BLUE TEAPOT ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Transcription

1 BLUE TEAPOT ANNUAL REPORT 2016

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS 1 MESSAGE FROM CEO 1 Looking Ahead in PROGRAMME DELIVERY 3 PROJECTS AND EVENTS 4 BUSINESS & FINANCE 9 STAFF & CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 9 FUNDRAISING - EVENTS & donors in COMPANY INFORMATION 13

3 TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS Blue Teapot is a multi-award winning Theatre Company at the forefront of arts & disability in Ireland. We also run a Performing Arts School and two Outreach programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. Blue Teapot is committed to high quality theatre, training and the celebration of creativity. Our mission is to effect positive change in public consciousness concerning people with intellectual disabilities through the medium of theatre, allowing our members inherent talent and creativity to speak for itself. MESSAGE FROM CEO I am delighted to present the 2016 Annual Report for Blue Teapot Theatre Company and wish to acknowledge the considerable contribution made by everyone involved in the programme of activities and events throughout the year including actors, performing arts students, outreach participants, tutors, funders, volunteers, directors and staff. We welcomed the findings from our specially commissioned Social Return on Investment report, Ability not Disability: Arts, Bravery and Changing Views in Ireland produced by Quality Matters which evaluated the work of our company and its impact on all participants and their lives - For every 1 euro invested in Blue Teapot there is a return of 4 euro. It was in the main extremely positive however it highlighted the fact that there was nowhere for the Performing Arts School students to progress to after completion of the 3 year programme. However, this finding resulted in the Brothers of Charity Services Galway starting a new project to resolve this. Artistic highlights in 2016 included the premiere of Waiting For Elvis by Eileen Gibbons which opened in the Town Hall Theatre Galway in May, as part of Galway Theatre Festival, with an ensemble cast of five actors from the company. Audience attendance was very healthy and we made a good return at the box office. Two incredible opportunities came knocking both with a strong European flavour. In April, Blue Teapot was invited by a pan European project Crossing The Line - consisting of three leading theatre companies from France, Sweden and the U.K working with intellectually disabled artist - to join the partnership. In the autumn, all partners (now including Dutch, Polish and Welsh companies) applied for a Creative Europe large co-operation grant to deliver a four- year programme to build capacity, trans-migration of artists and their work and the creation of festivals. Happily, this coincided with 1

4 Galway winning the European Capital of Culture for 2020 of which Blue Teapot was an integral part of the bid book. For this, we will create new works and a Crossing The Line Festival in May 2020 featuring all seven European partners. Another considerable body of work was the completion of Sanctuary the film adapted by Christian O Reilly from his stage play commissioned and produced by Blue Teapot in The cast and crew reassembled in January for the final two weeks of filming under the exemplary direction of Len Collin and producer Edwina Forkin of Zanzibar Films. With huge anticipation, Sanctuary s world premiere as the closing film of the Galway Film Fleadh did not disappoint with an overwhelming standing ovation, scooping up the award Best New Irish Feature Film. The Board continued to progress the adoption of The Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations. I would also like to express the Board s appreciation and gratitude to all our funders whose continued support enriches the creative lives of our artists. In conclusion, the quality of partnerships that approached and developed in 2016 reflect the outstanding work of Blue Teapot Theatre Company and bring exciting possibilities for the future flowering of our work. LOOKING AHEAD IN 2017 Crossing The Line partners will await the funding decision from Creative Europe in April and will kick start the project in September if successful with an exchange of skills sharing workshops between companies and their actors. Preparation will commence on our project for Galway European Capital of Culture 2020 including hosting one of our Crossing The Line partners from Wales, Hijinx, with their hit show Meet Fred as part of Galway International Arts Festival in July. This is part of developing a wider audience for our festival in Sanctuary will travel the film festival circuits globally and get a general cinema release in Ireland scheduled for the summer. Petal Pilley CEO September

5 PROGRAMME DELIVERY Blue Teapot Theatre Company We are the only professional, intellectually disabled acting ensemble that trains and performs at the highest level, on the main stages of Ireland s leading arts festivals. Performing Arts School an accredited provider in the West of Ireland of performing arts training with programmes leading to QQI awards at Level 3. Bright Soul Our long standing Outreach programme (founded 1996), born as a simple creative outlet for adults with moderate intellectual disabilities. It maintains an ethos rooted in arts participation and social inclusion. Sparkle Now an established Outreach project a young ensemble - especially for teenagers with intellectual disabilities. Throughout 2016, a range of classes were delivered across our programme strands: Blue Teapot Theatre Company: Three day per week programme consisting of classes in Drama and Improvisation, Creative Writing, Singing, Dance, Media Training, Yoga, Puppetry. New in 2016 Space X initiative in which artists were invited to showcase works in progress. Réalta (performance artists/circus), Jay Ryan with Lali Morris (children s show in progress) and Emma O Grady (solo theatre show). Performing Arts School students: Four day per week programme consisting of modules leading to QQI Level 3 minor awards Art & Design, Music, Drama, Event Participation, and Puppetry & Drawing. Galway Adult Basic Education Services provided 2.5 tutor hours per week in literacy classes to our learners every Monday. Other learning: Puppetry Performance, Yoga, Creative Writing, Dance and Communications. September new intake of nine new students to the Performing Arts School. November Graduation of seven outgoing students who were 100% successful in all programmes leading to QQI Awards at Level 3. 3

6 OUTREACH: Bright Soul held its annual spring & autumn terms run by tutors Danielle Leonard, Orla McGovern & Rod Goodall and assisted by volunteers Oonagh Hassett, Jakub Zamojski and long term volunteer Ronan Loughney. Sparkle: Eight/ten week drama programme for teenagers resulting from a direct response to demand from parents connected to the Galway branch of Downs Syndrome Ireland. 14 participants partook in Saturday morning workshops led by Eileen Gibbons & assisted by volunteer Hannah Gibbons Coyle. The autumn term was tutored by Rod Goodall KEY PROJECTS AND EVENTS SANCTUARY Feature Film Sanctuary is an Irish Film Board/BAI/RTE co-funded feature film based on an original stage play by Christian O Reilly that was commissioned by Blue Teapot and which subsequently was produced for inclusion in Galway Theatre Festival 2012, Galway International Arts Festival 2013 and Dublin Fringe Festival 2013 amongst other performances. Sanctuary is located and filmed throughout Galway City in December 2015/January 2016 and features the original cast and is one of only a handful of feature films that exist in the world to feature intellectually disabled actors as the principle characters. This is also significant in terms of the film s identity and with that comes the opportunity to further promote Galway as a UNESCO City of Film, Galway as European Capital of Culture 2020 and Galway as a place that champions the artistic work and merit of people with intellectual disabilities. 4

7 Lisa Marie (Valerie Egan) and Elizabeth (Charlene Kelly) waiting WAITING FOR ELVIS Theatre Production Spring Adaptation of poignant play about the delicacy of friendship especially for Blue Teapot by playwright Eileen Gibbons, directed by Artistic Director Petal Pilley and opened in Galway Theatre Festival. The re-draft from an original two hander to a cast of five actors with intellectual disabilities was worked on through a two month rehearsal process and supported by an expert team of theatre makers Mags Linnane (Designer), Ger Sweeney (Scenic Artist), Charmian Goodall (Costume Desinger), Hillary Kavanagh (Production Manager), Jack Cawley (Sound Design) and Jim Faulkner (Lighting Design). Two performances were held at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway on Tuesday 4th May 2016 comprising of a relaxed performance matinee aimed and catered mostly to audiences of school goers, disability service providers, groups and individuals. The evening performance was a more mainstream theatre going audience. Both shows were very well attended and generated net Box Office income of 5364 proving that Blue Teapot produces commercial viable theatre, has a broad audience base and can play to capacity houses in Galway s municipal theatre. 5

8 GALWAY EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE - CROSSING THE LINE+ Throughout the year, Galway s campaign to bid for European Capital of Culture has high on the agenda for cultural institutions and organisations throughout Galway City and County, and we built on our 2015 initial proposal for the official Galway Bid Book saw us consolidate this submission with CEO Artistic Director Petal Pilley travelling to Roubaix, France for round table meetings with some of Europe s leading learning disabled arts organisation. Connections goes back further to Washington, USA in 2012 when Petal was an invited guest at a convening of thought leaders in disability arts at the JF Kennedy Centre. This is where seeds for Crossing The Line were sown with Blue Teapot firmly represented at a table of leading international companies of disability led arts practitioners. Crossing the Line (CTL) originates as a Creative Europe funded programme of the European Union with performance companies comprising artists with intellectual disabilities: Les Oiseau Mouche (France), Moomsteatern (Sweden) and Mind the Gap (England) have been involved in a two year process and skills exchanges, developing artistic practice and a network of professional arts practitioners for disabled artists. Since the April meeting, Blue Teapot became a full partner in this extended network which includes the original three partners above and extended to Poland s Teatr 21, Welsh company Hijinx and Netherland s Theatre Babel, based in Rotterdam. UNITY FESTIVAL, WALES. Blue Teapot s Artistic Director, General Manager and Administrator travelled to Cardiff in June to attend a 2 day intensive assembly with the CTL+ partners to discuss the many aspects and practical workings of future collaborations. There was also opportunity to see professional theatre by the European companies hosted by Hijinx at the Cardiff Millennium Centre. JULY The adjudicating panel of judges for European Capital of Culture visited Blue Teapot at the start of their assessment day. Petal Pilley made the address to the judges as well as company actors and staff in attendance. The outcome as to the campaign bid and Irish host city was made in August with Galway announced the winner. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER Petal travelled to Bradford, UK and Rotterdam to meet partners and see productions/works in progress. This was followed by an intense period of work for a Creative Europe large Co-operation Grant with all partners and project Dramaturg (decision May 2017). 6

9 28 th GALWAY FILM FLEADH World Premiere of SANCTUARY Although filming only finished in January, Sanctuary was chosen as the closing film of the 28th Galway Film Fleadh where it world premiered on Sunday 10th July to a capacity house. It was one of the Fleadh s first screenings to sell out, garnered critical acclaim and capped off by winning Best New Irish Feature Film. A brilliant night was had by all, especially Blue Teapot s actors who dressed for the red carpet like Hollywood royalty! A Night to Remember the world premiere of Sanctuary brings the house down. GRAD CONNECT PROJECT a move on drama programme A twenty week drama project spearheaded by tutor/director Rod Goodall, funded by HSE West National Lottery Fund. This programme was aimed specifically at alumni graduates of the Performing Arts School from A performance will be created & directed by Rod Goodall for May

10 PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL - Official Graduation Ceremony, G Hotel. Class of 2016 Damien Graham, Alan Keady, Amy Clarke, Aoife King, Eilish Lee, Katie Dillon and Maitiú Quinn. 24 th November 2016 was a very special day for seven of the outgoing students of the Preforming Arts School as they graduated with QQI award certificates in at a ceremony in the G Hotel, Galway in front of proud families, tutors, staff, funders including GRETB Adult Education Officer Fiona Loughlin and His Worship, Mayor of Galway City Cllr Noel Larkin who made a special address to the attendees. The ceremony was also attended by the new learners, the class of and Pat McGrath, correspondence of RTE Six One News to capture the excitement and achievement of our graduates. This class was the second roll out of the PAS who now have moved on to a new Initiative Arts Alive, funded by Brothers of Charity Services Galway. Programme funding comes principally through the Back To Education Initiative, administrated by Galway Roscommon Education Training Board. 8

11 BUSINESS & FINANCE In 2016, we continued to work with Bernie Harrigan as our independent management accountant to assist in areas of financial administration, annual audit preparation and work with staff on overseeing financial reporting to a range of stakeholders, funding and government bodies. Figures Booking Services continued to be outsourced Payroll and Revenue administration and MK Brazil continued to provide services for our annual audit. Statement of Financial Position with the Final Audited Accounts for 2015 from our independent auditors MK Brazil is included in this Annual Report. In our opinion the financial statements: - Give a true and fair view, in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice in Ireland of the state of the company s affairs as at 31 st December 2015 and of its surplus for the year ended; and - Have been properly prepared in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework and, in particular, with the requirements of the Companies Act STAFF & CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Changes to the company organisational structure saw the creation of an internal post of General Manager, which would support the CEO/Artistic Director. After an internal recruitment and interview process, Sonja Brodie was appointed to this position. Having completed maternity leave entitlement, Kathy Murphy resigned from her post as Administrator in February 2016 and left our organisation. The post for Administrator was advertised, after the recruitment and interview processes were complete, the position was offered to Hillary Kavanagh who commenced in April. Danielle McDonnell, who was maternity cover administrator while Ms. Murphy was on maternity leave, returned to a familiar role of Performing Arts School Co-ordinator based on 2 days per week. Danielle worked until end of July before leaving our organisation due to her own maternity leave. Knocknacarra District Community Scheme awarded Blue Teapot another place for a community employment scheme worker following on from Jakub Zamojski finishing his term in June. Jakub was replaced by Paul Callinan in the role of a caretaker/classroom assistant. 9

12 EmployAbility assisted the company actors in personal financial matters relating to earnings from Sanctuary film as well as work as theatre professionals. QA Services provide expertise to Blue Teapot s training department in matters concerning QQI (and our programmes leading to QQI awards). Continuous Professional Development - Sonja Brodie commenced a 12 week QQI Level 6 award programme in Employment Law at Western Management Centre from September December. All staff attended various industry specific conferences such as Theatre Forum s annual APAC annual performing arts conference held in Galway, Creative Connections (Arts & Disability Ireland 2 day seminar) FUNDRAISING - EVENTS & DONORS IN was a year that once again depending on major fundraising targets in order to support an ambitious artistic programme, training and career progression of the company Petal Pilley & Sean Conneally togged out on Christmas morning and in to the icy waters of Galway Bay to generate income from the annual Christmas Swim. This is an important fundraiser for us year on year and donations come mostly from the company actors, students & their connections. ICECUBE and Tec Support: October 2015, five members of the ICECube and TecSupport team braved the Killarney Adventure Race in which they cycled, kayaked and ran a 27km course through the scenic Killarney Mountains and parklands. The highlight of the route was the infamous cardiac steps a long, rocky climb up the side of Torc Mountain. Team members included Brendan Cox, brother of Blue Teapot s Jennifer Cox. This endeavor brought in sponsorship raised at just over 3,000, which went towards the 2016 artistic programming. ON THE HIGH SEAS - One of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other is the Clipper Round the World Race. Blue Teapot s Emer Macken s sister Siobhan Beasley was part of the crew onboard the boat Derry-Londonderry-Doire for the final leg of the race, which finished in Derry. We were honored to be Siobhan s designated charity for her incredible endeavor, raising 1,749 for Blue Teapot. Mr. Plink Plonk s Blind Wine Tasting! One unforgettable night in November came courtesy of one Mr. Plink Plonk (aka Liverpool s lost Beatle John Nelson) and his Blind Wine Tasting Fundraiser for Blue Teapot, a riotous mixture of wine tasting, table quiz and school disco. Held in Massimo Bar on a miserable, wet Wednesday night, the night earned Blue Teapot 1,175 and participants a strong headache! We are indebted to Mr. Plink Plonk for such an imaginative and hilarious night. 10

13 You heard it through the grapevine - Mr. Plink Plonk s blind wine tasting was a great night. For a second year, Carol Graham, whose son Damien Graham is a graduate in the Performing Arts School, organized a supermarket bag packing weekends in November at Dunnes Stores Eyre Square branch. This netted 1,645 and was a great team effort from participants, volunteers, staff, Board members and family connections IPB Pride of Place Awards: We were honoured to have been nominated by Galway City Council as a finalist in the 2016 IPB sponsored Pride of Place Awards, We are nominated for achievement in the category of Community Arts Initiative. We had the pleasure of welcoming two of the judging panel in July as well as nominating representatives from Galway City Council, James C Harrold, City Arts Officer and Fiona Coen, Environment Education Officer. In association with Co- Operation Ireland, the Pride of Place is an all-island competition that acknowledges the work that communities are doing all over the island of Ireland. At a Gala dinner held at Belfast s Waterfront on Saturday 26 November, we were announced as the National Winner and awarded 1,000. Many individual donors gave their support, (some whom wished to remain private) attending our events or by organizing their own initiatives. Thank you to all every one of you who ve supported us and contributed for new theatre work to come to fruition in

14 Thank you to all the major stakeholders & public funders that supported our work in 2016 BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES GALWAY ABILITY WEST GALWAY & ROSCOMMON EDUCATION & TRAINING BOARD GALWAY CITY COUNCIL HSE NATIONAL LOTTERY FUND ICECUBE & TECSUPPORT INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC DONORS GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL FRIENDS OF BLUE TEAPOT We greatly appreciate the fundraising endeavors by individuals who chose to nominate Blue Teapot as the beneficiary of their efforts. No matter how small or large the donation is we are so grateful, heartfelt thanks to you. Thank you to families, friends, volunteers, and all connections who have fundraised through our annual Christmas Swim campaign, assisted with our various fundraising ventures throughout

15 COMPANY INFORMATION Blue Teapot Theatre Company CLG CRO No: Blue Teapot Theatre, Munster Avenue, Galway, Ireland. CHY (0) CRN: BOARD OF DIRECTORS CEO & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERS TUTORS KEY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Fiona Coffey (Chair), Sean Conneally (Secretary), Gerardine Lally, Siobhan Ni Ghadra, Carol Browne and John McHugo. Petal Pilley Sonja Brodie, Danielle Leonard, Hillary Kavanagh and Kathy Murphy (resigned February 2016). Ronan Loughney, Oonagh Hassett, Hannah Gibbons, Ivan Moreno Calero. Suppliers for service - Charmian Goodall, Rachel Parry, Emma Lohan, Rod Goodall, Heather Mackey, Aine Lawless, Dave Donovan, Patricia Glynn, Patrick Russell Brown, Orla McGovern, Jay Ryan, Eileen Gibbons, Fiona O Dea, Danielle Leonard, Len Collin, Phillip Sweeney, Genevieve Ryan, Paul Hardiman and Catherine Collins (GABES). Bernie Harrigan (Accountant),Heather Mackey PR, Figures Bookkeeping (External Payroll), MK Brazil Chartered Accountants, Jim Faulkner (electrician), Cathleen Hartnett (QA Services), Pauline O Dwyer (EmployAbility) and Aoife Kelly (web & graphic design). Community Employment Scheme Provided by Knocknacarra District Community Scheme. Jakub Zamojski, Paul Callanan. 13