Belvoir Annual Report 2020
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2020 SEASON CONTENTS 2020: At A Glance 04 Chair’s Report 06 Artistic Director’s Report 08 Executive Director’s Report 10 2020 Season 12 Belvoir 2019 in Review 28 Corporate Governance Statement 44 Board & Staff 48 Supporters, Trusts & Foundations, and Partners 49 Donors 50 In the Rehearsal Room 54 Anita Hegh and Ella Prince. Photo by Brett Boardman 28 FOLLOWERS SOCIAL MEDIA 67,723 CALD AND ATTENDEES AT 5 BELVOIR 36,487 PRODUCTIONS 325 AT WORK. AT ARTISTS BY SUPPORTED GIGS 22 6 PROGRAM - REGIONAL ACCESS OF OUR PART AS WORKSHOPS 65 IN PERSON, 6,489 DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS SOLD 34% TICKETS DONATED 26 NEW AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS BACK TO BELVOIR INDIVIDUAL PLAYS / WORLD FUTURE SHOWS ARTISTS ACROSS PREMIERES MAINSTAGE AND 3 IN DEVELOPMENT. 30 DEVELOPMENT WORK NEW COMMISSIONS WESTERN SYDNEY 7& STUDENTS IN WORK- 796 SHOPS IN SCHOOLS 21 STUDENTS & ACTIVE AT A GLANCEIN PERSON & DIGITAL COMMISSIONS TEACHERS WHO WEEKS WITH 623 ATTENDED A THE THEATRE 2003 PERFORMANCE 26 CLOSED 136EMPLOYED PERFORMERS AND CREATIVES APPLICATIONS RECEIVED 7 SHUTDOWN IN A WORKSHOP PARTICIPATED STUDENTS RESIDENCIES WITH 44 ARTISTS F:M ACTORS, WRITERS AND CREATIVES NEW SINGLE TICKET BUYERS IN 2020 1864 65:35 3132 CHAIR’S REPORT Sam Meers What a year 2020 our $550k surplus from 2019, thanks to the was! If true grit is financial support mentioned above, and the revealed under pressure, extraordinary efforts of the team, led by our then 2020 showed agile and dedicated co-CEOs, Executive that Belvoir has it in Director Sue Donnelly and Artistic Director bucketloads. Having Eamon Flack. I would also like to pay tribute finished 2019 on a to our Deputy Executive Director, Aaron high, with a swag of Beach, and Head of Finance & Operations, 13 Helpmann Awards Penny Scaiff, who also went above-and- and a strong operating beyond the call of duty in a challenging year. surplus, to then be Secondly, I am extremely proud of the fact closing the doors of our theatre a few that Belvoir’s first instinct, led by Eamon, months later was a like a misplaced fullstop was to consider how best to support our in the middle of sentence - or perhaps an artists - the people who lie at the very core actor forgetting their lines. The impact on of what we do and who, because they were the arts sector was, of course, just one piece not classified as ‘employees’, fell between of the complicated matrix of disruption and Steve Rodgers. Photo by Brett Boardman. the cracks of the Government’s stimulus distress experienced by friends, families and packages. Our Artists at Work Program colleagues throughout the pandemic. raised over $500k, which is being delivered The commitment of the Company B board Finally – last, but very definitely not least – But Belvoir’s genesis in 1984 was due to a back directly to the artistic community. this year was extraordinary. The board none of the work we do would, of course, be community banding together in a time of And thirdly, I would like to note the met weekly and then fortnightly during possible without the staff at Belvoir and the crisis. And this is exactly what happened leadership Belvoir showed by being one the difficult first months of the pandemic many artists and creatives who work with us. again in 2020. Despite the enormous of the first companies to close our doors as our Box Office income disappeared for These talented and passionate individuals challenges, everyone rallied to support on 17 March 2020, in order to protect an indefinite period and we were forced dedicate countless hours to the Company us: we moved quickly to adjust our work our actors, patrons and staff – this was to consider our solvency. Each and every because they believe, as you do, in the practices and our loyal staff, in particular, before we were mandated to do so by the board member provided unquestionable power of theatre to change people’s lives. were nimble and generous in their flexibility. Government. However, we were also one of support, insight and dedication during I thank them sincerely for their support and I’d like to begin this message by the first companies to return to the stage this challenging time. I would like to give extraordinary commitment to the Company, acknowledging the extraordinary generosity in September 2020, and our COVID-safe particular thanks to Alison Kitchen, who particularly in the past 12 months. guided us through the use of the Safe of our donors and subscribers for the practices became the blueprint for many Whilst we finished 2020 strongly and our Harbour provisions of the Corporations ‘above-and-beyond support’ you gave us other arts organisations. 2021 season has been diverse and engaging, unquestioningly when we needed it. I know Law and whose calm wisdom and attention Although our theatre was dark from 17 we know the next few years will continue to I regularly say we cannot do the work we to detail gave all of us much needed March to 12 September 2020, we worked challenge us all in many ways as we adjust do without you – but last year, you literally reassurance. And my endless thanks to hard to sustain Belvoir’s creative energy, to the new phase of ‘living with COVID’ and saved us. My deep thanks go to each and deputy Chair, Patty Akopiantz, whose and the community that depends upon it. what that means for communal activities, every one of you for your faith in us. wisdom and diligence was indispensable. We developed and commissioned 6 times such as cultural experiences. A warm welcome to our new board I would also note the timely and generous as much new work than in an average year, In a global environment in which so many members Paul Oppenheim and financial support provided by Government and we still managed to deliver 5 shows from are experiencing dislocation, isolation and Jacob Nash, who joined us at the end at both State and Federal level, for which I our 2020 season. Returning to the theatre in loss, now more than ever before we need the of 2020 – little did they know what a offer my sincere thanks. We are particularly September 2020 with the wonderful Anita stories we tell on the Belvoir stage, and the rollercoaster it would be! It is, however, a grateful to have Minister Fletcher in the Hegh in Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s community connection provided by the raw tribute to the Company that we continue to Morrison Government and Minister Harwin in Own was a glorious triumph! emotion of a theatre experience. the Berejiklian Government leading excellent, attract Directors of such stature. We were thrilled to welcome Governor responsive teams in their respective arts I ask that you continue to support us in these Margaret Beazley as our Patron in 2020. My thanks also to the board of Belvoir St portfolios. challenging times. Having the Governor as your patron is Theatre Ltd (aka Company A) for our close working relationship and their continuing There are a number of things from Belvoir’s thrilling enough, but having a long term Sam experience last year of which I’m enormously subscriber as our Patron is even more belief in Belvoir’s vision. proud: firstly, the dedication of our staff and special! senior executive team. We finished 2020 with a solid surplus of $800k, building on 6 7 We reopened Belvoir on 16 September with a twice-delayed season of A Room of ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT One’s Own. Anita had been carrying that astonishing text in her mind since the first Eamon Flack week of shutdown nearly 6 months earlier. Her performance was all grace and miracle, In the first months of us 2 or 3 weeks – it took 6. But it did the and I will never forget it. 2020 the extended job of reminding all those people who form In November, after months of uncertainty, season of Packer and our community of that precious, tatty old we launched a short 2021 season – just 7 Sons played to full building and its work. months instead of our usual 12. Today, in houses. The return By May we had found a way to keep the flag April 2021, as I write, we have just launched season of Every Brilliant flying.Artists at Work was simultaneously Part Two of 2021. Thing played to full a creative development program and a houses. Stevie Rodgers I have never been prouder of Belvoir. I think fundraising campaign – the one driving the danced with audience we did 2020 about as well as you can. other. Its first goal was exactly what it said members, kissed them on the box – keep artists at work. But we It is impossible to thank everyone who got on the head, put his arms around them. also realised that this unwanted pause in Belvoir through last year – to the thousands Then, in March, theatre became a dangerous Chenoa Deemal, Alex Stylianou, Sacha Horler putting on shows might provide the chance and Valerie Bader. Photo by Luke Currie of people, from audiences to artists to activity, and the whole world stopped to rethink things on a more fundamental Richardson. bureaucrats who are part of Belvoir in any putting on shows. We closed our doors on level. Process determines outcome, and way at all, thank you. And I do want to thank the 17th of that month. theatre in Australia is bound, sometimes Among the hardest decisions we made a few people on a personal note – the entire A theatre company without audiences is severely, by the circumstances of its making.