NewsletterNewsletter FebruaryFebruary 20172017 In This Issue • Chairman’s Letter P3 • News from Members P4 • LTG Top of the Pops P5 • New Writing P7 • Arts Council England Consultation Report P8 Vol.31Vol.31 No.1No.1 FebruaryFebruary 20172017 LTG Newsletter Vol .31 No.1 February 2017 Vol. 31 No. 1 February 2017 7, 8, 9 April 2017 Tom Williams (for the Year Book), Caroline NATIONAL CONFERENCE & AGM Chapman (for correspondence, AGMs etc.) The Little Theatre Guild represents Archway Theatre, Horley and Michael Shipley (for Newsletter printed 113 member theatres that control copies) has been quite a complicated and manage their Theatre buildings. 6th May 2017 task, especially when information for Our members are all amateur theatre RELATIONSHIP MEETING whatever reason does not get passed to all companies with an annual audience of Dewsbury Artspace Theatre departments! Will Reps please remember over 650,000 patrons, and a turnover that information should be sent of approximately £4 million. Visit us at 14th May 2017 primarily to the Secretary – linking in www.littletheatreguild.org RELATIONSHIP MEETING with the Newsletter and Year Book editors Kelvin Players Theatre, Bristol is an added bonus! LTG Diary of Events It has now been drawn to your editor’s 4th February 2017 1,2 & 3 September 2017 attention that two theatres have left RELATIONSHIP MEETING NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING the Guild over the past twelve months Stables Theatre, Hastings Great Asby, Cumbria – Keighley Playhouse and Edward Alderton Theatre, Bexleyheath. 12th February 2017 29, 30 September, 1 October 2017 It also seems that the allocation of stars NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING NORTHERN REGION AGM to the front cover of the Newsletter and Year Garrick Theatre, Stockport & CONFERENCE Book needs to be revised after a few years of City Theatre, Durham additions and removals! The map was never 12th March 2017 intended to be strictly accurate geographically; RELATIONSHIP MEETINGS Theatres and LTG Reps rather it was conceived as a view of Britain at Chesil Theatre, Winchester & Nantwich Checking the returns for the Year Book night with bright lights of theatrical excitement Players Theatre with lists of names and addresses kept by shining out of the darkness! Charity Commission The Charity Commission has been very active recently, seeking to ensure that all trustees are fully aware of their responsibilities. Attached is a single sheet giving 15 things trustees should be taking account of in order to operate effectively. The Commission has also issued a document on Trustees and Digital which can be accessed from the Commission Website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-digital-work-12-questions-for-trustees-to-consider Finally, the Commission is undertaking consultation exercise on the annual return that all charities have to make. There is a simple on line questionnaire which can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-opens-consultation- on-the-annual-return The consultation closes on 9 March 2017 New Code of Governance Consultation New Chair for Parliamentary Committee Charity governance has been in the spotlight since the Code was Damian Collins MP has been named as the new Chair of the last updated in 2010. There have been significant developments Culture, Media and Sports Committee. This is good news for in what is expected of charities, their practices, and the legal us in that he was the chair of the committee to which we gave framework in which they operate. evidence last year at Westminster on ‘Countries of Culture’, so he As part of its long-standing dialogue with charities, the Code will hopefully remember that the LTG actually exists! of Good Governance Steering Group has developed a draft new Code to reflect these changes, and to contribute to strengthening charities’ governance and are now inviting feedback on the proposed new Code. New Director for Theatres Trust A press release detailing the changes to the code and the In November it was announce that Jon Morgan, Director of consultation process can be found at http://www.governancecode. the Federation of Scottish Theatre, had been appointed the new org/consultation/ Director of Theatres Trust. Jon starts in January 2017, and we look The consultation ends on 3 February 2017. forward to welcoming him in the new year. Year Book A Cautionary Tale Editor Tom Williams writes: Do you have a risk assessment for that? Well of course you do. We Many thanks to all of you who contributed to the Year Book which all have risk assessments for many aspects of our was published before Christmas. So far, no-one has pointed out theatre work, but how often are they revisited any obvious errors. I still have one or two niggles mainly about the lack of information and what do you do to ensure that everyone from some theatres about their productions. All we ask for is the undertaking a task is apprised of the risks title of the production, the name of the author and the audience involved and the action that should be taken to figures. I never cease to be amazed that some people who submit minimise the risk. copy make mistakes about titles and authors or leave the author’s The serious accident at Alton Towers which name out. In the latter case, I normally find it by going to the resulted in life threatening injuries and a fine of £5 theatre’s website! Also, several theatres do not seem able to give million shows how we should always be on our audience figures, something which I would have thought was essential information for Committees to have in order properly to guard. The safe operation of the ride was covered carry out their duty to ensure financial health and probity. by a very detailed risk assessment. Regrettably, The same process will go start in July 2017 and I am looking at the safety issues addressed in the risk assessment ways to make the task easier for theatres. were not in place and the accident took place. Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain www.littletheatreguild.org Newsletter Editor: Michael Shipley National Secretary: 121 Darwen Road Caroline Chapman Bromley Cross Friar’s Oak Bolton 24 Mill Farm Road Lancashire Hamsterley Mill BL7 9BG Tyne & Wear Tel: 01204 304103 NE39 1NW Email: [email protected] Tel: 01207 545280 Email: [email protected] The contents of this newsletter are not necessarily the official views of the Little Theatre Guild. Contributions are always welcome. Last date for copy for the next issue: 15th April 2017. 2 LTG Newsletter Vol .31 No.1 February 2017 National Committee so having a good cross section of delegates from member theatres is important. Letter Where did 2016from go? In the fact as Chairman I write this piece for the February At the same time please check the dates for the various regional 2017 Newsletter I’m thinking where did my time conferences being held during 2017 so that we can have good as Chairman go - soon I will hand over the reins to support for these important events – and again encourage new Mike Smith. It seems only yesterday I was taking attendees too! over from Kevin Spence. Cuts in professional theatre funding hit the headlines again late No doubt like me many of you will have completed last year as local councils across the UK reduce spending in this a busy Christmas period at your theatres and are area. It is also interesting to read that the House of Commons now settling back into the more normal routines Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee under the Chairmanship of your play presentations. It did make me think of MP Damian Collins, said there should be a greater appreciation over the festive period how important to many of the cultural treasures and creative innovation to be found across of us the Christmas show is. Over the years I the UK and especially outside London. As you know I attended a have seen how these shows have risen in style and presentation session at Westminster as part of the Countries of Culture Inquiry. to compete with the big productions on the professional stage. The Commons Committee stated there should be a better balance It is great to see how we, as amateurs, may not have the bank in grants across the UK, and the Arts Council said it was increasing balance to spend lots of money on a production but we can still funding outside London. This may not directly help our theatres be incredibly inventive and resourceful and our talent can produce but to be invited to attend the session was encouraging and I know excellent family entertainment at a fraction of the ticket price. Oh we will keep these contacts. This is just one more opportunity to yes we can! raise the profile of the LTG at a national level. One aspect of the Christmas production, if my own theatre is One thing I do know as our 70th Anniversary Year draws to a typical, was the debate which hit the national news and the end of close the resilience of the members of the LTG is as strong as ever. last year – “Should it be curtains for eating in the theatre”? Many We have become masters at dealing with the many operational high profile actors are calling for a ban on eating in the theatre and management issues of running our theatres. The skill and auditorium. Eating in theatres seems to be on the increase with commitment I have witnessed as I have visited theatres is many audiences inspired by the cinema model of eating your staggering. Long may it continue! way through the performance. A discreet drink or snack is fine, Finally, the National Conference in April at The Archway Theatre, but eating noisy and sometimes smelly food is inconsiderate and Horley marks the end of my two year tenure of office as your affects other audience members enjoyment.