Report No: London Borough of Bromley E&LPDS 09/06-1 PART 1 E&LEMM Agenda 8 10/06-2 Item No:
Title: CHURCHILL THEATRE ANNUAL REPORT
Decision Maker: Environment & Leisure Services PDS Decision Date: 25.09.06 Environment & Leisure Service Portfolio Holder 03.10.06
Decision Type: Non-Urgent Non-Executive Non-Key
Budget/Policy Within Policy & Budget Framework:
Chief Officer: Gordon Hayward, Director of Environment & Leisure Services
Contact Officer: Colin Brand, Head of Leisure & Culture Kay Coulton, Client Project Officer Tel: 020 8313 4107 Email: [email protected] 020 8461 7539 [email protected]
Ward: Borough-wide
1. SUMMARY
1.1 This report provides a summary of the Ambassador Theatre Group’s (ATG) Annual Report on the Churchill Theatre for the sixth year of their contract: 1 April 2005–31 March 2006. The Annual Report is attached at Appendix 1.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee is asked to:
2.1 Note the Ambassador Theatre Group’s sixth successful year of managing the Churchill Theatre, Bromley.
3. COMMENTARY
3.1 The Ambassador Theatre Group’s Annual Report for the Churchill Theatre demonstrates a very successful year of operation with almost 211,000 people attending performances (a 7% increase on the previous year), and just over 7,000 attending educational events. A number of refurbishments were completed including: the Circle Bar being lowered to accommodate wheelchair users; all auditorium seating replaced at a cost to the Group of £74,000; and the Stalls Foyer being upgraded and redecorated.
Programme Review
3.2 The 2005/06 season provided an eclectic mix of plays, musicals, opera, dance, pantomime, family shows and concerts. Rebecca was notable for playing to 100% capacity audiences over 8 performances. The pantomime Cinderella broke box office records and the popularity of the production has resulted in over 13,000 tickets being already sold for next year’s pantomime Mother Goose. The Gruffalo, aimed at young theatregoers, played to 8 sell out audiences and is to return in July 2006 due to phenomenal demand. The Magic of the Dance returned following a sell out run the previous year and played to 91% capacity. Hit West End show Grease returned and played to 90% capacity, as did Bromley’s first ice show – Sleeping Beauty on Ice.
3.3 During the Spring of 2005, 11 Churchill Theatre Productions were on tour to 47 leading regional theatres, playing to an estimated audience of almost 484,000. Each production carried the Churchill Theatre Bromley stamp. During the year two Churchill Theatre Bromley productions played simultaneously in the West End of London – High Society at the Shaftsbury Theatre and Saturday Night Fever at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
3.4 West Wickham Operatic Society presented My Fair Lady in June and The Pirates of Penzance in November. Kentish Opera presented a semi-professional production of Aida in April. All these productions provided the opportunity for local talent to perform on a professional stage.
Education and Outreach Department
3.5 The Education and Outreach Department continues to offer a wide range of opportunities to the local community in show-related work, in-house activities and special events.
3.6 Show-related work: 3 workshops for children and young people ran in support of The Jungle Book, The Magic of the Dance and The Witches – 2 of which were at capacity. 4 post-show talks were organised for adults in support of Sleeping Beauty on Ice, Compagnie Kafig, Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and Rebecca. In addition 1 family workshop was organised in support of the pantomime Cinderella.
3.7 In-house activities: The theatre has had another successful year with its participatory classes, from Early Years drama for 3-5 year olds to Dance and Movement for the retired. These classes are still full to capacity with waiting lists for many of them, with around 100 people attending a dance or drama class every week. The Churchill Theatre Writers group continues to flourish attracting over 25 writers. Over 50 people entered plays into the 7th Annual Short Playwriting Competition and this continues to be a popular annual event in the theatre’s calendar. The Education and Outreach Department has provided many tours for local schools and has been visiting schools with performing arts status to promote the work of the Churchill Theatre to them. - 2 -
3.8 Special events: For the first time in the Theatre’s history a 100-seat studio space was created on the main stage for the annual Educational Festival in July. This transformation, which took place across all theatre departments, provided a much more suitable and exciting space for the experimental work created by the Education and Outreach Department. 10 ‘difficult to reach’ young people aged 15-19 took part in an unique Italian theatre project funded by Arts Council England. For the 3rd year running Keith Park, a respected London-based drama therapist and storyteller ran a series of workshops for local special schools during the pantomime season.
Access
3.9 The work of the Access Committee continues with staff training, a regular programme of sign language interpreted, audio described and captioned performances throughout the season.
3.10 Staff attended two SHAPE disability awareness training courses and members of the marketing and Sales Department team attended the Marketing and Audience Development training day.
3.11 A page in the seasonal brochure is dedicated to access, a separate leaflet has been produced listing the accessible performances and the Access Guide has been revised, reprinted and is distributed with all access bookings. Accessible performance details are also included on the individual posters and leaflets.
3.12 A second external advisory group meeting is being planned to ensure that the Churchill Theatre meets the requirements of all its patrons.
Impact on the Community
3.13 The Churchill Theatre is seen as a major force in the borough with great presence within the community.
3.14 It employs 75 people with a total payroll for the year of £698,786.
3.15 The Theatre re-launched its volunteer scheme for 16-18 year olds looking to gain hands-on experience in the arts. 50 young people attended an open evening and 35 signed up.
3.16 For the first time this year the Churchill took part in London Open House Weekend. Many tours were sold out in advance. The success of this weekend instigated tours of the building on the first Saturday of every month. Private tours are also given to local schools.
3.17 Managers from the theatre are taking an active role in the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan stakeholder meetings and the Arts Consultative Panel. The theatre is also represented at Bromley Business Watch and Bromley Business Focus meetings, and hosted the Bromley Business Women’s Lunch.
3.18 The Churchill remains a popular choice for work experience placements amongst schools and currently has a fully booked schedule throughout the year with personalised programmes for each participant.
3.19 The Churchill Theatre plays a key role in maintaining the safety, security and vibrancy of the town centre in the evenings. Good attendances have helped to keep the town centre alive after 6 pm and contribute to the local restaurant trade. - 3 -
Refurbishments
3.20 All seats in the auditorium were replaced with new luxury seats.
3.21 In August the Stalls Foyer was brought up to the decorative standard of the Circle Foyer and Circle Bars with the creation of a new sales counter and lighting.
3.22 In the interests of health and safety a kitchen area was created on the 5th floor.
3.23 A hazardous metal carpet-divider has been removed from the Circle Bar.
3.24 A section of the Circle Bar has been lowered for wheelchair users.
3.25 Future refurbishments include a new pit lift, sound system, function suite refurbishment and generic artwork on the High Street canopy.
Marketing
3.26 There is strong evidence that strategies to eliminate the long-standing problem of low attendances on Friday and Saturday evening are proving effective including special promotions. Parties and post-show receptions.
3.27 The Wild Card (the theatre’s membership scheme for young people) is now underway enabling young people to purchase last minute tickets for shows at affordable prices and to benefit from exclusive events. Over 30 young people attended the first ‘Wild Card’ evening held during the final week of Cinderella. The scheme offers incentives and audience development schemes to turn the 7,194 young people aged between 3 and 18 taking part in workshops into active attendees.
3.28 The theatre is currently upgrading its display boards in car parks across the borough.
3.29 Proactive selling to groups by the in-house ticket sales team continues to bring success. A group bookers event for Cinderella took place in early September. It sold out with 785 new and potential group bookers attending.
3.30 Marketing in and around the town centre has proved highly successful with excellent relationships developing between the Churchill Theatre, The Glades and the borough’s Town Centre Management Team.
3.31 Links with local and regional publications are strong and the relationship with London and Kent radio and television stations is developing well.
3.32 The ‘Friends’ scheme continues to perform exceptionally well with the highest number of memberships sold this year. At present the theatre has a total of 2,812 friends, including 441 Silver Friends and 43 Platinum Friends. This represents a 21% increase on the previous year.
Staffing
3.33 3 new members of staff joined the Churchill Theatre this year and 3 were promoted. Derek Nicholls, Chief Executive, remains as president of the Theatrical Management Association.
- 4 - 3.34 The Ambassador Theatre Group continues to invest heavily in staff development through its full training portfolio and a number of staff attended a wide range of training courses from April 2005 – March 2006.
4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The Management Agreement is operating successfully within agreed budgets.
Non-Applicable Sections: Policy, Legal and Personnel Implications Background Documents: The Churchill Theatre, Bromley’s Annual Report (Access via Contact Officer) 1 April 2005 – 31 March 2006.
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