SINCE opening its doors 30 years ago, The Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen has hosted around 4,600 amateur and professional productions and acted as a springboard to success for many talented local artists.

The acclaimed venue, on the shores of Lough Erne, marked its 30th anniversary last week with a series of special lunchtime recitals. A retrospective exhibition was also on display on the pillars of the foyer in the building.

Officially opened on Friday, May 16, 1986 by the late, great playwright Brian Friel, the council-owned theatre has played host to almost one performance every other day and continues to provide a platform for a variety of amateur, professional and community arts events.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter this week, The Ardhowen’s Operations Manager, Jackie Owens, said that around 4,600 performances had been staged at the loughside venue over the years, adding that it had made a “big difference” to the arts scene in Fermanagh.

The manager said that a number of local actors who have gone on to star on TV and film, such as Enniskillen’s own Ciaran McMenamin, proudly still acknowledged The Ardhowen as the place where their talent and skills were honed.

She said: “Ciaran attended youth drama classes at The Ardhowen before moving on to work with the Ulster Youth Theatre.”

Another high-profile Enniskillen actor, Adrian Dunbar, has also maintained a close association with his hometown theatre, and is heavily involved with the annual International Beckett Festival hosted there.

Mrs Owens said: “Adrian’s late cousin, Imelda McLernan, who got him involved in acting, worked in the box office here. Years ago, she asked him to help out with an amateur dramatics production. He assisted with setting up the lights and became interested in drama. So he moved from the lights to stand on the stage himself!”

Extensively used by a multitude of organisations, the operations manager said the venue was a hive of activity throughout the year.

“From the annual pantomime in January, it never stops! As well as country concerts, plays and stage musicals, and other events like the Ulster Orchestra, Enniskillen Drama Festival and the Happy Days International Enniskillen Beckett Festival, we host community events like annual concerts, flower shows, school concerts and charity events,” she said.

Mrs Owens has worked in The Ardhowen for over 21 years, first joining the staff as a secretarial assistant on January 3, 1995. Having worked her way up in various capacities since then, she took on her present role when previous manager, Eamonn Bradley, retired a few years ago.

She said that, as manager, it had been an honour to welcome so many high-profile acts and performers to the venue, including comedians such as Patrick Kielty, Tommy Tiernan and Jack Dee.

“At the time, Jack Dee’s show was our fastest-selling event. It sold out in 48 hours. The response was incredible. It was such a privilege to be one of the venues where he was going to try out new material, before moving on to bigger venues,” she said.

In more recent years, Mrs Owens said that concerts put on by country stars such as Nathan Carter, Derek Ryan and Lisa McHugh had proven to be fast sellers as well.

“There’s nothing more enjoyable than seeing a full house and then watching as the people come out with smiles on their faces. As part of a team, that’s a job well done,” she said.

Another particular highlight for the manager was welcoming chart-topping Irish boyband, Westlife, to The Ardhowen.

“It was when the BBC broadcast the John Daly Show from here. They didn’t tell us until quite late in the day that Westlife were going to be on. I remember the excitement building as we were waiting for them and then seeing the boys step out from their Range Rovers as they pulled in one after the other,” she said.

Praising the staff at the theatre, Mrs Owens said: “There is a small team of people who have been here for a number of years. Their commitment is valued and they deliver a great service for local people.”

Although The Ardhowen was formally opened in May 1986, it had already hosted a number of shows in the preceding months, starting with the Enniskillen Drama Festival.

Construction on the £1.5 million ‘Theatre by the lakes’ had begun in September 1984, when diggers moved in to clear the site around Ardhowen, an Edwardian house. The finished building included a restaurant, bar and a 300-seat auditorium with a large, professionally-equipped stage.

It was designed to take full advantage of its attractive surroundings, and was financed by grants from the EEC, Fermanagh District Council and various government departments.

To mark its 30th anniversary, The Ardhowen hosted musical lunchtime repertoires throughout last week, with the Bob Quick and Jim McDermott Trios performing classics from the Great American Songbook.