Annual Report 2014 Enabling theatres to thrive April 2013 – March 2014 The Theatres Trust 37th Annual Report Period ended 31 March 2014 The Theatres Trust promotes the better protection of theatres. We are pleased to present our 37th Annual Report which highlights our work and achievements in 2013/14. We provide advice and support to secure a better and more sustainable future for the nations’ valued theatres. We champion all theatres and provide expert knowledge and an authoritative voice on the significance and value of theatres. Welcome The Theatres Trust Designed by Contents www.vincentdesign.co.uk The National Advisory Body for Theatres Printed by John Good Chairman’s introduction 3 Protecting theatres for everyone Director’s review of the year 4 Incorporating the Annual Report The Theatres Trust 5 of The Theatres Trust Charitable Fund Our plans and objectives 2012-15 6 Registered Charity No: 274697 Achievements 2013/14 7–9 Financial review 10 – 11 22 Charing Cross Road Friends and Corporate Supporters 12 – 13 London WC2H 0QL Trustees 14 T 020 7836 8591 The year in images 15 F 020 7836 3302 [email protected] www.theatrestrust.org.uk @theatrestrust Rob Dickins CBE projects that replenish our stock of theatres As 2014 began, I was pleased to welcome for future generations, we are also engaged new trustees Dara Ó Briain, Professor Chairman in protecting the fabric of theatres that Gavin Henderson CBE, Peter Roberts, have been providing us with enjoyment Simon Ruddick, Ann Skippers and Anna for hundreds of years. Stapleton, appointed by the Secretary of This year The Theatres Trust Charitable State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid. They all help to make our strong In 2014 we started to see positive signs Fund was once again able to help theatres Council of Trustees even more effective. of recovery in the economy as we slowly achieve this through its Small Grants Scheme emerged from the recession. Theatres, supported by generous donations from the My term of office sadly concludes in January faced with the continuing realities of Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Judy 2015 and this will be my last report to you austerity and budget cuts, however, still Craymer MBE. We were able to make capital as Chairman of The Theatres Trust. In had to dig deep and pursue long term contributions to Nottingham Malt Cross, the the six years I have served as the Trust’s capital solutions to build their financial Mill Theatre in Thurso, Preston Playhouse, the Chairman we have addressed some of the self sufficiency, secure ownership of their Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate, Wakefield big issues. We continued to protect theatres assets and remodel themselves to be Theatre Royal, the Yvonne Arnaud in through providing our expert advice during more relevant and attractive to their local Guildford, Tara Arts, Beccles Public Hall, one of the worst recessions of our time, communities. Localism bedded down Alnwick Playhouse and Hoxton Hall. It has led on achieving recognition for culture and with it came new opportunities been uplifting to see my vision of the Theatres in national planning policy, delivered a such as the Community Infrastructure Protection Fund grow into a reality and I know landmark environmental awareness project, Levy and the chance to be recognised that other generous and concerned donors Ecovenue, helping theatres to improve their as Assets of Community Value. will follow Andrew and Judy to develop this environmental performance, and began what into something very important, especially I hope will be a long tradition of grant making In this climate, the Trust’s Conference 13: for small theatres in need. through our Theatres Protection Fund. thriving theatres looked at how theatres were harnessing their ‘innate creativity’, I would like to offer a special thank you I would also like to take this opportunity to as observed by Conference Chairman, to our Friends, Corporate Supporters and thank our tireless Director, Mhora Samuel Vikki Heywood CBE, and were continuing special advisers as well as all those who whose hard work, determination and belief to thrive. have helped support the development of our has made my time as Chairman extra-special. Resource Centre, our Annual Conference Together, I believe we have modernised the I was particularly delighted that we were and other events and those who donated to Trust for our times, addressed the important able to hold Conference 13 at the St James introduction Chairman’s our first ever Christmas Appeal and raised issue of fundraising and set it on a path to Theatre in London, a theatre whose future £3,595. Your contributions help enormously achieve even more in the future. She has was secured by the work of the Trust. We in furthering the Trust’s work. my admiration, support and friendship fought hard to secure a suitable replacement going forward. theatre on the site of Westminster Theatre Many thanks also go to all the staff and and were a constant advocate and expert my fellow Trustees and in particular to To my successor I wish only to say that you adviser to Westminster Council and the Suggs (Graham McPherson), Dr Pauleen take on an important, essential organisation developers. It was my privilege to be the Lane CBE, and Ben Twist who stood that has a vital role in protecting theatres Chairman of the Trust when the final deals down this year and who made outstanding for the nation. You will take on projects and were closed and the St James opened for contributions to the Trust. theatres close to my heart. I hope that you business in 2012. The Theatres Trust’s Council is made up of too may also achieve many happy endings. In this fast-paced technology-driven world it such talented individuals and I am honoured And to the readers of this report, I hope you is sometimes easy to forget that the Trust’s to chair such a great group of people who all enjoy reading about the highlights of the work takes time. Not only are we dealing give their time, knowledge and contacts with year covering April 2013 to March 2014. with long timescales associated with capital great generosity. The Theatres Trust Annual Report 2014 3 Mhora Samuel identified that £250 million was required to renovation. To put the need for the Trust’s advice maintain and protect these theatres. Although into context, a recent report from the Institute of Director Theatreland generates over £88 million receipts Historic Building Conservation highlighted that from VAT for the Treasury, and represents some in the last year alone the level of conservation of the UK’s most prized buildings, West End advice available through local authorities has theatres still need investment.” dropped by 2.4% – and over 36% since 2006. At the end of my review in 2013 I stated The new St James Theatre is an example of I’m pleased that ‘Centre Stage’s’ recommendations that we were now in a better position to such investment – and how the Trust plays its concurred with many of the outcomes of help theatres meet their future challenges. part. On 11 June 2013 I was pleased that we Conference 13 and we followed these through As it turned out 2014 did not pass without held our annual conference there. My thanks go by looking at the importance of Community incident and the year saw the Trust in to our staff and volunteers, contributors, the staff Rights at our Conference 14: Community the spotlight – alerting authorities to the at St James Theatre, Angela Bond, Conference Theatres which took place earlier than usual in impact of relaxation of planning policy Organiser and Vikki Heywood, Conference April 2014 at the City Varieties in Leeds (and on the viability of theatres, responding Chairman, and to Fin Kennedy, Conference which we will report on in next year’s Annual and addressing the consequences of the Reporter who produced an excellent report. Report). During the year we also formed a partial collapse of the Apollo theatre’s We were able to demonstrate how theatres new partnership, the Localism Alliance, with ceiling, continuing to be a voice for theatres across the country have managed to gather Civic Voice and other groups advising on the – raising awareness of their needs, and resources around them and shown ambition registration of buildings and land as Assets of celebrating the resilience and creativity of and entrepreneurship. The vision shown by Community Value and we launched our new those in charge of our theatre buildings. Jim Bierne at Live Theatre in Newcastle was workshop programme, ‘Building better theatres’, particularly inspiring as was Neil Constable’s through our Advice Service. We continued to remain vigilant over relaxation presentation on the creation of the new Sam of planning regulations as serious consequences Sadly, the year will forever be marked by the Wannamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s are likely to arise from new development rights partial collapse of the auditorium ceiling at the Globe. My extremely grateful thanks also go to in England, which now allow owners to convert 1901 Grade II Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury the many sponsors of the conference which we buildings adjacent to theatres from office to Avenue on the 19 December 2013. We acknowledge on page 13 of this Annual Report. residential use without planning permission. continue to work with English Heritage and the of the year We are concerned that noise complaints During the year we also contributed to the Association of British Theatre Technicians to from residents could result in local authorities improve guidance and inspection regimes and Director’s review Director’s London Assembly’s investigation into the support curtailing theatres’ activities.