Annual Report Contents
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ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS 2018: At A Glance 04 Chair’s Report 06 Artistic Director’s Report 08 Executive Director’s Report 10 2018 Season 12 National Touring 26 Belvoir 2018 in Review 29 Corporate Governance Statement 46 Board & Staff 51 Donors 52 In the Rehearsal Room 54 Supporters, Trusts & Foundations, and Partners 56 Zahra Newman. Photo by Daniel Boud v WESTERN SYDNEY STUDENTS IN WORKSHOPS EDIA 612 M OWERS ,745 L CIAL 64,499 8 2018 NUMBER OF NEW SINGLE O S FOL AT A GLANCE 7 TICKET BUYERS IN 2018 5 NEW 4,816 AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS UDENTS TICIPATED IN A ,466 ORKSHOP WHO ATTENDED A SCHOOLS OR R 9 T EVENING PERFORMANCE 2 W PA 100, 33 PLAYS S ATTENDEES AT BELVOIR PRODUCTIONS TOTAL GENDER SPLIT ON STAGE ALE INCL . DEVELOPMENTS M FEMALE MALE 4,033,622 DIRECTED DIRECTED MALE : E WRITERS 5050 PERFORMANCES F BOX OFFICE REVENUE NUMBER OF STUDENT WORKSHOPS HOSTED IN 25A WORKSHOPS 124 REGIONAL 447 NATIONAL 23 SCHOOLS AT PERFORMANCES WRITERS 5 41 35 UNDER 1,32 ,101 0 COMMISSION UNIQUE WEBSITE VISITORS NCES 0 A 1 963 ENDEES STUDENTS APPLICATIONS 6,436 SUBSCRIPTIONS SOLD T WHO ATTENDED FOR 25A A FREE SCHOOL AT PERFORMANCES PERFORMANCE 5, 31,0 00 FORM ARTISTS LITRES OF FAKE BLOOD R ENGAGED THROUGH 25A ARTISTS USED TO FILL THE STAGE UNWAGED ATTENDEESTO 2,5 130 PE ACROSS 7 PRODUCTIONS 65 205 EMPLOYED CHAIR’S REPORT Sam Meers 2018 was a strong relationships with other arts companies. year for Belvoir, Six of nine of the shows in our Upstairs both artistically and Theatre, and three of four of our Downstairs financially, with the shows, were Australian plays or adaptations, Company not only and a personal highlight in 2018 was our continuing to create introduction of the 25A program in our outstanding theatre Downstairs Theatre, fulfilling our long- experiences, but also term commitment to providing meaningful delivering an operating support to independent theatre-makers. surplus. The challenges for the performing arts I would like to start by acknowledging sector in 2018 were many and varied, and the fearless leadership of our co-CEOs, Eamon eloquently articulates these in his Eamon Flack and Sue Donnelly. Together report. Our commitment to diversity in all they have created a bold artistic vision that its forms is real and authentic and, above all, has allowed Belvoir to be optimistic and we maintain respect for all those with whom confident about the future. The delivery of we intersect and the stories with which we this vision would, of course, not be possible are entrusted. without the passion and talent of the staff at Belvoir and the many artists and creatives The costs associated with presenting who work with us, and I thank them bold, high quality theatre in the current sincerely for their support and extraordinary environment continue to challenge the commitment to the Company. sector. Notwithstanding these challenges, Taylor Ferguson, Genevieve Lemon. Photo by Brett Boardman 2018 saw us bring together an extraordinary The success of the 2018 season, and of the group of supporters around the biggest, I would particularly like to thank the of Houston Group and is regarded as one many other Belvoir programs highlighted boldest work the Company has ever members of our newly established Chair’s of the country’s leading brand and design throughout this Annual Report, is reflected undertaken, Counting & Cracking, which Circle, each of whom are committed to consultants. As National Chairman of KPMG in our solid financial result in 2018, with the culminated in a sold-out Sydney Festival fearlessly supporting the Company’s vision. Australia, Alison brings deep financial and Company achieving an operating surplus season in January 2019, and the Adelaide strategic expertise to the board. I am proud of $275k. This represents a significant Festival in March 2019. The success of On behalf of my fellow Board members, I that Belvoir continues to attract Directors improvement on the 2017 year and can Counting & Cracking, will be discussed at would also like to acknowledge and thank of such stature. be attributed to strong box office results, length in our 2019 annual report. our government supporters at both Federal increased levels of philanthropy and and State level - the Australia Council for the My deep thanks also go to the board corporate sponsorship, and a strategic We are extremely fortunate to work with a Arts and Create NSW. of Company A Limited, led by Angela review of operations throughout 2017 loyal band of donors, partners, supporters Pearman, for continuing to share and I thank each of the Belvoir board members and 2018 that delivered greater operational and subscribers, all of whom make an support Belvoir’s vision. for their energy and sustained commitment efficiencies, a more effective governance invaluable contribution to the life and to the Company. Patty Akopiantz, in her role I am so proud of Belvoir’s work, and the framework and enhanced business success of this company, and without whom as deputy chair, has provided contagious integrity that underlies it. Our season for planning. we could not do the work we do: my deep thanks go to each and every one of you enthusiasm and indispensable wisdom. In 2019 is exciting and inspiring, and already Belvoir is committed to bringing people for your faith in us. I’m delighted to report 2018, we bade farewell to Ian Learmonth delivering strong box office results. The together by telling the stories that affect that our subscriber numbers increased and Tracey Driver, and I thank them for Board is committed to continuing to us all. Throughout the arc of every Belvoir 14.5% over 2018 from the previous year, their dedication and guidance over the past support the Company to create fearless, season, we encourage the protest, debate and that revenue derived from sponsorship six years. I am delighted that we have not high quality theatre, whilst also continuing and discussion that underlies any great and philanthropy increased by 24% in the lost Ian entirely, as he has joined the board to build the Company’s financial resilience democratic tradition to encourage a corresponding period. I acknowledge the of Company A (Belvoir St Theatre Ltd). into the future. It is the shared vision and vibrant conversation with multiple voices vital support of our corporate sponsors, and We welcomed two new directors, Stuart passion of the many people who work with and diverse perspectives - all the while note that we welcomed six new corporate O’Brien and Alison Kitchen, to the Company and support Belvoir that has ensured supporting new playwriting, showcasing sponsors this year, a tribute to the strong B board. Stuart O’Brien is founder and CEO 2018 was such a success. new Australian work from all around artistic direction of the Company. Sam the country and creating collaborative 7 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT Eamon Flack Our 2018 season Death. These moments are what stick out was born out of a for me in 2018. These women claiming lot of change and new room to move. The two shows that uncertainty in the didn’t make this offer - Sami in Paradise Winter of 2017. I wrote and Bliss - were the two shows that most at the time of the struggled to find their place.Sami was launch that our season a wild, imperfect show that laid some was an attempt to groundwork for another show, which I’ll keep on playing in come back to. Bliss was ambitious, but it the middle of a global felt like history had clocked over, and this mess. I don’t mean fiddling while Rome essential story of the past had run burns, or when the Titanic sinks. I mean its course. defying the taunts and the invitations to This year we reopened our Downstairs despair. Answering hate with defiance, Theatre to independent artists. 25A (the idiocy with joyous foolery, taunting with “granny flat” at 25 Belvoir St) gives the celebration, divisiveness with new kinds theatre and a rehearsal space to seven of belonging. And at our best in 2018, we indie shows a year for free. That brilliant did that. theatre has been the training ground for At the beginning of the year we redressed so many great artists over the decades. some old oversights and filled both If we can’t pay people to learn their craft, our stages with Torres Strait stories, the least we can do is make sure it costs and then with an Asian Australian them nothing. Marta Kaczmarek, Victoria Haralabidou, Fayssal Bazzi, Paula Arundell. Photo by Clare Hawley story. Single Asian Female brought a We commissioned five new works. We huge new audience to Belvoir. Many of introduced $20 tickets for artists. Carissa and all the major industry organisations That means a new sweep of artists, working those newcomers came to the show Licciardello joined the company as the to introduce an industry-wide code of in new ways, telling new stories. It also means again, a second time with their families. first Andrew Cameron Fellow. Andrew’s conduct, align our policies and processes changing how Belvoir works. There are things We welcomed Noni Hazelhurst back, generosity to Belvoir over ten years has and introduce intimacy training. The we don’t know how to do, things that other unrecognisable and brilliant in Mother. been extraordinary, and this Fellowship work continues and the goal is clear: to organisations know better. Our year ended, She brought audiences to their feet honours both Andrew and an emerging make it clear that everyone has the same fittingly, with rehearsals for a show that every night.