, either at home or in hospital, to help alleviate their sense of disconnection.

The charity provides a range of programmes to enable young people to be active and challenge themselves and experience life without limits beyond the burden of treatment. Stephen, 14, from Newtownabbey explains,'NICFC is life-changing. Young people living with cancer should have the same opportunities as a regular person and the same amount of fun – NICFC are able to provide that.'

The effects of a diagnosis have far reaching effects within the family unit. As well as working with the young person with cancer, NICFC offers support to parents and siblings.

They have separate Family and Youth Support programmes which include one-to-one sessions, parental support weekends, residentials and constructive age appropriate activities for all the family.

The Young Shoulders programme involves workshops for children and young people whose parent or guardian has cancer. Through their respite facilities at Shimna Valley and Pine and Birch Cottages, NICFC are able to give families the opportunity to take a break and have fun together.

NICFC is always thinking forward from today into the future. As a local charity, they receive less than 1% government funding and would not be able to provide these important services without the generosity and support of the local community and organisations like the Grand Opera House.

If you would like to learn more about NICFC, or get involved in supporting the charity, please visit website www.nicfc.com or call the Donation Line on 028 9080 5599.