Staff and Tutors

Aidan Browne (Artistic Director)

Aidan Browne is Artistic Director of Youth Lyric.  He joined the group as a student in 1978 and became a tutor in 1986.

Aidan has degrees and diplomas from the University of Lancaster, Ulster University, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and LAMDA.

He has also been a freelance presenter at UTV since 1993 and frequently acts as an after dinner speaker and conference MC.  Aidan is also a regular contributor to radio programmes on U105.

Aidan is also a member of the Northern Ireland committee of the Royal Television Society, the committee of the Northern Ireland Media Academy and is also Company Secretary of Youth Lyric

Paula Little (Visiting Tutor)

Paula Little is a teacher of literature and performance, theatre critic, subject examiner and faculty leader for the Performing Arts. Her extensive career spans almost twenty years. She has taught English Literature, Drama and Film to A level, the HSC, the SACE and the Diploma Programme for the International Baccalaureate both in Northern Ireland and Australia.

A graduate of Queen’s, Paula holds a B.A. (Hons.) degree and a PGCE in English Literature and Drama. She trained with the Tyrone Guthrie Society as part of the very first Drama cohort to graduate from QUB in 2002. Following graduation, Paula taught English and Drama and examined for CCEA, AQA and EdExcel in Northern Ireland for five years. She then spent nine years as Assistant Head of English and Head of Drama, as well as one year as Acting Head of Creative and Visual Arts at one of Australia’s oldest schools and a thriving specialist school for Music, St. Mary’s Cathedral College, in the heart of the city of Sydney. In 2017, she was appointed Director of Performing Arts and Head of Drama at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, one of the country’s leading independent boarding schools. Founding the Princes Players Theatre Company, Paula led a dynamic, fast-paced faculty in the establishment, revitalisation and growth of outstanding academic and co-curricular programmes in Drama, Dance, Music and Film from Reception to Year 12 (A level), achieving excellent educational outcomes.

Paula’s production, direction and acting credits include thirty-one major musicals and plays for schools and amateur theatre groups, most recently Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers (2021) for the Princes Players and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2021), the cast of which numbered sixty-three Year 6 boys. Paula has worked professionally with NIDA Sydney, leading their teachers’ PD programmes; with the Bell Shakespeare Company, Australia’s premier Shakespearean theatre company; with Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton, Paige Rattray and Kip Williams at Sydney Theatre Company; with the State Theatre Company, the Elder Conservatorium and the University of Adelaide, South Australia. In her role as Senior Marker for HSC Drama and IB Theatre, she has regularly presented at national teachers’ conferences for Drama NSW/Drama Australia and contributed to JEDA. Paula is currently studying for an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at the University of Adelaide, whilst her ongoing work adapting and staging Shakespeare’s plays for prep school students is in demand. She continues to consult remotely for several schools in Australia as a dramaturg, supporting the development of youth Drama.

Recently returned to Northern Ireland, Paula was appointed Visiting Examiner for CCEA AS level Performing Arts (live performance) and as a Moderator for GCSE English Literature Controlled Assessment for the Summer Series 2022. She is very much looking forward to renewing her old connections with the Lyric and most importantly, meeting all the wonderful young people she will work with.

Rachel Robinson (Senior Administrator)

Rachel Robinson. Born and educated in Brighton, England, Rachel has travelled a lot but most recently moved from Cyprus to NI in 2011 with her husband Pete (from NI) and their 3 children who are now aged 20, 18 & 16 and their 2 dogs.

Rachel joined Youth Lyric in April 2017 but has a worked as a PA / Secretary / Administrator / Event planner for many years, in both large and small organisations, in a variety of work sectors; such as BT, Health & Safety Consultancy, and Retail. She is a co-ordinator for a busy Mums & Toddler group and has run childrens holiday clubs and summer events in her spare time. She is very organised and loves the buzz of working as part of the team at Youth Lyric.

Jackie Fisher (Administrator for Antrim)

Jackie qualified from the University of Northumbria in 1996 with an honours degree in Consumer Sciences and went on to complete her teaching qualification at the University of Ulster in 1997. In the same year, she joined the Home Economics Department of Antrim Grammar School as teacher of Home Economics and Health & Social Care and has been teaching there for 21 years now. In 2010 she completed her Diploma in Educational Management with Special Needs. Jackie is also a Director on the Board of Women’s Aid, ABCLN and is a volunteer at The Children’s Contact Centre, Antrim. She is also married, has two teenage boys and three little pooches whom she loves to walk!

As Jackie is past pupil of Antrim Grammar School she is passionate about supporting local children and young people in the surrounding areas. Building confidence and resilience are skills that she works on developing each day in the classroom. Youth Lyric, she believes, provides a different, informal and safe setting to help develop these skills. Jackie has had lots of experience in events management and she managed the work experience scheme in 6^th form for almost 10 years. Although very new to the Youth Lyric team, having only joined in April 2018, she is really looking forward to a very exciting year, supporting Joanna, Lynne, the children and their parents at Antrim Youth Lyric as they prepare to present their Showcase in February 2019 at The Old Courthouse, Antrim.

Salima Ramirez (Assistant Administrator)

Salima Graduated from Universitat de Barcelona in 2013 with a Masters degree in Business and Management and has worked in the Retail Industry for more than seven years in several countries. She is half Spanish half Nigerian, but born and raised in Germany.

Salima moved to Belfast in 2019 with her two children who are now aged five and three. She joined Youth Lyric in August 2021 and is handling the administration for our Strathearn and Orangefield PC classes plus assisting our Antrim administrator. She loves reading, arts and crafts and learning about different cultures and is fluent in German, Spanish and English

Naomi Robinson (Assistant Administrator)

Naomi Robinson moved to NI from Cyprus when she was 9 years old. In her last year at senior school she attending Youth Lyric and achieved a Grade 8 Distinction from Trinity College in Speech and Drama.

After finishing school where she achieved 9 GCSE’s and 3 A levels she worked lots of jobs to raise enough funds to travel to Australia for 6 months as a volunteer for a Charity. She returned home during Lockdown and now works as a classroom assistant in a special needs school.  She loves paddle boarding, watching movies, baking, attending church and walking her cockapoo Zena.

She is now assistant administrator and is responsible for some classes at Stranmillis College and Strandtown.

Alison Young (Volunteer)

Alison joined Youth Lyric as a volunteer in September 2021.  Her love of drama is longstanding and Alison is a past student of the Youth Lyric herself.  She has had many years working as a volunteer with young people of all ages.  Alison has worked in both the health and education sectors for the past 20 years.

In her spare time, Alison loves to read both fiction and non – fiction genres. She is hoping to join a choir next year should she have any free time left !!

Orla McManus (Volunteer)

Orla has studied and been involved in Drama all through secondary school then chose to study it for an Undergraduate degree. She loves helping to teach young people perform and watch their confidence bloom as it was such a huge part of her life growing up!

In her spare time she loves to bake and spend time with her family

Eden Byrne (Student Volunteer)

Eden has recently started volunteering in Youth Lyric in June 2022 and has really enjoyed it so far! She has just completed her A levels in Geography , English Literature and Health and Social Care. She hopes to study Primary Teaching or Social Work in the future as she is enthusiastic about working with children and young people.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and family, celebrating the holidays and participating and coaching in Taekwondo!

Bethany Roy (Volunteer)

Bethany is currently in her final year of university studying a BE.d Primary Degree at Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

She was taught by both Natalie and Joanna when studying at Antrim Grammar School and attained an A* and A at both GCSE and A-Level Performing Arts.

Bethany has continued to pursue her love for drama as well as helping to encourage the confidence and skills of children when performing.

In her spare time she loves to visit the theatre and catch up with friends.

Abbie McDonnell (Volunteer)

Abbie has an educational background in performance, having studied performing arts at distinction level in college and is a recent graduate of the Arts University Bournemouth where she completed her degree in Acting with Honours. She is also a Youth Lyric alumna and has had roles in many of their past productions such as The Great Gatsby and The Crucible, as well as competing in Youth Lyric festival competitions, and Trinity College exams with distinction.

She has a passion for working with children and young people and hopes that her past experience at Youth Lyric will be a benefit to the new generation of Youth Lyric students!

Ann Quinn (Volunteer)

Ann Quinn graduated from University of Ulster in 2009 with an honours degree in English with Psychology and went on to work in Early years for the next 10 years. She also worked as a Learning Support Assistant and then Pupil Support Officer for two years, which rekindled her love for learning and helping students to achieve their goals.

In June 2022 she completed a counselling degree, and is currently an English and Drama PGCE student at Queens University Belfast.

Ann loves to sing and has been part of the Ulster Youth Choir. In her spare time she enjoys going to concerts and reading.

She joined Youth Lyric as a volunteer in November 2022, and she is delighted to be a part of the fantastic Antrim group. “I cannot wait to see what exciting opportunities and experiences are coming my way.”

Chloe Patterson (Volunteer)

Chloe is a third year Drama and English Student at Queen’s University Belfast. In this time she has enjoyed studying a wide range of drama and been involved with Queen’s Musical Theatre society. She has also been heavily involved in the Trampoline club, where she coaches and trains.

Chloe started drama at Antrim Grammar school, taught by Natalie and Joanna, at GCSE. I grew to love it through GCSE and A Level Performing Arts. She is now on placement in Antrim Grammar teaching drama and English to students, which is how she got involved in Youth Lyric.

In the last year, Chloe has worked on Frantic Assembly Ignition, and that has really sparked her to continue work in theatre. After graduating, Chloe hopes to go on to work in theatre, be it on the stage or behind the scenes! But eventually wants to be teaching drama, and helping people grow to love it as she has!

Ronan Devlin (Student Volunteer)

Ronan is currently a pupil in our senior class and has been part of Youth Lyric for many years. He has been volunteering with our junior class for the past year as part of his Duke of Edinburgh volunteering. He really enjoys helping the younger students develop their enthusiasm for drama. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his friends, playing video games and watching movies.

Emily Lavery (Student Volunteer)

Emily is currently a pupil at Antrim Grammar School studying for A Levels in Performing Arts, English Literature and Moving Image Arts.

She joined Youth Lyric six years ago, currently attends the senior class and is now volunteering with the Antrim junior class. Emily also recently gained a Grade 7 with distinction in Acting from Trinity College.

Emily thoroughly enjoys drama and is passionate about sharing it’s benefits with others. She hopes to pursue a career in drama and very much credits her love of it to her tutors in school and Youth Lyric.