Annual Report 2019 Our Purpose

Jersey Arts Centre exists to foster the development and celebration of the arts Islandwide and beyond.

Our Aims

- To enrich the quality of life for all residents and visitors

- To encourage participation in the performing, visual and literary arts

- To educate, inspire and encourage debate

This is achieved by providing exciting, innovative, wide ranging, challenging, professional and community arts in welcoming, high quality and accessible environments. Another Audience with John Lloyd!

Honorary Patron John Lloyd CBE (2018 - 2022)

Honorary Life Members Valentine Aitken Pat Dubras Billie Newey Sir Philip Bailhache Peter Hunt Busick Pemberton Ray Banks, FRSA Denise Ibbotson George Ritchie Mark Blanchard Rod McLoughlin Ian Thomas Tony Carter Michael Munz-Jones Robert Tilling, MBE, RI

2 Contents

Reports 4 Residencies 17 Exhibitions 7 Christmas Production 18 Performances 8 Liberation Day + Island Animations 19 Statistics 10 Human Rights / Polish Film Festivals 20 Courses and Workshops 12 Arts in Health Care 21 Education and Outreach 13 Eco-Active 22 Partnerschaft (Twinning) 14 2019 in Summary 23 ACT 15 Partnerships and Thanks 24 youtheatre and Junior Drama 16

Jersey Arts Centre Association ANNUAL REPORT 2019

The Management Committee 23 May 2018 – 22 May 2019

Chairman Andrew Goodyear, BSc (Hons) Treasurer Dawn O’Reilly, FCCA, MBA Secretary Jacqueline Mézec, MA (Cantab), FCCA

Members Ed Church, Annie Lezala, Richard Pedley, Dorothy Perks, Tina Risebrow

The Management Committee 22 May 2019 – 27 May 2020 (extended to 9 September 2020 due to coronavirus)

Chairman Deanne Bratch, BA (Hons), MA, FCMA Treasurer Dawn O’Reilly, FCCA, MBA Secretary Jacqueline Mézec, MA (Cantab), FCCA

Members Valentine Aitken, Richard Pedley, Dorothy Perks, Tina Risebrow

Exhibitions Sub-committee

Chairman Mark Blanchard

Members Valentine Aitken, Daniel Austin, Cloe Freeman, Jackie Monticelli, Alison Ward

Jersey Arts Centre Staff

Director Daniel Austin Deputy Director (Administration & Marketing) Graeme Humphries Deputy Director (Stage & Events) Steven Laffoley-Edwards Finance Assistant Nick Poingdestre Administrative Assistant Sarah Tompkins Marketing Manager Nick Carver Press and Marketing Assistant Nicole Twinam Distribution Mac Galvin Exhibitions Coordinator Alison Ward Education and Outreach Coordinator Hettie Duncan Box Office Manager (until November) Denise Renouf Box Office Coordinator Jackie Jordan Deputy Stage Manager Jason Kenyon Caretaker Cameron Mitchell Cleaner Maria da Silva

In August 2016, the duties of the Finance Manager were outsourced to Grant Thornton.

Front Cover: Jersey Arts Centre’s Christmas Production: A Christmas Carol. 3 Chairman’s Report

This set of financial statements relate to the Jersey Arts Centre (JAC) operation in 2019 and the performance of the team during the year. I feel proud to report that the JAC had a brilliant year in terms of output and there has been a positive step forward in the level of government support both in year and commitments for the future.

Daniel and his team put on 232 ticketed performances during the year with an overall attendance of 25,242 for the year. Membership numbers have held steady and work is ongoing to consider how to widen the reach of the JAC to attract different and younger people to participate in our Arts community. The financial performance reflects the continued prudence of the organisation especially in the area of cost management. We were in receipt of a one-off grant during the year to repair the heating and ventilation system and we anticipate that this work will be completed in 2020 ahead of the 2021 season which should see the JAC return to full audiences for our performances.

We have been meeting regularly with Government to discuss our funding and the funding of Arts in Jersey in general. There is a recognition that Arts and Culture form an important part of Island life and that more needs to be done to support those organisations that work in this space. We have been pleased by the constructive nature of this dialogue and are hopeful that our future funding will reflect the tenor of those discussions. This would allow the JAC to expand its community activities and give the team scope to look at and widen our digital and educational offering.

One of the major concerns for the JAC is our premises and the work that needs to be done to improve Phillips Street and the continuing uncertainty of the office space that Daniel and his team occupy. We are now in receipt of condition surveys that Oddsocks: A Midsummer Night’s Dream show that there will be a need to invest in repairs at Phillips Street and we anticipate that this work will commence in 2021. Daniel and I have been active in our work with Government on premises and we look forward to the outcome of the latest cultural review which should address the strategic direction for cultural premises in general. It is our desire to remain at Phillips Street but have more certainty in our office space and have access to a better rehearsal space.

I think we can all agree that the JAC is special and that the work of the team is amazing given the resources that are available to them. I know that our members love the JAC not only because of the performance programme but also because of the role it plays in the wider community. The JAC hosts dance competitions, school programmes, classes, exhibitions and provides a place for like minded people to participate in the Arts. This would not be possible without the team, our wonderful volunteers, our donors and the Government and we are all grateful for the continuing support we receive.

To close, I need to reference what an extraordinary year 2020 has been. What Daniel and the team have managed to do in these difficult circumstances is more than just commendable: it is fantastic. I would like to thank them without reservation and I look forward to another year of working with them.

DEANNE BRATCH BA (Hons), MA, FCMA HONORARY CHAIRMAN Flo + Joan: Alive on Stage 4 Financial Report

2019 Treasurer’s Report

The Management Committee, Director and Chairman worked tirelessly in 2019 to secure additional funding as it was obvious through cash flow forecasts that funding for future programming was not sufficient. I am pleased to say that Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture (‘EDTS&C’) provided Jersey Arts Centre with a Top-Up grant to enable programming to continue in the second part of 2019. Through careful management of cash and cost control the cash position enabled Jersey Arts Centre to continue its programming throughout the year.

Key Highlights

· Cash Balance of: £153,286 versus £118,953 in 2018 The main improvement in cash flow versus projected cash flow was down to a one off Top-Up grant of £70,000 in June 2019. This was to aid Jersey Arts Centre with programming in Q3 & Q4 of 2019 (£24k) and to assist with maintenance of the Heating & Ventilation system (£46k). The Christmas show also helped at the year end with cash flow and some advance bookings relating to 2020 shows. The £46k allocated to the Heating & Ventilation system was not fully spent in 2019 and this has been carried forward to 2020.

· Operational deficit: £8,679 versus £38,598 in 2018 This is an improvement on 2018 and clearly shows the careful management of programming and hirings throughout 2019 Enkidu Khaled: Working Method based on ‘cash restraints’.

· Total income: £812,506 versus £782,297 in 2018 The Future The main increase in Total Income is due to the Top-Up grant The impact of Covid-19 has had a huge impact on of £24k and additional revenue from hirings compared to the programming and hirings from March 2020 and this has previous year. There has been some work this year to ensure impacted us all at Jersey Arts Centre. Funding was that the allocation of revenue between hirings and promotions originally secured for an Education and Outreach Assistant in are now more reflective of the activities. 2020, however, understandably this has now been delayed.

The 2020 grant from EDTS&C has increased on 2019 by £48k which is more in line with inflation and should enable critical work to continue on the Heating and Ventilation system as well as some much needed investment in Capital Expenditure. The management and employees at Jersey Arts Centre have provided various alternative programmes and activities during the lockdown period and they have to be commended for their resilience and commitment.

As always, we look for ways to improve the way we work and we are in the process of reviewing our procedures and moving to on-line banking.

Acknowledgments

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Chairman, Deanne Bratch, the Management Committee and the Director of Jersey Arts Centre, Daniel Austin, for their work with States Members in trying to secure future funding for the Centre.

I would also like to thank all the employees, members and volunteers of Jersey Arts Centre for their commitment and hard work in providing an excellent programme of events in 2019. Casey Jay Andrews: DAWN O’REILLY, FCCA, MBA The Archive of Educated Hearts HONORARY TREASURER 5 There were also five contemporary and cutting edge presentations from Richard Jordan Productions from Belgium, Italy, Iraq and the UK. One of these was a residency (see page Director’s Report 17) which then headed up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 13th Parish Festival was inaugurated over 3 days in May during which there were 12 screenings and 447 attendances. Jersey Arts Centre once again delivered extraordinary and We look forward to their return in 2021! unique learning, community and performance opportunities throughout 2019, however, the financial challenges remained Jersey Festival of Words celebrated its fifth year and at Jersey similar to previous years with no inflationary increases on the Arts Centre there were 1,142 attendances over 14 events. revenue grant since 2013. Again, we look forward to their return in 2021! Throughout 2019 we delivered: 232 ticketed performance Our own adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens events with 25,242 attendances; 14 exhibitions in the Berni proved a huge success as our fourth Christmas production with Gallery; 12 exhibitions in the Bar Gallery; 24 public courses and newly commissioned music from Art’Comedia which delighted workshops with 154 participants; 10 workshops in 9 schools our family audiences in the lead up to Christmas. Full details of with 241 attendances for Holocaust Memorial Day; 10 the show can be found on page 18. workshops in 5 schools with 243 attendances with the Magpies & Mischief residency during World Book Day week; two In early January 2020 we learnt of the death of Jersey Arts youtheatre productions and the hosting of students from St. Centre’s Caretaker, Cameron Mitchell, who started with us in Helier’s twin town of Bad Wurzach, Germany; two ACT April 2013. Cameron’s time with us enabled improvements in projects; one production with our Junior Drama group; our the Health and Safety of the building at Phillips Street and we fourth production with and for Brighter Futures: no place like; will miss his incredible sense of humour and wit. Our thoughts our 17th consecutive year of readings with the youtheatre at are with his family at this time… Holocaust Memorial Day; youtheatre readings at the Former The Management Committee continued to monitor and support Internees 74th Liberation Day Anniversary at the War Tunnels; both strategic and operational initiatives to develop both our readings at the unveiling of the Deportee’s plaque at Albert infrastructure and programme throughout the year and the Quay; the afternoon celebrations on Liberation Day; the 6th unparalleled community participation in the arts that we offer. Polish Film Festival; the 15th Human Rights Festival; our fourth Christmas production: A Christmas Carol with 3,079 As reported over the past 19 years, this Annual Report is a attendances at 18 performances together with 24 workshops testament to all that has been achieved in, with and for the at 18 primary schools with 605 attendances – and all this with community during the past 36+ years by the many volunteers, only the equivalent of less than 12 full-time members of staff. tutors, staff, committee members, individuals and sponsors who have made the Centre their home. In fact, if we go back Denise Renouf, our very well-known Box Office Manager, to 1970 when Jersey Arts Council was formed, our work now retired at the end of the year and we will greatly miss the joy spans more than 50 years! and kindness she brought to managing our Box Office for ten years. We wish Denise great happiness for the future. We always look forward with great optimism knowing that the vision, energy and commitment that will be required to sustain We welcomed back our Honorary Patron, John Lloyd, who us through the continued global economic imperatives, and the returned to Jersey Arts Centre with Another Audience with coronavirus pandemic in 2020, will need to be great also. John Lloyd! on 18 April. He continues to be our Honorary Patron until 2022. As always, our sincerest thanks to one and all for their commitment, support and energy which will continue to make Amici Artium continued with promoting concerts and offering Jersey Arts Centre an innovative, dynamic and enjoyable place our audiences some of the world’s most respected and to be. renowned classical musicians having now supported concerts for more than 14 years. Our special thanks to Michael It continues to be a great pleasure and a privilege to lead Munz-Jones and his associates for their tremendous support Jersey Arts Centre and to be your Director: thank you all so over the years. very much for your continued support. We would once again like to thank both Stuart Fox, Managing Here’s wishing our members, our audiences, our volunteer Director, and Sandrine Frojd, Stuart’s PA at Fox International for stewards and our staff a creative time for the future – despite over 36 years’ support of The Fox Art Competition. the fact that we have all been navigating the coronavirus pandemic throughout 2020 – and as we continue to develop Jersey Arts Centre’s youtheatre presented two productions (see and celebrate all areas of the performing, literary, visual and page 16 for the details) and together with our Junior Drama and digital arts at Phillips Street and beyond. ACT groups (see pages 15+16) these companies continued to provide invaluable participatory theatre experiences for the DANIEL AUSTIN, BA (Hons), MA community at large. The 15th Human Rights Festival focused on issues relating to surveillance, transgender in the US military and women cyclists in Afghanistan (see page 20 for the full details). Casey Jay Andrews, Chris Thorpe, John Lloyd, Alexander Ullman, Jennifer Pike & Martin Roscoe, The Tweed Project, Powerhouse Gospel Choir, The Outside Track and Flo & Joan were just some of the incredible artists and performers who visited Jersey Arts Centre throughout 2019 with Steven Hough, Pavel Haas Quartet, Oddsocks Productions, Luke Wright and Bob Kingdom returning to the Benjamin Meaker Theatre. Nora Bryan: Greenland from the Air 6 7 not only because the winning painting Greenland from the Air evoked so effectively for Flora ‘the cold, airy light and chilly fields of paleness of the Northlands’ but because at 93 Nora is the oldest ever winner of The Fox and her prize a wonderful tribute to Exhibitions her commitment to the competition which she has entered regularly over its 36 year history.

2019 was, once again, a very successful year for visitors to the Five group shows were spread out throughout 2019. For the 36th Berni Gallery with 14 first class exhibitions adorning the walls and Anniversary of Jersey Arts Centre four local artists: Lizi Hill, James the many visitors, young and old, continually commenting on the Carter, Kirsty Garcia and Helen Ryan used 36 hours effectively to quality and variety of the work on display there. There were a convey in paint the movement, vibrancy, colour and diversity further 12 exhibitions throughout the year in the Bar Gallery. necessary to transform Dance into visual form directly onto the walls of the Berni Gallery with a spectacular series of murals. This Many thanks must go to the members of the exhibitions was followed by Being Human, a wonderfully curated exhibition sub-committee whose knowledge and experience selected the that celebrated International Women’s Day and highlighted the varied and imaginative programme of work from Jersey, British artistic skills and talents of 10 of Jersey’s most accomplished and international artists. Their committed dedication continued female artists which proved to be an exceptional combination of throughout the year as every third or fourth Sunday they took down ideas, styles and mediums. and then hung each exhibition ensuring the quality of the display reflected the professional integrity for which the Berni is renowned. The talents of future great female artists were highlighted by the two schools’ exhibitions that topped and tailed the year. Beaulieu The program for the year included painting, drawing, photography, Convent School’s January show premiered a powerful exhibition prints, posters, textiles, sculpture and installation and spanned entitled Strength. Incorporating work from the Art, Photography a wide range of exhibitor. Both individuals and groups displayed and Textile departments which showed the hard work and work of outstanding quality while our two competition exhibitions, dedication in each of the courses taught, with work that was the Jersey Students and The Fox, continued to attract record eclectic and a true mix of subject matter and techniques. While in numbers of entries. December, Good Work, JCG, was a celebration of the achievement, experimentation and resilience of the GCSE work of It was a privilege to welcome two of the Island’s local drama the Jersey College for Girls Art Department and showed with great societies into the Berni Gallery for 2019 as they both celebrated confidence and assurance the enjoyment of their students in the milestones in their existence. The Jersey Amateur Dramatic Club work that they produced. started with Curtain Up in January as their collection of posters, programmes, photographs and costumes celebrated 80 years of The annual Students Exhibition spanned the summer months and productions from The Man who Stayed at Home at the the work of Cara Smith, Phoebe Orr, Matthew Bennetts, Joshua Glenham Hall in 1939 to Bugsy Malone here at Jersey Arts Centre Twohig-Jones, Monica Carvalho and Olivia Kellett added to the in the autumn. Act Two was provided by the Jersey Green Room warmth and brightness of the season. The diversity of approach Club in June as they celebrated 110 years of productions. Their and variety of mediums, including painting, textiles, drawing, collection of archive material and costumes harked back to their sculpture, photography and printmaking, all produced thought earliest production of The Passport in 1910 to a future production provoking and contemporary images that evoked intrigue and of Ghost planned for 2020 and provided a nostalgic exhibition of interest from the viewing public. reminiscing and remembrance. A collaboration between architect Mike Waddington and artist Tony Three very different photography exhibitions balanced out the Reason linked the disciplines of painting, sculpture, model-making programme successfully for 2019 yet each linked as their artists and architecture together magnificently in May. The work’s gave their own individual interpretation of the world they concentration on surface and material quality showed effectively experience. Oliver Muriel brought his years of experience as how these different disciplines could overlap and enhance each photographer in Normandy – that evoked his life of memories and other successfully while the combination of these shapes, forms, fresh encounters – to use his work as a dialogue between light and paintings and sculptures transformed the Berni Gallery into an shade and the composition of foreground and background. His oasis of calm and contemplation. interpretation of the Islands’ shores and inhibitors created strong and enduring visions of the landscape and faces he encountered In conclusion, I would like to thank all those people without whose and allowed the viewer the chance to inhabit his world. Similarly, help the Berni Gallery’s exhibitions would not take place. From Alicaja Rogal and The Morning Boat gave us an insight into the Cameron, Jason and Steven whose technical and practical Invisible Hands that depicted the labour and lifestyles of Jersey support bring each exhibition to realisation; to Daniel and Alison, farm workers capturing the hard work and dedication that is whose secretarial and liaison skills meld artists, sponsors and the necessary from this overseas community to enable the Jersey exhibitions sub-committee into one coordinated team; to the farming industry to continue to survive as it has for the past 150 sponsors, big and small, whose financial commitment ensures that years. In contrast to this Danny Evans provided us with an the artists only have to worry about the work itself; and, finally, but insightful documentation of skateboard culture in Jersey. These just as importantly, you the members of the Jersey Arts Centre images formed a catalogue of endeavour that impacts the lives of whose presence at these exhibitions, and the purchase of the work the people that embrace it and the large scale monotreme images itself, makes the job worthwhile. of faces, clothing, footwear, body parts and skateboard parts. With all superfluous information removed to enable each subject the MARK BLANCHARD, BA (Hons), PGCE space to tell its own story the exhibition proved one of the most CHAIR, EXHIBITIONS SUB-COMMITTEE popular of the year. Exhibitions Sub Committee Statement: Mark Blanchard is a successful teacher and painter. He was Head of As mentioned before The Fox competition celebrated its 36th Art at De La Salle College between 1983 and 2019, and has been a year and the company invited the famous British Printmaker, Flora member of Jersey Arts Centre exhibitions sub-committee since 1985. McLachlan Cork, to judge the entries as well as have an exhibition He has also been a member of Jersey Arts Centre’s Management of her own. Her beautifully observed landscape prints Committee, the Jersey Arts Trust, the Jersey Eisteddfod management incorporating elements from folk and fairy tales, creatures of the and publicity committees and a Battle of Flowers judge. He has taught wild forest, the mysteries of the self and traces of lost magic life drawing and painting at Jersey Arts Centre, Highlands College and transformed the Berni into a world of enchantment and discovery the Jersey Society of Artists. He has exhibited widely and produced where all viewers felt comfortable yet bewitched. Her choice of commissions for the Catholic Church and the British Army. His work is Nora Bryan’s as the 2019 Fox winner was similarly well received in many private and public collections, including: Jersey Museum and the collection of HRH The Prince of Wales. 6 7 Performances

An engaging and eclectic professional programme, complemented by the work of community groups and local organisations, was presented at the Benjamin Meaker Theatre throughout 2019. Drama, dance, comedy, music and the literary arts were all represented in our professional programme, together with performances and events from local organisations, charities and schools.

Jersey Arts Centre’s 2019 programme began in January, as always, with the JADC’s pantomime, The Sleeping Beauty, which saw 2,155 audience members enjoy the traditional, family-friendly comedy of pantomime over 11 performances. The club then presented Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical, Into the Woods, in September. Over four shows, 511 audience members enjoyed the songs they know and love, performed by local talent. The Jersey Green Room Club also made the BMT their home in 2019, as they presented five performances of Noel Coward’s Private Lives in June. This production played to 424 people.

Jersey Arts Centre was also home to other local societies in Luke Wright: Poet Laureate? 2019. Drama Lab brought three shows to the theatre, presenting three performances of Lord of the Flies in February, Five local dance and performing arts schools also graced the a double-bill of National Theatre Connections performances stage last year. Emma Jane Dance Academy produced five also in February, and the musical Billy in August. Overall, performances of Reach for the Stars in February to 1,133 Drama Lab brought 922 people to Jersey Arts Centre over dance fans, and later in the month, Central School of Dance seven performances. In July, the Progressive School of Music delighted 447 people over three performances of Spring celebrated 20 years in Jersey, and presented their latest exam Forward. In March, Essential Dance presented their fourth pieces to 282 supporters over two shows. In October, Jersey dance showcase, Unstoppable, to 721 members of the public Youth Performing Arts produced their debut production, School over three performances. Etoile Studios presented their first Daze, featuring a selection of drama and music pieces with ever showcase, Le Début, at Jersey Arts Centre in July. 240 a school theme. Over two shows, 237 people enjoyed this audience members supported this almost sold-out show. assortment of performance pieces. St Martin’s Musical Society Finally, in July, Jodie Lee Performing Arts performed the returned to Jersey Arts Centre in October with four popular Madagascar JR to 676 audience members over three performances of Hollywood Musicals. 556 audience members shows. enjoyed this selection of musical numbers from some of Hollywood’s most loved movies. TC Productions also returned Jersey Arts Centre was delighted to once again host some of to the Benjamin Meaker Theatre in October with their the Island’s primary and secondary schools in the theatre for production of Enid Bagnold’s The Chalk Garden. A tale of three both exam showcases and full productions. In March, Beaulieu eccentric and strong-willed women, the play performed to 370 Convent School presented their AS and A Level Drama and audience members over five performances. Dance exam performances over two days. 153 people came along to support the students as they presented the outcomes of their hard work. In April, St George’s Preparatory School’s Cinderella & Rockerfella was shown to 444 audience members over two performances. St Michael’s Preparatory School presented two performances of the much-loved The Little Mermaid in May, featuring lots of popular songs and characters which 434 people enjoyed. Finally, in May, Helvetia House School presented another production of Madagascar JR to 506 supporters over two performances.

Jersey Arts Centre’s professional classical music programme, featuring world-renowned musicians, was again kindly supported by Amici Artium. 2019’s programme featured concerts from Stephen Hough (piano) in January with 128 attendances; Piers Lane (piano) in February with 93 attendances; Alessandro Taverna (piano) in March with 108 attendances; the Pavel Haas Quartet in April with 91 attendances; Alexander Ullman (piano) in May with 73 attendances; the Doric String Quartet in September with 71 attendances; and Jennifer Pike (violin) and Martin Roscoe (piano) in October with 122 attendances. Overall, the Amici Artium total for 2019 was 686 attendances over seven Marieke Dermul: European Citizen Popsong concerts. 8 9 Performances (cont.)

Outside of classical music, there were several other highlights in the musical programme throughout the year. The Outside Track returned to Jersey Arts Centre in January with a beautiful concert of enchanting folk music. 166 folk fans enjoyed their return! In May, Flame Lily Arts presented Isiphala: The Granary, an evening of dynamic African music and dance. 43 audience members were spellbound by the group’s energy and talent. In October, Jersey Arts Centre welcomed the Powerhouse Gospel Choir for an evening of unforgettable music. The concert was enjoyed by 169 audience members.

Oddsocks Productions once again returned to Jersey Arts Centre and Coronation Park with two feel-good and family-friendly productions. In January, the much-loved theatre company performed their own interpretation of Robin Hood and the Revolting Peasants, which saw 982 audience members thoroughly enjoy five shows. Oddsocks then returned to their alfresco venue at Coronation Park in July and August with A Midsummer Night’s Dream which attracted 2,113 audience members and their picnics over nine performances. This brought the Oddsocks Productions attendance total to: 3,095 for 2019.

Other highlights of the 2019 programme came from the professional drama offerings throughout the year. Musical comedy sisters, Flo and Joan, performed in Jersey for the first time in January, when they presented Alive on Stage for one-night-only. 249 audience members loved their witty and Mireille et Mathieu: ARM dead-pan songs! Poet Luke Wright returned to Jersey Arts Centre in February with his new compilation performance, Poet Jersey Arts Centre also produced another performance with 10 Laureate, which was enjoyed by 57 poetry and theatre fans. extraordinary women from Brighter Futures. In October, Daniel In March, Jersey Arts Centre’s Honorary Patron, John Lloyd, Austin again worked with the charity to produce no place like, returned for Another Audience with… evening, where he which was created and written by the cast and performed for regaled tales of working on some of Britain’s most loved one-night-only to 127 audience members. comedy programmes on both television and radio to 84 eager audience members. In November, Guy Woolf performed the Jersey Arts Centre travelled to Victorian London for its fourth stunning Becoming Electra: A Queer Mitzvah to 57 audience community Christmas production, Charles Dickens’ members who were enthralled by this story of what it means to A Christmas Carol, adapted and directed by Daniel Austin and be both Jewish and queer. Other highlights of the in association with Art’Comedia, throughout the month of professional performance programme included Chris Thorpe’s December. More information about this production can be Status, Casey Jay Andrews’ The Archive of Educated Hearts found on page 18. and European Citizen Popsong all performed in April; Mireille and Mattheiu’s Arm in May; King Brilliant Theatre’s Heroin(e) for Jersey Film Society again made Jersey Arts Centre and the Breakfast in September; and Working Method in October. Benjamin Meaker Theatre their home in 2019, with 16 screenings presented throughout the year that delivered a diverse and thought-provoking range of cinematic experiences. Films included: A Man Called Ove (Sweden 2015) and The Killing of a Sacred Deer (UK/Ireland/USA 2017) in the spring; A Fantastic Woman (Chile/Germany/Spain/USA 2017) and The Florida Project (USA 2017) in the summer; and The Breadwinner (Ireland/Canada/Luxembourg/USA 2017) in the autumn. As always, we look forward to their next programme of films.

Our collaboration with Jersey Film Society continued with our popular programme of Monday Matinée screenings, in association with Arts in Health Care. These matinée films provide the community with the chance to spend a Monday afternoon at Jersey Arts Centre enjoying films both classic and modern, with tea and biscuits on offer afterwards! Our film offerings started in January withSaving Mr Banks (USA 2013) starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks and finished in November with On Moonlight Bay starring Doris Day (USA Powerhouse Gospel Choir 1951). There were 9 screenings with a total of 108 attendances. 8 9 Statistics

Promotions at Jersey Arts Centre could be broken down by art form as follows:

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

% % % % % % % % % % %

Drama 22 24 21 22 19 20 23 17 22 16 34 Classical Music 25 27 16 22 14 13 17 17 22 16 13 Jazz + World Music 21 17 20 14.5 14 15 17 10 13 20 14 Dance 6 6 5 7 4 3 2 3 - 6 - Comedy 9 - 5 7 7 3 - 2 5 2 2 Literature / Lectures 1 8 8 4 7 6 6 14 5 4 4 youtheatre + ACT + Junior Drama 9 9 12 9 9 12 11 9 9 12 9 Other 7 9 13 14.5 26 28 24 28 24 24 24

The Monday Matinées from 2012, and other music events, which do not fit into classical, jazz or world music genres have diversified the programme. Jersey Arts Centre’s youtheatre, ArtsCentreTheatre (ACT), Junior Drama, the Human Rights Festival and the Polish Film Festival have also produced a broader programme.

The following capacity figures give a broad guide to predicting future box office revenues:

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

% % % % % % % % % % %

Drama 71 61 75 56 46 63 65 56 62 68 54 Classical Music 31 47 28 33 26 28 33 30 33 26 39 Jazz + World Music 42 50 47 58 35 41 32 32 43 31 34 Dance 61 44 26 45 16 19 41 34 - 22 - Comedy 49 - 53 50 56 29 - 46 26 99 99

Looking at the number of ticketed performances for promotions and hirings, and between the Benjamin Meaker Theatre, St. James or the Old Magistrate’s Court, the statistics are thus:

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Number of Promotions 105 110 108 110 102 126 116 109 112 116 114 Number of Hirings 116 126 162 131 122 116 100 110 114 98 118 School performances / Al fresco* 27* - - - 21 27 2 31 - - - Total Ticketed Performances 248 236 270 241 245 269 218 250 226 214 232

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Performances at BMT 187 185 208 196 197 209 192 198 210 195 216 Performances at St James or OMC 17 39 40 29 11 13 8 - - - - Performances at Other Spaces 44 12 22 16 16 20 16 21 16 19 16 Performances in Schools/Al fresco - - - - 21 27 2 31 - - - Total Ticketed Performances 248 236 270 241 245 269 218 250 226 214 232

Total Tickets Sold 31,179 29,264 34,331 27,836 27,927 31,169 21,252 26,549 25,291 25,553 25,242

Average Audience 126 124 127 116 114 116 98 106 112 119 109 10 Statistics (cont.)

It should be noted that there were Theatre-in-Education performances in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014 and 2016 together with the Durrell storytelling project in 2009*.

A further 464 tickets were sold for events for other organisations.

It is important to note that up until September 2013 and July 2016, St. James and the Old Magistrate’s Court, respectively, were used for: Theatre-in-Education rehearsals; one, two and three week residencies; a week each for the February and October Half Term Drama Schools and the Summer Drama Schools; various Courses and Workshops; and that the Jersey Arts Centre’s youtheatre, ArtsCentreTheatre (ACT) and Junior Drama were based at both St. James and the OMC with more than 140 rehearsals taking place at various times in each year.

Jersey Arts Centre moved out of St. James and the Vicarage in September 2013 to offices at Charles House, Charles Street, and to the Old Magistrate’s Court at St. Helier Town Hall. From October 2016, Jersey Arts Centre no longer had use of the Old Magistrate’s Court and moved offices, again, to 3 Charles Street.

King Brilliant Theatre: Heroin(e) for Breakfast

Benjamin Meaker Utilisation:

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

% % % % % % % % % % %

Benjamin Meaker Promotions 41 35 34 43 40 44 47 46 45 49 48

Benjamin Meaker Hirings 59 65 66 57 60 56 53 54 55 51 52

During 2019 there were a further 21 non-ticketed hirings – comprising rehearsals, seminars and workshops – at Jersey Arts Centre.

As stated in previous reports, there are inherent dangers in viewing figures as percentages because some of the smaller events attracting what seems like a relatively low percentage turnout may be extremely successful in their own right. However, once again, a broad overview is achieved with the above figures.

Rachael McShane + the Cartographers 11 Courses and Workshops

Spring Season: 46 Attendances Tutor Tai Chi Richard Matthews Memorial Poetry Juliette Hart Crochet Adventures Hazel McLaren History of Art Lisa Oxenden-Wray Speak-in-a-Week Spanish Elena Fiodoruk Speak-in-a-Week Jèrriais Société Jersiaise Easter Art Heidi Hislop

Summer Season: 57 Attendances Tutor Tai Chi Richard Matthews Learning Romanian Diana Mezei Wall Hanging Macramé Clare Wrigglesworth Latin Diana Mezei Introduction to Photography Dave Crocker Plant Hanger Macramé Clare Wrigglesworth Speak-in-a-Week Spanish 2 Elena Fiodoruk Speak-in-a-Week French Elena Fiodoruk Introduction to Tai Chi / Qigong Richard Matthews Modern Macramé Clare Wrigglesworth

Autumn Season: 51 Attendances Tutor Modern Macramé 2 Clare Wrigglesworth Introduction to Tai Chi Richard Matthews Speak-in-a-Week Latin Diana Mezei History of Art Lisa Oxenden-Wray A Christmas Carol Workshop Hettie Duncan + Nicole Twinam Macramé Wall Hanging Clare Wrigglesworth Tomte Nisse Kerry Jane Warner

In 2019, we welcomed back many of our existing courses and tutors as well as expanding the programme and welcoming new skills taught by new tutors.

One of our new offerings was the very popular Macramé workshop taught by Clare Wrigglesworth. These courses were so successful that they sold out on several occasions and received excellent feedback from participants.

We were also delighted to take our schools Christmas show workshop model and offer them to the public for 2 workshops in December. Members of the Christmas Company delivered these workshops to 8-13 year olds in fun-filled 2-hour workshops based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Our 2018 sell out course, Tai Chi, returned with the same success and also sold out in 2019. We look forward to seeing how these courses will develop and expand in future years.

Total Number of Participants: 154 Total Number of Courses: 24 Total Number of Different Tutors: 13 Total Number of New Tutors: 5

There were a further 1,089 attendances at 44 workshops in schools. Please see page 13 for further details. Wall Hanging Macramé 12 13 Education and Outreach

In addition to our wide range of courses – see page 12 – we As well as our schools’ workshops we also held a poetry held a number of education and outreach initiatives, which workshop series with Juliette Hart in 2019. Each season we were continued and developed by Jersey Arts Centre offered a free workshop to participants in order for them to throughout 2019. explore their poetic abilities with a well-known Island poet. We hope to keep this as a regular feature in our workshop This year we continued with our workshop programme based programme. around Holocaust Memorial Day. Over 5 days we ran 10 workshops in 9 schools with 241 attendances. The workshops There were a total of 46 workshops with 1,100 attendances as explored 3 key aspects of the Holocaust: the context of World part of our Education and Outreach programme. Jersey Arts War II, the Occupation of the Island and The Jersey 21. The Centre also hosted 7 Project Trident students in 2019. feedback from this was incredibly positive and having had 3 successful years of workshops we hope to continue the programme in future years.

A new initiative by Jersey Arts Centre were workshops for our residency production of Magpies and Mischief. We held 10 workshops in 5 schools with 243 attendances. These schools’ workshops were delivered by Craig Hamilton, who was an actor in Magpies and Mischief, and by Hettie Duncan. The workshops explored the environment, Jersey as a home, along with scenes from the play and drama games. As part of this experience schools also came to watch the production at Jersey Arts Centre. See more about this production on our Residencies page (17).

After the success of the Christmas Show outreach programme held since 2017, we ran workshops based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol throughout November 2019. Over the course of 4 weeks, we held 24 workshops in 18 schools with 605 attendances. These workshops explored the disciplines of theatre, including: communication, commitment and concentration along with exploring the narrative and themes of A Christmas Carol through freeze frame and characterisation Magpies and Mischief Schools’ Workshops exercises.

A Christmas Carol Schools’ Workshops

13 Partnerschaft (Twinning) with Bad Wurzach

Jersey Arts Centre has been organising cultural exchanges with However, Hermann Bilgeri is the one person over the years St Helier’s twin town of Bad Wurzach since 2003 as part of the who has believed in the Partnerschaft initiative and ensured peace, reconciliation and friendship initiative that began with our well-being, safety and itineraries and thus facilitated the the official twinning in 2002. phenomenal success of these adventures. Since this time we have toured seven youtheatre productions Hermann: Danke schön. to the Kurhaus in Bad Wurzach and performed both a schools and a public evening show on each occasion. Two of our Jersey Arts Centre’s commitment to these cultural youth Theatre-in-Education productions have also toured to the exchanges these past 17 years has been pioneering and Realschule and to schools in Biberach and Kisslegg. unparalleled in terms of cultural diplomacy and in cementing peace, reconciliation and friendship. On each occasion, members of both the youtheatre and Theatre-in-Education companies have been hosted by German The Tours families and enjoyed unparalleled hospitality during their stay and delivered practical drama workshops on concentration, 2003: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare communication and commitment at each school. 2005: The Last Voyage of Philip D’Auvergne by Simon Crowcroft Members of the youtheatre have also now reciprocated on 2005: Secret Weapons by Daniel Austin seven separate occasions when they have hosted groups in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. On each 2008: The Women of Troy by Euripides occasion c.15 young people travel to the Island. 2010: Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht

In 2005, and for the Liberation 60 Celebrations, ex-internees, 2012: The Conversation by youtheatre members youtheatre members and young people from Bad Wurzach 2015: The Great Warrior by Daniel Austin performed the Opportunity Drama for Her Majesty The Queen 2016: Matchbox Theatre by Michael Frayn in Liberation Square on Liberation Day. The Berni Gallery also 2018: by George Orwell, adapted by Ian Wooldridge hosted an exhibition of the work of Sepp Mahler from Bad Animal Farm Wurzach between 10-21 May with the assistance of both Egon and Gisela Rothenhäusler of the Leprosy House in Bad In July 2019, 16 young people were again hosted by our Wurzach, where Sepp Mahler’s work is housed – 20 of his youtheatre families. pieces were brought to the Island over the Liberation Day Celebrations. At the preview, Hermann Bilgeri was presented with the Silver Seal of the Island by the then Deputy Bailiff. In the December of 2005 our second Theatre-in-Education project, Secret Weapons, performed at the Realschule and the Salvatorkolleg, and in Biberach, with the company delivering a number of practical workshops. In January 2015, our fifth Theatre-in-Education project,The Great Warrior, performed back at the Realschule and also at a school in Kisslegg. There were a total of 262 attendances at these three performances with the company also delivering two practical workshops introducing the themes and issues in the play.

On each tour, the St. Helier Partnerschaft Committee has contributed a grant towards the cost of Jersey Arts Centre’s van travelling with set, costume, lighting and sound and for this we are hugely grateful.

On each exchange, youtheatre and Theatre-in-Education members are chaperoned by parents without whom the journeys would not be possible.

Jersey Arts Centre’s stage team has also allowed for the professional delivery of these productions, in style, with Steven Laffoley-Edwards playing an instrumental part in the success of the tours. Our thanks also extend to the former Head Teacher at the Realschule: Frau Blaschko, who has made these exchanges possible, and seven of her teaching staff who, over the years, have been instrumental in machinating the details of the exchanges: Ingeborg Ege, Volker Jedelhauser, Heidi Maier, Franziska Gsteu, Ralph Schulz, Stefanie Henkel-Hagman and Franziska Matischok. Danke schön.

youtheatre: Animal Farm 14 ArtsCentreTheatre

ArtsCentreTheatre’s first production of 2019 marked the return of a familiar creation: the living embodiment of Murphy’s Law and thespianic disaster magnet the ‘Society of Amateur Dramatics’ aka SAD. Their first appearance had been in ACT’s first completely original productionBut Tonight Can Be Better, which dealt with the infighting, preparation and general terror that occurs during the hour before a performance takes to the stage. Proving popular with both the thespianic community and the public in general, their return was inevitable but after appearing in A Comedy of Errors: The Dress Rehearsal and A Christmas Carol: The Auditions, ACT’s Director, Jason Kenyon, felt they had exhausted their potential; that was until Fi Marchant, a long standing member of the group and unabashed SAD fan planted an earworm of an idea in his head. For some years ACT has actively participated in the Jersey Eisteddfod; what if SAD entered a similar event? Thus was born As The Actress Said To The Bishop – a tongue (firmly) in cheek homage to the world of the drama festival. In this instance it was one organised by the Federation of Artistes Raconteurs and Thespians and was thus ignominiously referred to as FART-Fest 2019. To get the full feel of such an event the stage was split into four areas: the performance area, the Green Room, the Adjudicator’s Table and the Lighting Box. The festival performances were pastiches of everything from John Godber to Marcel Marceau; the competitors ranged from the over-confident to the barely competent; the (fictional) theatre staff were simultaneously supportive and contemptuous; the Adjudicator was more interested in a bottle of Port than the efforts of the competitors; and someone stole the Trophy when no-one was looking.

ACT: As the Actress said to the Bishop

The year’s second production was Anthology – an evening of three one-act plays by established festival authors which allowed members, who had directed short pieces for the Eisteddfod, to develop their directorial skills further while giving more of the group the chance to tackle substantial roles. Those interested in directing were given over twenty scripts to consider. The three plays that were finally selected were eclectic to say the least, and all the better for it: Can You Hear The Music by David Campton told the tale of a group of mice who are each drawn to their deaths from their comfortable attic by mysterious music; And Then There Were None by R. F. Delderfield was a comedy set in the early 1900s about a Suffragette who gradually enlists the women of an MP’s household to her plan to sabotage his hopes for re-election; and The Janna Years by Gillian Plowman was a touching character piece about a group of misfits living in a London boarding house.

Once the performances of Anthology concluded work commenced on ACT’s 30th Project, Lust Actually, a new version of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. How and when this production will take to the stage is uncertain, due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, but rest assured ACT will return with a ACT: Anthology literal and metaphorical bang! 15 youtheatre

In 2019, Jersey Art Centre’s youtheatre had another exciting characters conforming or rebelling, the youtheatre had to use year of performances, animations and readings. Every year is lots of creative flare to animate the scenes and they rose to the different for the youtheatre, with every new play providing the challenge with great success. We’re sure that audiences won’t opportunity to discover new ways to perform, and the chance be stepping on any grass in a hurry! to explore new theatrical routes and 2019 was no different. As always, the performances allowed the casts to showcase the As well as these productions, 6 members of the youtheatre three practices of youtheatre: commitment, concentration and were involved in readings for Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 communication. January at the Occupation Tapestry Gallery at the Maritime Museum. And 3 members were also asked to read at the Bad In March, 15 youtheatre members presented their production Wurzach Liberation ceremony at the Jersey War Tunnels on 29 of Lawrence Tills’ Kes, which was adapted from the popular April. novel A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines. Full of nostalgia, the pains of not fitting in, and the joys of finding a new passion, We always feel honoured to be asked to take part in Island this classic and much-loved story of a boy and the kestrel that events. As Jersey Arts Centre is a community venue it is vital to changes his life brought new challenges to the youtheatre, us to be present in the community animating important events as they were required to adopt authentic Yorkshire accents. and ceremonies, and we hope to do this with the youtheatre for We also had a very interesting time getting a stuffed kestrel many years to come. Please join us at our future productions through customs! 272 audience members enjoyed three as we continue to explore and push theatrical boundaries. performances of this heart-breaking tale. NICOLE TWINAM, BA (Hons), MA The second production of the year saw the youtheatre make HETTIE DUNCAN, BA (Hons) a stark departure from the naturalistic style of Kes, as they CO-DIRECTORS took on the task of developing and performing James Fritz’s Start Swimming. Political, daring and wholly relevant, Start Swimming was an allegory for control and rebellion in today’s modern world, performed by a group of 12 young actors. With no stage directions and an incessant ‘buzz’ and ‘ding’ for

Junior Drama

Our Junior Drama group for 8-13 year olds has now been adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (2011), Granny running for 14 years, having started in January 2006 with two Big Pants – created by the group (2012), the ancient classic senior members of our youtheatre taking participants through The Odyssey (2013), Gargling with Jelly (2015), something the disciplines of commitment, communication and theatre (2016), Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach (2017) concentration. and this untitled thing (2018) which was again created by the group. The group has also worked on Bertolt Brecht texts, Since that time, fifteen former members of the youtheatre have devised and improvised along the way, and made taught Junior Drama: Francesca Duncan, Jonny Liron, Jack presentations of short pieces. Speckleton, Andrew Oliveira, Jenny McCarthy, Jacqui Wagner, Sheri Burt, William Howell-Jackson, Hettie Duncan, Craig Hamilton, Raoul Crosby, Ellie Donohoe, Joss MacDonald, Lucy Abraham and Peter Jones. Daniel Austin returned as Director of the company in September 2015 and has since co-directed with Fiona Marchant (2015/16), Peter Jones (2016/17) and Fynn Mason (2018 /19).

In June 2019, fourteen young actors performed The Art of War by Sun Tzu in a translation by John Minford and we were reminded in fifteen chapters of the consequences and futility of war, the skills and tactics necessary to outwit opponents and the discipline of offensives and espionage. The company also designed the stage setting around a giant chess set. The maturity in which the group approached this challenging piece was remarkable and skilful. There were a total of 110 attendances at the two performances.

Over the past thirteen years the group has presented eleven productions, including: David Holman’s Whale (2006), Lynne Reid Banks’s The Travels of Yoshi and the Tea Kettle (2009), an adaptation of The Jungle Book (2010), Nigel Williams’s Junior Drama: The Art of War 16 Residencies

2019 saw Jersey Arts Centre once again continue its The residencies have included: commitment to hosting residencies throughout the year, allowing theatre companies and individuals the chance to Free Time Radical create, discover, write and be inspired by their surroundings. by Frequency D’ici, January 2010 Residencies have allowed creative people, both from Jersey Spaceman and further afield, the space to experiment with new by Dudendance, October 2010 performances and bring interesting and forward-thinking work to Jersey, enhancing Jersey Arts Centre’s professional 13.7 programme. by curious directive, May 2011 Big Voices, Big Noises Magpies and Mischief by Simon MacDonald Prods., October 2011 Magda In March, Jersey Arts Centre was home to Magpies and by Sarah Kewley Hyde, April 2012 Mischief; a new piece of children’s theatre set in Jersey, written Interventions by local author Dr Cameron McPhail. The company, which by Sheri Burt and Company, June 2012 included directors, set designers, costume and puppet Archipelago designers and professional actors, were joined by four young actors who were cast from Jersey Arts Centre’s Junior Drama by Melvil’s Diary, November 2012 group. As well as providing rehearsal and performance space Infinite landscapes: Poetic Origami for the company, Jersey Arts Centre also facilitated a series by Art’Comedia, October 2013 of schools’ workshops to complement the performances of FREEZE! Magpies and Mischief. More information about these outreach by Nick Steur, June 2014 workshops can be found on page 13. There were six et si / and if performances of Magpies and Mischief in total throughout by Théâtre du Champ Exquis, July 2014 March; three for the public and three for Island schools. Flesh! Lights! Camera! Action! 354 members of the public enjoyed this whimsical tale, along by The Brewing Company, March 2015 with 421 school children. Laura Newey (on piano) The Boiling Sea v1.3 (children of the rabbit god) July 2017 The Boiling Sea v1.2 (coal in the rivers) April saw the return of wolf kid theatre company with The by wolf kid theatre, July 2017 Boiling Sea v1.3 (children of the rabbit god). The company, Exploring Beckett who create improvised work exploring difference, commonality, by The Story in Motion Project, October 2017 magic and revolution, made the Benjamin Meaker Theatre their Overdrive home for a week at the end of the month, using music, by Linda Marlowe, July 2018 projection, props and costumes to dance, tell stories and play. Going Underground 24 audience members were enthralled by this unique and exciting evening of performance. by Simon MacDonald, October 2018

Happy Hour

The final residency of 2019 saw Frida Kahlo Productions present the premiere of their new piece Happy Hour at Jersey Arts Centre, before it made its debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. For two weeks, the company, including actors Silvia Gallerano and Stefano Cenci, created the piece in the theatre, using Jersey Arts Centre and its facilities as their base. Happy Hour followed two siblings, Kerfuffle and Ado, as well as their parents and other more sinister characters, in a new totalitarian world of control, rules and oppression. Over two performances at the end of July, 47 audience members were able to experience this theatrical première, before it transferred to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Jersey Arts Centre was delighted to be able to support this company, and their work, in 2019.

Jersey Arts Centre has now hosted 30 residences since 2010 for one, two and three week periods, in various Island spaces: St. James Church, the Assembly Room at St. Helier’s Town Hall, The Old Magistrate’s Court and the Benjamin Meaker Theatre. They have all aided the promotion of creative work in dance, music, drama and multidisciplinary processes that have been an invaluable asset to the programme of Jersey Arts Centre. We hope to be able to continue to support these residencies in the years to come. wolf kid theatre: The Boiling Sea v1.3 (children of the rabbit god) 17 Christmas Production

Jersey Arts Centre presented its fourth Christmas show throughout December 2019 in a brand new version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted for the stage by Daniel Austin. Once again, Graeme Humphries agreed to the set and lighting design, and Nick Carver took on board the costume design, with help from Denise Renouf.

Bertrand Larmet and Veronique Martinez of Art’Comedia in L’Hermitage, Brittany, were again invited to be our Musical Rod McLoughlin, in his Jersey Evening Post review on 11 Directors and Vocal Coach, after their wonderful work December, was impressed by the festive offering: throughout The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2017 and The Wind in the Willows in 2018. For the first time however, six “… [the] production manages some very extraordinary moving original songs were commissioned especially for the moments… And some of the episodes Scrooge witnesses production, with lyrics from the original novella. These included on his journey of discovery were realised with terrific skill and the epic: ‘Burial Place for Giants’ and the haunting verve… you would happily have paid for a ticket for the clarity ‘Storyteller’s Lament’. The other songs included in the of Jenny McCarthy’s storyteller… Yet the production’s real production were traditional Christmas Carols that would have originality lay in its handling of the cast as ensemble, and in the been known during the time period of A Christmas Carol. blend of music and theatre… this production is teeming with These included: ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘The Coventry Carol’, ideas, brought to life with a commitment and energy…” ‘Hark The Herald’ and ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’. The arrangements and harmonies created by Bertrand and Our sincerest thanks go to the creative team mentioned above Veronique gave the production a truly joyous and festive and our extraordinary company of committed, concentrated feeling! and skilled actors, which drew from both our Junior Drama and youtheatre groups, together with seven adult actors: Victoria Hermitage again choreographed some beautiful sequences for the show, including a snowstorm broom-dance Oliver Bloor, Nick Carver, Hettie Duncan, Bella Galvin, and a traditional ‘Sir Roger de Coverly’! Dorian Hong-Van-Sang Mac Galvin, Jack Humphries, Fynn Mason, Kate Meadows, also joined us from France on a work experience placement as Jenny McCarthy, Tanya Mackay, Ryder Pingree, our Lighting Operator. Alice Posner, Joshua Scott, Leo Socrates, Wayne Stewart, Jordi Sunier and Nicole Twinam Rehearsals began in September, including read-throughs of the script, singing weeks and choreography rehearsals. There Our Director, Daniel Austin, would also like to thank the Jersey were two evening rehearsals a week, together with all day on Arts Centre’s Management Committee for their continued Sundays. support throughout this initiative and for their enthusiasm and commitment to this area of our work. There were 3,079 attendances at the 18 performances with a Gala night for both invited guests and members of the public. Also, for four weeks in November, Hettie Duncan and Janette Froud (from our Theatre-in-Education Company) developed a There was no ‘bah humbug-ing’ from audience members, as schools’ workshop programme introducing children from Island they were enthralled by Graeme Humphries’ larger-than-life primary schools to the world of A Christmas Carol. More four poster bed that spun and travelled through time, animated information about this outreach project can be found on page by members of the cast. The dramatic white gauze hung from 13. the back of the theatre created a haunting, ghostly atmosphere and helped to create the world of Victorian London. There was We certainly hope that Jersey Arts Centre’s Christmas show even a real-life feast, during the party hosted by Mr and Mrs becomes a yuletide tradition in Jersey for many years to come Fezziwig, that really put everyone in the Christmas spirit! – it is already a highlight of our year! We hope that Jersey audiences will continue to support these productions, and enjoy coming to see them as much as we enjoy creating them.

18 Liberation Day + Island Animations

Liberation Day – 9 May Bad Wurzach Liberation Ceremony – 28 April

As in previous years, Jersey Arts Centre was delighted to In April 2019, Jersey Arts Centre youtheatre, for the 4th provide the afternoon entertainment in Weighbridge Place for consecutive year, were invited by the Partnerschaft Committee Liberation Day. This important celebration of freedom, to perform readings for the Bad Wurzach Liberation Ceremony reconciliation, friendship and prosperity was animated with the at the War Tunnels. On this occasion there were 3 readers who sounds of Jersey Big Band, the Optimistic Voices Band, The provided readings from diary extracts to poems. This ceremony Word on the Street along with Retro Gramophone. Our popular commemorates the Liberation of the Schloss in Bad Wurzach dance troupe, the Jersey Hoppers, again returned with their on 28 April 1945. This is an important event for the youtheatre lindy hop and unique soundtrack, which always gets the as they visit the town of Bad Wurzach as part of the audience moving with their Learn to Lindy set! We also youtheatre cultural exchange every other year and host a group welcomed back the SWANK walkabout act: Land Girls who of students from the Realschule in the year in between. always cause a stir in the crowd with their comedic animation. The above was made possible with a grant from the Bailiff’s Chambers. Unveiling of the plaque to Commemorate the Deportations in 1942 at Albert Quay – 16 September Holocaust Memorial Day – 27 January Jersey Arts Centre’s Director also worked with five deportees On 27 January 2019, Jersey Arts Centre youtheatre provided from the Occupation, in relating their memories of deportation readings for the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the from 1942, for readings at the unveiling of a new plaque at the Tapestry Museum. 6 members of the youtheatre chose Albert Quay on Monday 16 September 2019. readings based on the Holocaust Memorial Day theme ‘Torn from Home’. After performing the readings, the 6 members The readers were: Mr Tony Barnett, Mrs Francelise Davison, were invited to lay roses to commemorate the Jersey 21, who Mrs Lola Garvin, Mr David Peacock and Mrs Pamela Tanguy. were deportees to Nazi prisons and camps. This was the youtheatre’s 17th animation of the ceremony.

SWANK: Land Girls Retro Gramophone 19 15th Human Rights Festival

2019 saw Jersey Arts Centre present the 15th Human Rights The final screening of the 15th Human Rights Festival was Festival, continuing the yearly offering of documentary and Afghan Cycles on Friday 8 November. This documentary, feature filmmaking that highlights varied Human Rights issues directed by Sarah Menzies, tells the inspirational story of a from around the world. This 15th incarnation of the Festival group of female cyclists in Afghanistan. The group continue to ran from Tuesday 5 - Friday 8 November and showcased three ride their bikes despite cultural barriers, limited infrastructure documentary films hailing from the US and Afghanistan. These and even death threats, embracing the power that comes with films explored surveillance, trans rights and women’s human the sport. The documentary, which was seen by 57 audience rights issues. members showed the importance of not excepting limits and how daring some women have to be around the world. The series of documentaries began on Tuesday 5 November, with a screening of the American documentary The Feeling The 15th Human Rights Festival brought 81 people to Jersey of Being Watched. Made in 2018, this revealing film followed Arts Centre over three film screenings, and we hope to director Assia Boundaoui’s investigation into the surveillance continue to present this important Festival for many years to of her predominantly Arab-American neighbourhood by the come. FBI. This film, watched by 17 audience members, showed Boundaoui’s inquiries come to fruition as she uncovered just how intently her hometown near Chicago had been watched in one of the FBI’s largest counter-terror investigations pre 9/11, and how this impacted her family and friends.

TransMilitary followed on Thursday 7 November. This American documentary followed four brave men and women who have been directly impacted by the changing policies in the United States concerning the right for transgender people to serve in the military. The four featured in the film risk their livelihoods by coming out to their superiors in the hopes of bringing about change. This eye-opening and inspiring documentary was enjoyed by 7 audience members. Transmilitary

6th Polish Film Festival

2019 saw Jersey Arts Centre host the 6th Polish Film Festival, On Wednesday 3 July, the Festival shifted locales to Rwanda in which allowed the beauty and cinematic triumphs of Polish 1994 in a screening of Birds Are Singing in Kigali filmmaking to take centre stage in the summer season. From (Ptaki spiewaja w Kigali). The film followed a Polish 1 - 5 July, five films were screened, celebrating a wide breadth ornithologist as she saves a Tutsi girl from the Rwandan of genres and topics. genocide. After a few years, they both revisit the country in an emotional and painful journey. Birds Are Singing in Kigali The 6th Polish Film Festival opened on Monday 1 July with a brought 15 audience members to Jersey Arts Centre. screening of Mug (Twarz). This 2018 film, directed by Malgorzata Szumowska follows the character of Jacek - a The penultimate film of the festival,Breaking the Limit heavy-metal loving joker who lives a peaceful life in a small (Najlepszy), was screened on Thursday 4 July. This fascinating town with his girlfriend and his dog. After suffering severe film, based on a true story, told the tale of endurance athlete injuries in a workplace accident, he becomes the recipient Jerzy Gorski who, after overcoming personal trauma, set a of the first full face transplant in Poland. This dramatic and world record time in the 1990 World Triathlon Championship’s moving film with edges of dark comedy was watched by 28 Double Ironman competition. Moving and triumphant, this audience members. inspirational film was enjoyed by 22 audience members.

The Festival continued on Tuesday 2 July with Cold War The final film screened in the 2019 Festival on Friday 5 July was (Zimna Wojna). This 2018 film, which was nominated in the Silent Night (Cicha Noc). This family drama saw the character 2019 Academy Awards was shot in black and white, and tells of Adam unexpectedly arrive at his family home on the story of a man and a woman who meet in the ruins of Christmas Eve. Though his family are pleased to see him, they Post-War Poland. A passionate love story, Cold War follows the are unaware of the true meaning for his surprise visit. 19 couple through the backdrops of Berlin, Yugoslavia and Paris audience members enjoyed this final screening of the Polish as they are separated by politics and unfortunate twists of fate. Film Festival. 63 viewers enjoyed this modern classic. Overall, 147 film fans experienced five excellent Polish films over five days at Jersey Arts Centre.

20 MUSIC IN HOSPITALS TOURS

Due to funding cuts, Jersey Arts Centre was unable to Arts in Health Care programme any music tours on behalf of the Arts In Health Care Trust in 2017. However, two tours were achieved in the autumn of 2019, after the small success of one tour in 2018, Jersey Arts In Health Care Trust is a charitable organisation. with Adesté (accordion, violin and vocals) and The Totties Its purpose is to improve the quality of life for adults and (piano and vocals) touring to 29 of the Island’s care settings. children with all kinds of illness and disability, life limiting It is worth noting that there were: conditions, mental health issues and physical and learning disabilities, together with creating happy memories for families 182 concerts in 2013 NO concerts in 2017 and health care staff, through the joy and therapeutic benefits 153 concerts in 2014 22 concerts in 2018 of professionally-performed live music and artistic displays. 188 concerts in 2015 37 concerts in 2019 Professional musicians tour the residential and care homes, 156 concerts in 2016 day-care centres and hospitals in Jersey and, in some cases, perform by the bedsides of individuals too ill to be moved. The activities in 2019 were made possible thanks to grants from the Association of Jersey Charities, the Roy Overland The Trust was established to offer the benefits of the arts in Trust and the Greville Bathe Fund to the Arts in Health Care their widest sense to those in a variety of health care settings Trust. both in the community and within the health service. It takes a holistic view of the healing process while concentrating its Historically, five to six tours are programmed in each year, efforts, at any one time, in a number of key areas: lasting 10 to 13 days, visiting in excess of 40 care settings, with musicians performing two or three concerts per day. Provision of performances, under the aegis of Music in Hospitals, to residential homes (private and public), day-care Membership of the Board in 2019 comprised: centres and hospital wards. Rod McLoughlin – Honorary Chairperson Displays of the visual arts in local hospitals. Val Aitken – Honorary Vice-Chairperson Dr Mike Rosser – Honorary Secretary Encouragement of local performers within the health care Vacant – Honorary Treasurer system. Fiona Speller Tom Dingle representing ArtHouse Jersey Dissemination of information on the wider benefits of the arts Agnetta Nerac through residencies, workshops, training sessions and talks. representing the Ministry for Health and Social Services Daniel Austin Advocacy of the value of the arts therapies, including the representing Jersey Arts Centre’s Management Committee provision of public workshops and pilot projects.

Support for organisations and initiatives with common values or objectives.

Arts in Health Care Trust received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2012

www.artsinhealthcare.je

Adesté

21 Eco-Active

Jersey Arts Centre is firmly committed to maintaining its We thank all the people who use the Jersey Arts Centre for Eco-Active Business Member status which it gained in 2009. assisting us with our green efforts, and this continues through Making any improvements is difficult after 10 years as an our Membership who, as well as enjoying the arts, we can Eco-Active Member. However, this does not mean we are not encourage to assist with their own recycling at home. We always monitoring and questioning our activities. cannot solve many of the environmental issues on our own but as a team we can affect change. With two new members joining Steven Laffoley-Edwards, the Green Team now also comprises Hettie Duncan and Jordi Jersey Arts Centre’s Green Team continues to look towards Sunier. There is the opportunity to conduct an Eco-Audit in ways to meet our goals to: REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE – 2020 to measure our progress over the last 10 years as well as as every little helps our planet Earth. seeing if there are new ways we can further improve our green credentials. STEVEN LAFFOLEY-EDWARDS ECO-ACTIVE COORDINATOR We took the opportunity to modernise some of our theatre lighting on our Christmas production of A Christmas Carol with our new cyclorama lighting being put to great effect and the reduction in power required to light the rear of the stage from 12kw to just under 2w. Not only a huge saving in power consumption over the year but with LED technology allowing for much greater diversity of colours and effects during a production.

Jersey Arts Centre continued its commitment to green issues in the local community and is looking for a project to support to offset the carbon footprint caused by the travel to the Island of artists.

The battery collection point by the toilets is being well used, and a new collection bin has been introduced, on a trial basis, for plastics such as plastic bottle tops and other hard plastic. While these are not able to be recycled in the Island, a Member is happy to take these away with them when they go to France and place in the recycling there. At no green cost to us!

Power-reducing cyclorama lighting in A Christmas Carol 22 2019 in Summary

• 232 ticketed performances with 25,242 attendances • 14 exhibitions in the Berni Gallery • 12 exhibitions in the Bar Gallery • 24 public courses and workshops with 154 participants • 10 workshops in 9 schools for Holocaust Memorial Day with 241 attendances • 10 workshops in 5 schools for Magpies & Mischief with 243 attendances • 37 Arts in Health Care Trust concerts across 29 of the Island’s care settings • 2 youtheatre productions: Kes + Start Swimming • The hosting of 16 students from St. Helier’s twin town of Bad Wurzach with our youtheatre • 2 ACT projects: As the Actress said to the Bishop + Anthology • 1 Junior Drama project: The Art of War by Sun Tzu • The delivery of our 4th Brighter Futures project: no place like • 3 Residencies: Magpies & Mischief + The Boiling Sea + Happy Hour • Our 17th consecutive year of readings with the youtheatre at Holocaust Memorial Day • Readings at the Former Internees 74th Liberation Day anniversary at Jersey War Tunnels • Readings at the unveiling of the Deportees Plaque at Albert Quay in September • The 6th Polish Film Festival • The 15th Human Rights Festival • The afternoon celebrations on Liberation Day with 51 local musicians • The hosting of the 13th Parish Festival over 3 days with 12 screenings and 447 attendances • The hosting of the 5th Jersey Festival of Words over 2 days with 14 events and 1,142 attendances • The hosting of 7 Project Trident students and 1 intern from France • Our 4th Christmas production: our own adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with 3,079 attendances over 18 performances and 622 attendances at 24 primary school workshops

THAT’S OVER 380 EVENTS THROUGHOUT 2019 WITH 27,000+ PARTICIPANTS!

The Outside Track 23 Partnerships and Thanks

Jersey Arts Centre Association is grateful to the many organisations that give assistance in the form of sponsorship or grants during the year, members of the Business Partners Scheme, or who gave support in kind.

Community Partners:

13th Parish Festival Art’Comedia, L’Hermitage, Brittany Arts in Health Care Trust BBC Radio Jersey Jersey Zoo Holocaust Memorial Day Committee Jersey Arts Trust / ArtHouse Jersey Jersey Evening Post Jersey Festival of Words Jersey Film Society Jersey Heritage Jersey Library Jersey Opera House National Trust for Jersey Société Jersiaise St. Helier / Bad Wurzach Partnerschaft Committee

Sponsors: Amici Artium: Alexander Ullman Amici Artium J. J. Fox International (Jersey) Ltd.

OUR THANKS We received Grants from: Thanks are due to many organisations and individuals for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture – their assistance during the course of the year, including: Growth, Housing & Environment The Bailiff’s Chambers Jane + Swithun Mason St. Helier / Bad Wurzach Partnerschaft Committee Jonathan Carter Janet Copp Angela Francey Staff, Volunteers and Members: Jim Gowans Stefanie Henkel-Hagman The Management Committee would once again like to express Dorian Hong-Van-Sang its gratitude to the committed team of professional staff who JADC work at Jersey Arts Centre and to the many volunteers (100+) Jersey Green Room Club and Members (1,346 - incorporating 719 memberships at Franziska Matischok December 2019), including our Patrons and Benefactors, who Modern Hotels give their time so willingly to assist in the smooth running of the Denise Renouf operation. Gisela Rothenhäusler Holly Smith Wayne Stewart The Mornington Hotel

For the Government of Jersey:

Steve Cartwright and The Bailiff’s Chambers Senator Lyndon Farnham, Minister for EDTSC Deputy Montfort Tadier, Assistant Minister for Culture, EDTSC Connétable of St Helier Simon Crowcroft Parish of St Helier and the Town Hall Planning and Environment Department Property Holdings Dan Houseago & Rick Horsley, EDTSC / GHE Chris Kelleher, EDTSC / GHE The Tweed Project 24 Jersey Arts Centre is supported by a revenue grant from Government of Jersey

Administration Details

Auditors: Jackson Fox Chartered Accountants PO Box 264 JP Morgan House Grenville Street St. Helier Jersey JE4 8TQ

Bankers: NatWest Jersey Branch PO Box 11 16 Library Place St. Helier Jersey JE4 8NH

Charity: 78 - Association of Jersey Charities 62 - Jersey Charity Commissioner

Office: Jersey Arts Centre Phillips Street St. Helier Jersey

JE2 4SW Jersey Arts Centre t: +44 (0) 1534 700400 www.artscentre.je @jsyartscentre

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