We made a film! Film-makers Gaby Szabo and Ben Tunningley joined the Scene & Heard team to document this summer’s Playmaking One course. They interviewed children, parents, teachers 2010 Newsletter and volunteers, and the result is a beautiful five-minute film. The film expresses the nature of Scene & Heard Welcome to the Scene & Heard new look annual newsletter, which goes and the work that we do. out to Volunteers, Supporters, and this year to our Member Playwrights We premiered the film at our October fundraising event, and a longer version past and present. (which will be both an archive and a celebration of the story of Scene & Heard) is currently in the making. This should be ready for screening soon, and in the meantime a huge thank you goes to Gaby and Ben (right). Where are they now…? Daniel Harries from Central School We have worked with has joined us on work placement, and is researching Scene & Heard Member Playwrights past and 120 theatre professionals present. All the children that have passed through our doors are being and 38 children this contacted, and their stories make really uplifting reading. This will add to the anecdotal evidence we already year, 19 of whom are new have of the huge difference Scene & Heard can make to a person’s life. Member Playwrights It is partly this research that has inspired us This year we have run four courses with the children of Somers Town. These to find new ways of remaining in contact with our Member Playwrights. courses and productions could not have happened without our amazing volunteers They will receive membership cards, – our thanks go to all of you. newsletters and invitations to specific events – once a member, always a Here, There and Everywhere – the Universal Plays member of Scene & Heard. A Replay production featuring the multifaceted Jenni Maitland. Jenni played ten different characters, ranging from a 1st Class Stamp to a Chinese dragon (above). Our first open AGM

Black Cats & Horseshoes – the Lucky Plays (right) Volunteers were invited to our first open A Playmaking One production – this featured a host of AGM in May. The next one will be held delightful characters. on Monday 13th June 2011 at a venue in Somers Town, and all are welcome. That Makes Two of Us A One on One production - this featured Calling all Member Playwrights nine professional actors playing opposite nine Members aged 12 – 13 years, in Have you changed school, gone to plays written by adult writers (left). college or started work? Let us know at [email protected]. We’d love to Reach for the Stars – hear your news. The Astronomical Plays (the final production of 2010) This is in rehearsal as we go to print, Everyone: and promises to bring a joyous end to Help us to keep in touch with you; if your this term’s Playmaking One course. details have changed, drop us a line.

“A heady evening which leaves you wishing that this demonstration of what drama can do for children could be funded and repeated on a national scale.” Michael Billington, The Guardian

SandH.indd 1 08/12/2010 21:38 A letter from our Artistic Director...

Dear Volunteers, Supporters & Playwrights,

2010 has been a year of change at Scene & Heard. After eleven years, co-Founder Director Sophie Boyack stepped down from her post in May. We were very sorry to say goodbye to Sophie but gave her a good send off with a fun party, fabulous gifts and lots of happy memories. We’ve already welcomed her back as an audience member and we know that she, like Kate, will continue to support our work. With the departure of Kate and Sophie this is certainly the end of an era. But it’s also the start of a whole new era. It is testament to the strong and loyal volunteer base that our two Founder Directors felt confident to move on. Our staff and volunteers are looking forward to building on Kate and Sophie’s phenomenal legacy. As Artistic Director, I am now heading the organisation, and am delighted to welcome back Simma as Head of Development. Simma was previously our Administrator; now she’ll be working on fundraising and PR. Our Administrator, Jasmine, continues to organise the office brilliantly, and has also taken on much of the finance. We have lots of exciting plans for 2011, like creating a new backdrop for our shows at the theatre, and distributing our promotional film. We’re turning our hugely successful pub quiz into an annual event, to celebrate Scene & Heard’s birthday each February. We’re also bringing back our fifth course, Playback. This was piloted in 2008, and I hope it will become a regular fixture in the Scene & Heard calendar. Playback brings our total course output to a whacking six a year. I am determined to secure a strong future for Scene & Heard and I cannot do any of it without you. Thank you for your hard work and commitment in 2010 and I look forward to asking even more of you in 2011. On that note, if you have any special skills that we don’t know about - design and draughtsmanship, IT, lighting and sound, sewing and making - we want to know! And do tell us if you’re in a show that we could bring a group of Member Playwrights to. Backstage tours are always fun!

...and one from Sophie! I wanted to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to Rosalind Paul everyone for giving me such a splendid send off when I left S&H in May. My leaving party was fabulous - it really was amazing walking into that room so full of lovely people all so happy and smiling. Great speeches from Max Hill and John Lightbody and as ever superb behind the scenes planning from Roz, Jasmine and Simma. I know that these three great ladies have been making huge strides in the last few months and that S&H is coming to the end of 2010 in very good shape, which is a great credit to them. Long may they reign!! Thank you also for the shower of gifts I received. Not only do Weddings... I now have extremely smart leatherware, but I had a gloriously indulgent afternoon shopping and spending my John Lewis Congratulations go to newlyweds Jenni vouchers (somebody knows me very well!!). Perhaps best of Maitland and husband Jim Trevor, and to all though was the collage put together for me by Kate and the Douglas Rankine and Ginevra Benedtti. beautiful message book assembled by Roz. It will all be treasured for years to come along with 11 years of happy memories. ...and babies! Thank you all. - Sophie A warm welcome to Sarah Malin’s daugher Agnes Lily, Ellie Harley’s son Albert Rouse, Peter Collins and Lucianne McEvoy’s daughter Grace Angela, Oliver Senton and Lucy Trodd’s son Albert Anderson, Sophie Duval’s daugher Bridie, Sarah Wolf’s little girl Emily Beatrice Ralph, John Lightbody’s son Charlie Jacob Jerram, Rachel Nicholson’s son Archie, Hattie Ladbury’s baby Ted, Ellie Jones & Steve Hansell’s son Samuel and Emma Swinn’s daughter Katherine Sophie.

SandH.indd 2 08/12/2010 21:38 Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory at the 20th Century Fundraising: Theatre How YOU have helped 2010 has been a great year for fundraising. Last November, Louisa Gummer, Scene & Heard’s Social Networking Coordinator, lead a group of volunteer singers in the London to Brighton Charioke Marathon. Scene & Heard got the gig late, but even so our singers sang karaoke for an amazing eleven hours, raising £545.

Funders in 2010 For the first time ever Scene & Heard is in receipt of a grant from the Arts Council to help fund this autumn’s Playmaking One course! We are very ...and one from Sophie! proud of this breakthrough.

The Arts Council is the only Louisa also reinvented the Scene & Heard Sponsored Walk in May (above), with government money that we received a quiz and a treasure hunt to keep the walkers’ minds off their sore feet. The weather this year. The rest of our funding was cooperated, and 58 volunteers and supporters raised £16,000 for Scene & Heard. made up of volunteer and supporter fundraising events and grants from Richard Herring was the Foundations and Trusts. mastermind and compère at ‘Stand Up for Scene & Heard’, our July Eyes and Ears, Scene & Heard’s fundraiser at the Comedy Store. individual giving scheme continues to grow. Given current economic The evening included sets by Scene uncertainty and government cuts Eyes & Heard volunteers Mark Allen and and Ears is the bedrock that allows us Justin Edwards. They, Tom Basden, to plan for the future. Pappy’s, and Daniel Kitson (left) had the audience roaring, and raised Turn to the back page to find out £4,700 on the night. how you can become a member of Eyes and Ears for as little as £3 a In October, Scene Heard patron Damian Lewis hosted a fundraising event at month and make a real difference the 20th Century Theatre in Notting Hill (below). Attendees were treated to a to the children of Somers Town. night of excellent food and two Scene & Heard plays. There was an auction full of amazing prizes, many donated by Scene & Heard volunteers. Many thanks to our funders in 2010:

A gallant band of volunteers worked BBC Children in Need, The Barbara extremely hard to make the event Saunders Trust, The Chapman happen. The evening raised £30,000 Charitable Trust, The Cooperative and introduced our work to a new Bank, The Enid Blyton Trust for audience. Children, Foyle Foundation, The Hedley Foundation, The Hollick Family Individual supporters and volunteers Foundation, John Lyon’s Charity, also did their bit to boost the coffers The Metropolitan Police Fund, The this year. Several supporters and Peter de Haan Charitable Trust, The volunteers donated professional fees to Sir James Roll Charitable Trust, The Scene & Heard, and Robin Bailie ran a Stansfield Trust, The Trusthouse half marathon. Turn to the back page Charitable Foundation, The Tudor to find out about your opportunity to Trust, UNISON, The Unity Theatre run the London Marathon for us! Trust and The Wellcome Foundation.

SandH.indd 3 08/12/2010 21:38 You can help protect ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: the future Rosalind Paul EYES HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT: of Scene & Simma Gershenson ADMINISTRATOR: Heard for Jasmine Rowe

AND  PATRONS: just £3 Damian Lewis Emily Watson a month! Samuel West HONORARY PATRONS: Hugh Bonneville EARS Anna Chancellor Jennie Darnell Call 0845 0090775 to find out how... Tom Goodman-Hill Roger Lloyd Pack Helen McCrory The challenge Bill Nighy 4th February Michael Sheen Anniversary Quiz of a lifetime Cathy Tyson Venue TBC Fancy taking on the ultimate running Zoë Wannamaker challenge and raising funds for Scene Richard Wilson 31st March – 3rd April & Heard at the same time? TRUSTEES: Twist & Turn– We have secured a place at the 2012 Max Hill (Chairman) The Giddy Plays Virgin London Marathon! If you’d like Daryl Dunbar A Replay Production to get involved and make a difference we’d love to hear from you. Nick Gray Michelle Nelson 2nd & 3rd June George Ormond Doubling Up Keep in touch Paul Perkins A One-on-One Production This newsletter only comes out once a Geoff Smout year, but you can now stay up to date Will Wharfe

2011 The year ahead 13th June with all the latest Scene & Heard news Scene & Heard by following @SceneandHeardUK on FOUNDERS: Twitter, or by joining us at Annual General Meeting www.facebook.com/sceneandhearduk Sophie Boyack All are welcome Kate Colman Volunteers - link to our page at www.linkedin.com/company/ Theatro Technis 7th – 10th July scene-&-heard_2 Rant & Rave – 26 Crowndale Road The Bombastic Plays London NW1 1TT A Playmaking One Production Office 0845 0090775 Box Office 020 73889008 27th & 28th October Thank you [email protected] Tall Tales For Two Our thanks to The Final Step, a local IT www.sceneandheard.org A Playback Production support company who work with small to medium sized companies to give Registered charity no. 1077836 them expert advice. 1st – 4th December Wading Through Treacle – Could your company do with the kind of support they’ve given Scene & Heard? The Sticky Plays Email [email protected] for A Playmaking One Production more information or call 020 7572 0000.

SandH.indd 4 08/12/2010 21:38