Octagon Theatre Bolton annual report 2013/14 octagon Bolton Box office: 01204 520661 www.octagonbolton.co.uk Principal Sponsor Sue Hodgkiss, CBE DL Principal Patron
introduction welcome to the octagon s 2013/14 annual report It has been an exceptional year for the Octagon in a number of respects. During the summer of 2013 we undertook the largest refurbishment of the theatre since the 1990s: modernising the auditorium lighting grid and refurbishing the front of house areas. Alongside these changes we introduced a new food and drink service: improving the audience experience, achieving an increase in sales and helping the Octagon manage the ever reducing level of public investment in the arts. With such a visible change to our facilities it seemed only right to launch an ambitious artistic programme with it. Our 2013/2014 season was our busiest and best attended since the Theatre s fortieth anniversary in 2007, with a diverse range of plays that delighted audiences. The quality of work, particularly our classic and American plays, remained as high as ever. Off stage our range of opportunities for creative learning continued to develop, from our new Little Bridges group for under-12s with disabilities, to our partnership with the University of Salford and other regional theatres to teach an MA in Creative Writing: Playwriting. We also launched a groundbreaking scheme with housing provider Bolton at Home to encourage access to the theatre for individuals in local communities. We would like to pay particular tribute to the staff and volunteers who have worked incredibly hard to achieve such a successful year; and of course to our audiences, partners and donors for their ongoing support. Margaret Blenkinsop Roddy Gauld David Thacker Chair of Trustees Chief Executive Artistic Director If you have any comments or questions about this Annual Report please get in touch on 01204 529407, or email roddy.gauld@octagonbolton.co.uk. Photo credit: Ian Tilton. 2 3
productions The plays presented during 2013/2014 made up a rich and varied programme demonstrating exceptional ensemble acting, the intimacy and flexibility of the auditorium, and the relevance of theatre to contemporary audiences all of which characterise our work. American classics played a prominent role with productions of The Glass Menagerie and Long Day s Journey Into Night. According to The Guardian, under David Thacker s tenure the Octagon has become the home of heavyweight American drama. A perfect testament to our quality and programming of this work, and indeed the ambition to stage Long Day s Journey Into Night: a major play which is rarely performed. Classic British plays were also a strong feature with productions of An Inspector Calls and Hobson s Choice, which not only received excellent reviews but joined the list of the Octagon s top five best-selling plays ever. Together with a Lancashire-inspired production of Twelfth Night, these plays were particularly well attended by schools reflecting our desire for the Theatre to be accessible to young people and contribute towards their education. The pairing of plays to give audiences a deeper understanding of the work was evident with An Inspector Calls and Long Day s Journey Into Night, where the same cast presented two very different families, requiring performances of great emotional depth. Strong female protagonists, as well as the proof that anyone from an impoverished background can flourish and reach their potential, was clear in both Hobson s Choice and Piaf. Telling the dark life story of Edith Piaf, Caroline Faber s outstanding central performance in Piaf was described by the Manchester Evening News as an extraordinary performance in the challenging title role - it's a tour de force. Robin Hood continued our festive show tradition of giving audiences a contemporary cultural twist on wellknown tales using a diverse and talented company of actor/musicians. As well as being entertaining, the show provided valuable lessons for young people about fairness, greed and that it doesn t matter who you are; even the smallest person can do massive brilliant things! Our intended production of Stitched Up unfortunately did not go ahead as more development was needed on the script. It is part of the risk of theatre that not every production will materialise as hoped and instead we presented a very relevant play, the Dario Fo farce Can t Pay? Won t Pay! which satirised living in times of austerity. Another topical piece of work within the Season was Stella Feehily s hard-hitting new play, This May Hurt A Bit; a coproduction with Out of Joint which provocatively highlighted the problems facing the NHS. Production photos: Ian Tilton Top row, from left: Long Day s Journey Into Night, An Inspector Calls, Twelfth Night Middle row, from left: Hobson s Choice, Piaf, Robin Hood Bottom row, from left: The Glass Menagerie, This May Hurt A Bit, Can t Pay? Won t Pay! 5
learning and participation Photo credit: Sophia Keenan Inclusion remains at the heart of the Octagon. We believe in giving everyone the opportunity to experience and take part in theatre and the arts. We work hard to break the socio-economic, access and culture barriers that may exist and reach a wide range of people, particularly through our work with young people. In 2013 we launched an innovative partnership with housing and regeneration provider Bolton at Home to enable tenants who had little or no experience of theatre to attend for free. As well as seeing a production, many people had the opportunity to meet actors and staff from the Octagon: helping to extend their engagement and leading to new theatre clubs being formed for groups to enjoy and discuss the theatre experience together. I ve attended the Octagon s youth theatre since I was 6 years old, for about 9 years. Being a part of the Octagon makes me feel part of something interesting; it s inspiring and full of opportunities. The Octagon has helped me increase my confidence and given me opportunities to get involved, learn, experience and meet many different people. Rory Squitieri, Bruntwood Academy and INDRA participant. Building on the success of our Bridges Youth Theatre, a specific provision for young people with disabilities, we launched Little Bridges for young people with disabilities under the age of 12. We also established a new d/deaf Youth Theatre for people aged 16 to 25. Our Switch Project, which promotes diversity and community cohesion through youth arts and leadership, supported the launch of our Youth Board as well as delivering a range of projects and training with groups and schools in Bolton and Oldham. Meanwhile, the Bruntwood Academy, working in partnership with the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, undertook its third production entirely written, created and performed by participants. The production was then toured to several schools settings, sharing the work with local communities. My daughter attends the Little Bridges project, she s really enjoyed meeting the other children in the group and has taken to the people who run the group brilliantly. Whilst my daughter is having a fab time doing drama and playing games, I get the chance to have some time out. Meeting other parents who are in the same place as me really helps. Natasha Hulstone, parent. 7
developing artists and audiences Images: (clockwise from top left) Advice for the Young at Heart by Roy Williams, Tim Crouch in I, Malvolio by Tim Crouch, Laurence Clark, Inspired Tour 2013 Our commitment to developing artists, in particular writers, was evident throughout the year including: The Express Project working with the University of Bolton and BBC Writersroom to train writers and provide the opportunity to submit new radio plays which will be distributed online. Script Reading over 500 scripts were read during 2013/14, providing opportunities and feedback for writers development. 14 readings of new plays during the year, providing writers with valuable opportunities to test their plays with audiences. Masterclasses in writing, directing and acting benefited 575 theatre professionals. In partnership with the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, and Royal Exchange Theatre, we launched a joint degree in Playwriting with the University of Salford. Placements for eight trainee directors on Octagon productions. The Octagon has always made me feel welcome and made me feel like a playwright. It values play writers and creates opportunities where we can share our work and our experiences. With the Octagon's support I have now written a full length play with Arts Council England Grants for the Arts funding. The play is to have a rehearsed reading in the Octagon s Studio Theatre; this is such an important step for me as a writer. Nicola Schofield, playwright. Our studio theatre is a place for new work, new audiences and new ideas. Here we presented theatre by artists with national and international reputations such as Laurence Clark, Roy Williams and Tim Crouch, alongside emerging writers and local theatre companies with their first plays. We were delighted to welcome fingersmiths to the Studio with their production Frozen. Developed in collaboration with National Theatre Studio, Frozen saw a cast of four deaf and two hearing actors bring fingersmiths visual and physical theatre style to the play. It was performed in British Sign Language and spoken English, opening it up to a wider audience. As well as our regular Best of Bolton showcase of local writers, the Love Inn took the ideas from our first writers sleepover and shared new writing with a special site-specific performance at Smithills Hall in Bolton. We also programmed a number of family and children s events, including our first production working with Bolton Food and Drink Festival, reaching a huge audience of first-time and very young theatre attenders! I love welcoming people in to the theatre, sharing their excitement before the show and hearing their comments at the interval and end of show. Volunteer meeter and greeter, Linda Adams. 9
improving the octagon Octagon production team accessing the new and improved lighting grid in the auditorium. I have very fond memories of some happy times at the Octagon. I was an usher there when I was in the sixth form at Bolton School over 30 years ago and eventually got to do some work backstage including dismantling sets at the end of each show and working through a Saturday night - great fun! Last year I bought my wife some Season Tickets for her birthday and we've become regulars, it's nice to give a bit back and see the theatre thriving! John Brownlow, Octagon Season Ticket holder. In September 2013 we opened eight, our new contemporary café, and unveiled our improved bar and foyer areas. Customer feedback and declining sales had highlighted the need for us to invest in and re-energise this part of our business. A combination of staff restructuring, physical improvements, and a new food and drink concept has resulted in a 36% increase in sales from September 2013 to the end of the year. We focus on high quality, local produce which reflects the values of the Octagon as an organisation. And our new food and drink events add to the Theatre s range of programming. eight was not the only area to undergo a transformation though. Our lighting grid and electrics were nearly fifty years old and no longer fit for purpose. It was essential to replace these with new wiring and modern stage systems. The result is a far safer and more practical auditorium for technicians and designers The official opening of café eight, September 2013 Photo credit: Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club to work in. We have also been able to significantly reduce our electricity usage, thereby saving costs and becoming a much greener organisation. These improvements are the result of exceptional fundraising by the Octagon and we are incredibly grateful to Arts Council England, Bolton Council, Biffa Award, Sue Hodgkiss CBE DL, the Monument Trust and the Garfield Weston Foundation for their grants. Our audiences also donated significantly and we would like to thank them for their generosity and ongoing support. 11
2013/14 income and expenditure Trustees Statement on Summary Financial Information The financial information below has been extracted from the full audited accounts of the Octagon Theatre Trust Ltd in order to give a brief overview of the Octagon s finances. Copies of the audited accounts can be obtained from the Octagon s registered office by email (info@octagonbolton.co.uk), or by downloading from either Companies House or the Charity Commission websites. Catering Services; 237,710 income 2013/2014 total income 2,204,655 Other Income; 31, 836 Learning & Participation; 120, 432 Box Office receipts; 805,972 Grant Funding - Revenue; 874,049 Sponsorship & Donations; 134, 656 Catering Services; 266, 452 expenditure 2013/2014 total expenditure 2,327,652 Learning & Participation; 114,343 Direct cost of productions; 619,736 Operating costs; 1,327,121 Photo credit: Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club 13
facts and figures Photo credit: Ian Tilton 76,931 people attended a main house octagon performance during 2013/14 (4918 more than in 2012/13). in terms of Box office takings, two productions in the financial year, Hobson s Choice and An Inspector Calls, became the second and third best-selling non-festive productions in the octagon s history. our research showed that 94% of people rated their experience of the octagon as good or better. research also showed that 27% of attenders had their first experience of live theatre at the octagon this year. 18,113 school children attended theatre performances. it costs 2,941.35 to stage each performance at the octagon. 64% of our overall expenditure was spent in the north west, a total of 1,483,468. The Octagon has a wonderful community spirit, the work it creates is diverse and opens up classic texts as well as new writing to its audiences. Working here gave me a chance to develop my craft as an actor, and to continue learning. The Octagon has given me confidence in my work and reinforces in me that theatre is necessary in every community. Fiona Hampton, actor Photo credit: Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club 15
octagon Bolton "under david thacker s tenure, the octagon has Become the home of heavyweight american drama." the guardian on LONG DAY S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT the passion of the director, elizabeth newman, for the issues which the play deals with shines through in this production. the Bolton news on CAN T PAY? WON T PAY! Just what the doctor ordered." the observer on THIS MAY HURT A BIT "it s simply a triumph! if you hated shakespeare at school i urge you to see this magical production - it may change your mind." manchester evening news on TWELFTH NIGHT The Octagon Theatre is a Registered Charity and gives thanks to all its supporters. Registered Charity Number: 248833 The Octagon Theatre Trust is a Limited Company Registered in England No: 882226 Principal Sponsor Principal Patron Sue Hodgkiss, CBE DL Major Partner Production Sponsor www.anonymousdesign.net Photo credit: Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club