CONTENTS 1) Introduction from the Chair 2) Who we are 3) Vision, Mission & Aims 4) Governance 5) The Role & Key Targets 6) Person Specification 7) Terms of Appointment 8) How to apply OUR VISION IS TO CREATE …. ENGAGE .… INSPIRE …. ENTERTAIN …. 2 Torch Theatre At Night, Milford Marina INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR Dear Applicant, I am delighted you have shown an interest in the position of Executive Director at the Torch Theatre Company Ltd (the Torch). This is an extremely exciting opportunity to play a leading role in driving the Torch forward into our next chapter. Building on our current and past successes, we are looking for an ambitious and dynamic leader who will continue to take the Torch from strength to strength. We seek an individual with the energy and passion to be our public ambassador, championing the quality of the Torch productions, working to increase our influence and reach, whilst ensuring our long-term financial sustainability. We’re one of only three venue based producing companies in Wales, with national and international awards for the high quality of the work we produce and ambition of our artistic programme. Most recently, our production Grav toured to New York and Washington DC; The Wood participated in a veteran’s event in Mametz, France; and Torch productions have been the recipient of an Edinburgh Festival Laurel Award two years in a row (2015 & 2016). The Torch plays a vital role in the local community through direct engagement activities such as the Youth Theatre, schools programme and outreach work and through our health and wellbeing initiatives. We are extremely proud of the breadth of our programme, including opera, ballet, film, dance, music and comedy, shown across our two auditoriums and complimented by our gallery, café and the vibrant space of the building itself. I have the pleasure of sharing the following information which I very much hope will inspire you to apply. Further information about us can be found at https://www.torchtheatre.co.uk Nia Marshall Chair Torch Theatre Board of Trustees July 2019 3 WHO WE ARE In 1977, the Torch Theatre was established in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and is one of only three venue based producing theatres in Wales alongside Cardiff’s Sherman Cymru and Clwyd Theatr Cymru. We create and produce our own shows; we co-produce with other Welsh companies and tour our work both nationally and internationally. Our shows range from the classics, to Shakespeare and to new writing. As a presenting venue we programme opera; all types of music; all forms of dance and stream live the best drama, opera and dance from around the world. We also do a season of outdoor cinema (Sunset Cinema), in some of the most beautiful venues and castles in the county and further afield. We deliver workshops and classes for the local community and we are home to local amateur opera and drama companies. The Torch consists of a 300 seat Main House, a 102 seat Studio Theatre, a bespoke art gallery, bar facilities and an attractive café - Café Torch. In 2007, the venue underwent a major transformation and refurbishment project to create an accessible, comfortable and attractive centre to enjoy entertainment and the arts, complete with state-of-the-art digital cinema technology with 3D capabilities. Up to date figures show that in 2018/19 the Torch sold 80,115 tickets provided 1,535 performances with 13,357 child/family tickets sold for the cinema. 448 children attended summer schools and workshops with 150 children attending our Youth Theatre. In 2018, over 4,000 people attended our outdoor cinema events (Sunset Cinema) at 16 locations across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Bristol. Our 2018 pantomime, Pinocchio, also attracted 5,571 children (with teachers) from 49 schools and community groups from both Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. We’d like to think that the above is very much what you would expect a theatre to do. However, our activities go much further and include projects that support Welsh Government’s Health and Wellbeing agenda and increased community engagement. 4 SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK IN THESE AREAS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Dementia In 2016, the Torch co-produced a play about dementia. Belonging/Perthyn toured to theatres across Wales and connected health and social care professionals and theatre audiences with the experiences of people living with dementia. The play received an outstanding response from audiences and critics, winning two Theatre in Wales Awards including best director for our own Peter Doran. The production was revived last year touring both Wales and Ireland. This rich range of work allied with the Welsh Government’s strategy on Dementia Together for a Dementia Friendly Wales’ 2017-22 suggests that there is a strong basis and shared interest for further work to be developed in this field. It’s also an area that crosses over and brings further opportunities to work with partners in social care. Parkinson’s Dance for Parkinson’s invites people with Parkinson’s and their carers/family to take part in a high-quality dance course every Friday. The weekly involvement in physical activity helps participants cope with their symptoms and learn to understand the level of ability their bodies are still able to achieve. It also is an ideal opportunity for people with Parkinson’s and their family/carers to meet with others living with the same problems. These classes are run in conjunction with Arts Care Gofal Celf. Learning Disabilities My Moves is a weekly dance class for adults; they are hour long workshops of fun dance-based activities designed specifically for adults with learning disabilities. In association with Arts Care Gofal Celf and Pembrokeshire People First. Golden Groovers – Dance for Health Golden Grooves is a weekly, hour long dance workshop for over 50s – suitable for all abilities and energy levels. No previous dance experience is necessary - all dances can be adapted for all abilities and energy levels, standing and seated. In association with Arts Care Gofal Celf. Women and Girls Together In association with Action for Children, we ran a service that offers support to young girls and women aged 12-21 who are vulnerable individuals and at risk of or open to Sexual Exploitation. 5 Suicide Intervention Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is an interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognise when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Delivered by The Wellbeing Guy (Chris Wright PgDip. CAMH), the Torch provides a safe, stable and non-threatening environment for the workshop delivery. Autism Milford Haven has recently become the first Autism Friendly community in Wales and the Torch is proud to be part of this; however, here at the Torch, we have been showing autism friendly film screenings for the past ten years and acknowledged by Film Cymru as a pioneer in this area in Wales. We also deliver autism friendly performances of our Christmas Pantomime. LGBTQ+ We actively program both live shows and film that will be of interest to the LGBTQ+ community and hope to support National Theatre Wales in a production of ‘Queer Tales’, exploring what it’s like to live in Pembrokeshire as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Welsh Language As well as programming both live shows and film for welsh speakers, we also run a regular coffee morning where learners can come and spend the morning chatting in Welsh in a friendly non – judgmental environment. Mother and Baby Every week we provide a meeting place for mothers and their babies this includes a ‘baby dance, session, soft play and we have also shown films, where a crying baby or a breastfeeding mum is very much the accepted norm. Only Boys Aloud In the new year, the Torch will be home for the West Wales branch of Only Boys Aloud. Led by an experienced professional choral leader, the aim is to meet every week during term. Any boys between the ages of 11 and 19 can join, there is no charge and no audition. Led by Only Men Aloud founder Tim Rhys-Evans, the group will deliver local performances and join with the other groups nationwide for large-scale performances; equality of access and quality of experience are the two drivers behind the choir. 6 Youth Theatre The Torch Youth theatre has been running for over forty years and has an impressive alumnus including Charles Dale (Casualty) and Connie Fisher (Sound of Music). Many of our members have gone on to become professional actors or technicians but that is not the main aim of the youth theatre; the aim is to give members confidence to express themselves, confidence to be themselves. After forty years, we’ve had well over 2000 members and to date, not one behavioural issue. We also stage a summer school, one in drama and one in dance, culminating in performances at the end of the course. Outreach The Torch has always had a presence in local schools including performances and workshops. Past workshops for junior schools include: Anti-bullying, World Book Day, WW1; WW2. Performances include Flora’s War and a Welsh language version of Twm Sion Cati. In senior school, we gave over 150 workshops of ‘This Is Me’. ‘This Is Me’ was a workshop-based project aimed at assisting school leavers overcome their first career challenge - The Interview. The aim of the workshop was to provide the student with a structural framework and strategies to improve interview performance. These workshops won the Arts and Business Young People Award. At the presentations in Cardiff, the judges praised the clear and well thought out approach in working with young people as they approach the next phase in their lives.