Meet the Production Team

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 The Drowsey Chaperone, 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.

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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.

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​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.

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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. Wilfie Recently won Best Director for his production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" (2026), meaning he has now won this accolade 5 times!

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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.

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In 2019, Wilfie was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for services to drama and Musical theatre in Northern Ireland.

Sarah trained at Arts Educational School, London.

She is a respected Choreographer and Dance Facilitator having worked on award winning,
highly acclaimed productions including Molly Wobbly, Leicester Square Theatre,
London, Cabaret at The MAC, Belfast & The World Goes Round at The MAC, Belfast.
With a unique Musical Theatre, TV and Teaching career spanning 26 years, Sarah’s
more recent work includes Jack and The Beanstalk, Waterfront hall. Faust-ish, Lyric
Theatre, Frankestein’s Monster Is Drunk And The Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences,
Brian Friel, Theatre.

She worked on the CBBC TV series Nova Jones, this work also included choreographing
live TV appearances for Nova Jones and backing dancers, liaising closely with BBC Media City, Manchester and RTE, Ireland
Sarah teaches a wide repertoire including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Commercial Jazz, lyrical
and Musical Theatre and currently teaches at Mountview, Belfast and The Avenue Arts
Academy, Belfast.

She has a strong reputation for delivering high quality industry standard training and is
passionate about inspiring young dancers to further develop their talent.

Sarah is a qualified dance teacher with The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
(ISTD) in Modern Theatre, Tap and Ballet, a qualified fitness instructor and also a
qualified Dance for Parkinson’s Practitioner providing dance classes for people with
Parkinson’s Disease through out Northern Ireland.

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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)

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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 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.

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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 is currently Musical Director of The Avenue Company and Fusion Theatre Company. He also works as a Director, Musical Director and Choreographer within school productions

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Credits

Musical Director: Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeny Todd, Cinderella, Sister Act, Newsies Jnr, Matilda, Beauty & The Beast, The Sound of Music, Titanic, Fame Jr, 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 has formed his own vocal school in Dalgety Voices and a number of his pupils will take to the stage tonight. 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.

Orla Graham is an actor and writer based in Belfast. She trained at the Lir Academy, Dublin, Tinderbox Theatre Company in their Play Machine course and Louise Kylie Screen Course.

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Orla’s recent credits include: Belle in Beauty and the Beast (GBL Productions); Poached (Front and Centre Festival / New Theatre New Writes Festival); 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.

Graduating from Queen’s University Belfast with a BA Hons in English & Drama, Jess continued with her studies qualifying as a Primary School teacher and receiving her PGCE in Primary Education with Distinction from Durham University. Jess has also received her Licentiate in Musical Theatre through the London College of Music (LLCM). She is always studying for a Masters of Education (specialising in Leadership) with Ulster University.

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Jess has been a drama teacher for over 10 years and has taught at various schools around Northern Ireland. Jess joined the The Avenue Arts Academy team in 2019 as Head of Drama and Assistant Artistic Director. She is also Head of the Junior School.

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.

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Credits

Performance:
Titanic: The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, HMS Pinafore, Evita, Les Misérables, Chess & The Phantom of the Opera (Fusion Theatre, Island Arts Centre). The Music Box (The Waterfront Hall). Beauty and the Beast (Lisnagarvey Operatic & Dramatic Society, Island Arts Centre)

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Production:
Assistant Stage Manager - Cats (SSE Arena)
Production Assistant: The Music Box (The Waterfront Hall),
Production Manager:  Evita, Grease, West Side Story, Titanic, Sweeney Todd
Stage Manager: Titanic, Sweeney Todd, Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Assistant to the Director: Lights, Camera, Action - (Various Locations), The Addams Family, Evita
Crew: Grand Opera House, The Mac, The Avenue Arts Academy & Island Arts Centre.

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Direction: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Lion King Jr, Newsies Jr, Fame Jr, Aladdin Jr, Seussical Jr, Matilda Jr, Legally Blonde Jr & High School Musical