After the appointment of a new Theatres Manager the Trust feels that it is time to withdraw and allow the new management to move forward.

In our last e-newsletter in May we updated you on the current state of play with Worthing theatres and the role that WTT had been asked to perform on the Theatres Advisory Board.

At that stage The Assembly Hall was moved onto a ‘limited programme’, catering had already moved ‘In-House’ and WTT had been asked to comment on the first draft of the business plan produced in-house by the theatres management.  Since then Worthing Theatres has appointed Amanda O’Reilly as Peter Bailey’s replacement. She has moved across from running the Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in Havant and prior to that has worked in senior positions in larger venues.

Chris Jordan (Theatre Manager) from Eastbourne Theatres was asked to sit in on the interviews in order to provide much needed professional guidance on the recruitment process.

To bring the story up to that point:

The Resignation of Peter Bailey and the submission of a second internal business plan

The Manager of Worthing Theatres for 30 years announced he was retiring on August 15^th. The Council then placed ads in the Stage, the Guardian and other platforms seeking a replacement – as Commercial Manager so there is still no provision for a Creative Director perhaps working in tandem with an Operations/Business Director as recommended in the Trust Tender. The salary is advertised as being around £50k. Amanda O’Reilly has subsequently been appointed.

The revised internal business plan was submitted to Council in the week commencing 25th June and a meeting of the Theatres Advisory Board was called for Wednesday 4^th July 2pm at Worthing Town Hall to review this version of the plan. Once again, the Trustees were given very little prior sight of the revised plan and Jon, Roy and Chris had to produce on the spot reactions to a number of the elements of the plan. To cut a long story short, there remained strong reservations about the financial robustness of some of the financial assumptions and a lack of accurate predictions and analysis of show genres and their application to seat sales.

However, in the light of the new appointment and the end of the previous era of management, the Trust now feels that a natural line in the sand has been reached.

Trust Chairman Jon Woodley said,

“Our efforts to support the theatres locally have been met with polite interest at best and apathy at worst.

Since failing in our bid to take over the Theatres, the Trust has tried to foster a partnership approach and agreed to participate in the newly set up Advisory Board. However, the process has seen a general reluctance from Worthing Borough Council to utilise this input when it would benefit theatre management, staff and the community at no cost.

We were surprised in the Business Plan creation process that no new thinking was evident and disappointed that the offer of free external advice and support was declined. Our associates and patrons who offered their input to make the most of our local theatres were also somewhat surprised not to be asked for their input.

It has been depressing to see the barriers put up to the contribution of so many wonderful and skilled people under the auspices of Worthing Theatres Trust, donating their time and money to help to improve the theatre offering in Worthing whilst reducing the cost to the taxpayer.

The appointment of a new Theatre Commercial Manager, however, is a positive step forward alongside the continued development of the business plan which is heading in the right direction and in the light of this we will continue to strive for the best possible theatre provision for the town as individual theatre supporters and would ask all our valued supporters to do the same.

We hope that this is the start of a more positive and efficient operation providing first class theatre in our town at best value to the taxpayers, and welcome in the fresh energy and vision that the new manager will bring.

At present it would be unhelpful to proffer our services onto a new manager who needs to be able to bring their own ideas to the table, but would welcome the opportunity to support the operation of Worthing Theatres should this be required, and, rest assured, we are ready to spring back into action should the future of these buildings be put at risk again. Thank you for your loyal, concerned and enthusiastic backing of the aims of the Worthing Theatres Trust, and I would personally urge you to support your local theatres as much as possible.”

The Trust has donated its funds equally to both Worthing Musical Comedy Youth Society to support a local youth drama group and to the Camelia Botnar Children’s Centre talent show fundraising campaign, and is planning on donating the limited edition prints of local artist Debbie Holt’s unique drawings of The Assembly all Hall, Connaught and Pavilion theatres Hall, the Connaught and Pavilion Theatres to Worthing Theatres for sale to raise funds for the buildings.

Contact:

Jonathan Woodley Tel: 07956 403519

Email: info@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk

Alternative contact:

Roy Stannard

Tel: 07803 269154

Email: marketing@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk

Our latest newsletter following the public meeting on the 21st April which looks at the future role of the Trust. Go to this link:

http://bit.ly/Nnpe4c

Worthing Theatres Manager Peter Bailey announces his retirement

Worthing Theatres Manager Peter Bailey has announced that he plans to retire in August. The Trust and its friends and supporters wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement.

We look forward to hearing from Worthing Borough Council what form his replacement role might take.

Worthing Herald article by Sarah Dale published 26th April 2012

At 10.30am on Saturday 21st April at Broadwater manor School, the WTT Trustees held an open meeting to which Friends, Associates, Councillors,and the press were invited to hear the latest position from the Trust’s perspective.

The report above was written by Sarah Dale and was carried in the 26th April edition of the Worthing Herald.

Worthing Theatre Trustees hold public meeting

Friends Meeting on 21^st April hears the full story.

Since Worthing Borough Council opted to find an internal solution to the running of the theatres late last year there has been much speculation in the Press over the long term future of the town’s theatres and concert venue.  Concerns have been raised over the cost to the taxpayer, the negative publicity concerning the management of the theatres, and the Trust’s participation in and rejection from a tender process and the emergence of the Theatres Management’s own business plan that was rejected at a Council Meeting on the 27^th March.

At a public meeting of friends and supporters at Broadwater Manor School on the 21^st April Worthing Theatres Trust took the opportunity to put certain things on the record.

Key chronology:

• On 25^th November, Worthing Borough Council announced that none of the three final bidders in the six month long tender process to operate the four venues had been successful outright and that it was working towards building its own business plan to take the theatres and venues into profitability and sustainable operation in the future.

• Between Christmas and 1^st February WTT Trustees had three sets of talks with Council Members and Officers to explore how the Trust could work with the Theatres management to improve the viability of the venues to the Town’s benefit. These discussions were initially positive with agreement for an Advisory Board to support the Council Officer who had been given responsibility for the Theatres.  The theatres management was tasked with preparing a business plan for the next five years with an understanding that the Trust would play its part contributing its expertise in a number of business areas and would have the opportunity to comment on the business plan before adoption.

• At the beginning of February representatives of the Trust Board met key Council officers and members in order to explore the Advisory Board’s framework within which the Trust and the Council could work together to promote the future of theatre and performance art in Worthing.  As a result it was agreed that the Trust would provide a list of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assist Worthing Borough Council to set priorities and inform and review performance over a five year period.

• The Trust was invited to sit as part of an Advisory & Support Group which met for the first time on the 27^th March in order to advise on the internally produced business plan, just three hours before the WBC Theatres Business Plan was considered by the Joint Strategic Committee and rejected.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Yallop has from the beginning stated his support for the Trust’s involvement in the process. In light of this, the Worthing Herald interview with him on the 1^st March was disappointing from the Trust’s perspective as it suggested that the Council rejected all final tender bids because none of them provided a way for the Council to save running costs. In fact some of the internal assumptions in terms of running costs and profit and loss were inaccurate as they included capital depreciation which meant that the subsidy was in fact less than the £1.2m pa stated.

The Trust’s tender proposal included a specific set of strategies that were aimed at improving the service offered, increasing income and reducing cost, with just one such example being the transfer of catering operations to in-house rather than leased out. This has now been adopted internally along with our other recommendation – a brand new CRM-based computerised ticketing and monitoring system. An entirely new approach to Marketing and Customer Relationship Management was central to the Trust’s proposal.

The Trust proposed to put in place a reduced subsidy from the Council tapering to £300k over five years, with all profits being channelled back into the four venues.

In terms of managing the venues, the Trust’s plan was centred on engaging in a ‘Big Society’ style partnership between the Trust, the Council and the Community in order to develop theatre and the arts in Worthing.

At the beginning of February representatives of the Trust Board met key Council officers and members in order to explore the Advisory Board’s framework within which the Trust and the Council could work together to promote the future of theatre and performance art in Worthing.  As a result it was agreed that the Trust would provide a list of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assist Worthing Borough Council to set priorities and inform and review performance over a five year period. This has been done but was not circulated internally before the first meeting of the Advisory Board on the 27^th March.

Subsequent to the Council meeting on the 27^th March at which elements of the business plan were rejected (such as the purchase of a new digital projector system for the Connaught) the Council has requested a revision of the business plan, and are looking at seeking possible external professional support in the form of consultancy.

The Assembly Hall will move onto a limited programme, catering has already moved ‘In-House’ and WTT has been asked to continue their role on a ‘Advisory & Support Board’. This leaves the Trust with limited options. As fundraisers, we would be competing with the Council’s own Charitable Trust that will be occupying similar territory. We could provide feedback and advice to the Council, but there is little indication to date that this is welcomed. The Trust could also broadly support the operation of Worthing Theatres – but not when the activities of the Theatres don’t conform with the declared principles and aims of the Trust.

In light of this, the Trust’s Board feels that its role as a charitable trust set up with the declared intent of running theatres in Worthing has come to an end – and any future activities will lie in the realm of support, advice and lobbying. The Trust reported this to a meeting of 26 Friends and Supporters at Broadwater Manor School, Saturday 21^st April 10.30am when the current state of the theatres and the role that the Trust could play I the future was discussed.

The Trust will continue to petition the Council to bring the issues that still exist to the public eye but will continue as an oversight and lobbying group, keeping the issue front of the public mind.

Trust Chairman Jon Woodley said,

“We were disappointed as local supporters of theatre with real track records in our respective disciplines to hear that along with a rejection of large commercial operators’ bids our proposal was also rejected in favour of the council maintaining an internal solution – despite the track record of millions of pounds of taxpayers money being lost of the last decade.

The Trust has always striven to promote a partnership approach and following the assurances that we were given by Worthing Borough Council of their intent to set up the Advisory Board involving the Trust, we felt that there was a way forward.  We strongly believe that in common with other towns around the UK (including the local example of Eastbourne), a community Trust can make a crucial contribution to the future of theatre. However, the process has produced evidence of reluctance from some parts of Worthing Borough Council to utilise this input and partnership when it would benefit theatre management, staff and the community at no cost to the public purse.

The only people with Theatre and Arts management experience who have contributed to the internal business plan are those who have been running the venues at a significant loss. Why turn down the offer of FREE external advice and support? We also have a plethora of associates and patrons offering their input to make the most of our local theatres.

I find it very disheartening that so many wonderful and skilled people have engaged with Worthing Theatres Trust, donating their time and money, In an attempt to help in a positive manner to improve the theatre offering in Worthing whilst reducing the cost to the taxpayer, only to come up against a lot of resistance to our input.

We will continue to strive for the best possible theatre provision for the town and offering our assistance to Worthing Borough Council, which we believe is the wish of the elected councillors, as we believe that Worthing deserves nothing less than the best.”

Ends

Contact:

Jonathan Woodley Tel: 07956 403519

Email: info@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk

Alternative contact:

Roy Stannard

Tel: 07803 269154

Email: marketing@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk

Since our last newsletter on the 30^th November we hope that you have had a good, relaxing Christmas and an excellent start to the New Year.

Our last communication with you ended on the optimistic note that Worthing Borough Council had invited the Trust to attend talks with them about ways in which the skills, experience and goodwill of the Trust could be harnessed for the benefit of Worthing within some kind of collaboration or partnership context.

Following the Tender process in which WTT was one of the final three, Worthing Borough Council has opted for an internal solution to the challenge of making the theatres and venues profitable over the next five years, we are pleased that the probable formula for the future is a local one and one where interested parties may be able to contribute.

As the Council has declared its intention to keep open the theatres for the forseeable future and maintain them as performing venues for the benefit of the Community, we feel that a central part of our aims and objectives has been recognised by local government.

Since Christmas we have had two sets of talks between WTT representatives and Council Members and Officers to explore how we can work together to the Town’s benefit. These discussions have been positive and the internal process of preparing a business plan over the next five years by Theatres management is likely to bear fruit by April.

The Trust is actively supporting the Theatres in offering any support we can to make this critical phase in the Theatres future more positive, better resourced and forward thinking.

Trust Chairman Jon Woodley said, “We continue to be committed to helping to preserve the structure, fabric and public interaction of Worthing Theatres in order to protect and strengthen the rich heritage that Worthing has in the provision of the creative arts. We see this sector as a key contributor to the future economic and cultural wellbeing of Worthing and we will work tirelessly in co-operation with the Council to achieve these ends.”

Representatives of the Trust Board are meeting key Council officers and members in the coming weeks in order to explore a framework within which the Trust and the Council can work together to promote the future of theatre and performance art in Worthing.  This is an exciting time for Worthing Theatres and working together with the Council, we hope to be able to help the venues succeed for the long term.

We will keep you informed and do reiterate how valuable your support is at this critical time, but do keep supporting your local theatres and we will let you know the date of the next friends meeting or activity shortly.

Please keep the dialogue going with us at:

ideas@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk 

Helen Scott

WTT Trustee

The basis for future collaboration?

 A small piece apperared in the Worthing Herald on the 9th February, outlining our progress in working with the Council to enable the aims of the Trust to be build into the management of the Theatres moving forward.

Worthing Theatres Trust is disappointed to learn that we have not been successful in the process (although interviewed as one of the 3 bids shortlisted from the original 17), but takes comfort in the news that the Council intends to maintain the present operation of all the venues locally as this was an important part of our proposal.

As a Charity established for the declared purpose of supporting Theatre and the Arts within the Worthing and wider community, our view is that these buildings and the activities within them represent potential centres of excellence which are fundamentally important to the future of the cultural offering of the South Coast.

Whilst not being appointed to take the Worthing Theatres forward as the outright bid winner, Worthing Theatres Trust is delighted to confirm that it is engaging in positive communication with the Council about how it can help to support Worthing Theatres to ensure the future of these buildings and their activities.

Trust Chairman Jon Woodley said, “Whilst sad that we have not been asked to operate the theatres outright, we feel pleased that the solution to this situation now appears to lie within Worthing. We will continue to work to protect the fabric of these wonderful venues, add substantially to the cultural choice on offer in the South Coast, and hope to be able to work alongside the Council to ensure these venues continue to develop as key element of the theatre and arts provision within the Town.”

Representatives of the Trust Board are meeting the Council in the next 2 weeks to explore ways in which we can work together with the Council and Worthing Theatres to actively support theatre and the arts in the community in its bid to preserve local theatre for local people.

Ends

For comment please contact:

Jonathan Woodley Tel: 07956 403519
Email: info@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk

Alternative contact: Roy Stannard Tel: 07803 269154

Email: marketing@worthingtheatrestrust.co.uk

Please click on the images above to enlarge and read:

Essentially Worthing magazine has been part of the local media landscape since 2006.

More recently, it has been acquired by new owner Jacquie Pond of Pond Publishing who intends to take it more up-market and involve it more in the life of the town. It prints 18,000 copies every month and contains a range of interesting local features including a EWK Kids Club feature and health, gardening and pets sections. It can be picked up free from a large number of outlets across the area from Shoreham to Arundel.

Jacquie has kindly devoted a front cover and pages 6 and 7 to the campaign being run to preserve the theatres by Worthing Theatres Trust and I have reproduced the pages above. Please click on them to enlarge them. Alternatively, you can read the magazine on-line by going to this link:

http://essentiallyworthing.co.uk/

Everyone involved at Worthing Theatres Trust would like to thank Jacquie for her assistance in promoting the cause. Go and pick up a copy now!

Shout About Productions 2 week Summer School for 8-16 year olds.

In association with Worthing Theatres Trust.

Worthing youth theatre training academy, Shout About Productions is running a two week Summer School starting on Monday 15^th August for youngsters aged 8-16 years. The course is designed to equip youngsters with hard-edged theatre skills from casting to choreography, reading lines to rehearsal, putting promotional material together to final performance.

The Company has been set up by Terri Geal, Dan Smith and Marc Yarrow – all of whom are well known to Worthing theatre goers as alumni of Worthing Musical Comedy Society. They have all also been integrally involved with many WMCS Youth Theatre productions.

Terri Geal

Terri Geal AISTD, ANEA, BA (Hons)  is both a performer and a qualified teacher with qualifications in Dance and Drama. She appeared in Pride and Prejudice for Working Title Films and was a featured dancer on the The Lenny Henry Show. Other work includes- Kagel, Comedy and Catastrophe for the Royal Academy of Music and the Workshop productions of Little Women and Area 51- the latter winning the Cameron Mackintosh Award. Terri works at Northbrook College as a Course Leader for Musical Theatre and at the world leading dance school, Glendale Theatre Arts. She has choreographed many shows for local companies including Oklahoma! and West Side Story which won the Accolade of Excellence from Noda.

Daniel Smith

Daniel Smith is an Acting and Directing Foundation Degree student at Northbrook College. Roles he has played in this capacity have included Mr. Sparkish in The Country Wife and the lead role of Johnny Byron in the recent production of Jerusalem.

Marc Yarrow

As a choral conductor, Marc Yarrow has experience with adult and youth choirs and has a wide repertoire of both classical and more popular music. He has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe and has performed in some of the great venues of the world including the Queen Elizabeth Hall (London), Birmingham Symphony Hall, Millennium Centre (Cardiff) and the o2 Arena (London). He has performed with the BBC and has been under the baton of many famous conductors. Marc is now resident Musical Director of two highly successful choirs and has won many awards for his work.

At the end of the fortnight the students will have the chance to perform on the Northbrook Theatre stage in Walt Disney’s ‘The Jungle Book’.

The Course will introduce students to the following: 

> Singing Technique and Group Work.

> Dance and Movement Workshops

> Improvisation and Character Development

> Perform in a Professional Theatre – Northbrook Theatre is a 160 seat fully
    equipped theatre. Students will be supported by excellent Technical
    Theatre staff, including Lighting, Sound & Stage Management.

> Help Build your own Set

> Workshops in Hair and Stage Make Up

> Help Design & Create your own Costumes

The main workshops and rehearsals will be held at Glendale Studios, Penfold Road, Worthing, BN14 8PH whilst performances and technical rehearsals will be at Northbrook Theatre, Littlehampton Road, Worthing, BN14 6NU. The total cost for all workshops is £180.

As part of Worthing Theatres Trust’s commitment to youth in the community and pro-active work to get young people more interested in the theatre, the Theatres Trust is working in association with Shoutabout to promote this opportunity. Each student who joins the course via WTT will attract £10 to the cause.

Organiser and Director, Terri Geal said, “It’s great childcare for the summer as it runs from 9.30-5.30 and because it will give all students on the course a real taste of what it is like to dream up, cast, rehearse and put a complete show together. It will be a unique experience on lots of different levels – not to mention great fun!

There are already approaching fifty signed up and just a few places left so if anyone is interested they should contact Terri immediately.

 -Ends-

Terri Geal in her memorable performance in The Producers as Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson.

For interviews and more information contact:

Terri Geal mob: 07900 197718

Email: info@shoutaboutproductions.co.uk

Press, comment and pictures requests:

Roy Stannard – Account Director Zerofiftyone Media

Tel: 07803 269154 / 01273 587446

Email: roy@zerofiftyone.com

www.shoutaboutproductions.co.uk