Minster Playhouse – Chairman’s Report, January 2015
Introduction
Like 2013, this year has been a successful, eventful, and happy one for the Playhouse, despite seeing
a small fall in audience numbers attending, and less profit on all productions. As before, we have
continued to demonstrate our willingness to undertake more difficult productions and to strike out
in new theatrical directions. We continue to show great commitment to quality and to audience
satisfaction, but these have been less rewarded this year than previously. The Committee has been
active in addressing the possible problems and in seeking solutions, and some of these will be
implemented in the coming year.
Productions
May Play
Our first, and award-winning production was Move Over Mrs. Markham, directed by Steve with
excellent casting, well performed across the board, very successful, and great fun. An excellent set
by Peter coped amazingly well with the inevitable stresses of a farce with rapid exits and heavily
slammed doors. It was very well received by a wide audience range, including the new vicar.
Autumn Play
As soon as MOMM performances were over we were into rehearsal for the autumn production,
Steel Magnolias. As usual Peter had built the set in the barn well before production and the cast
were able to rehearse in a real dimension space. He also produced running water in a sink with a
very clever and well –designed pump system.
Again, Niki cast the play very well, with Sheila Chapman, no longer a newcomer, playing Clairee, with
new faces to the Playhouse, Lucy Gudgin playing Annelle, and Miranda Peacock playing M’lynn
contributing to an excellent production.
Although a serious plot with the death of Shelby the pivot of the second act, there were many laughs
to balance the pathos, and the production was well received.
The Revue
Debbie put on a review this year. It was not done under the auspices of the Playhouse, but the
Playhouse was happy to support it, and it was a very good and happy evening, raising money for
Charity.
Pantomime
Dominique directed our pantomime this year and chose an excellent book, Dick Whittington,
continuing our present theme of traditional pantomimes. As always an enthusiastic cast worked
hard to please a wide range of audiences.
Laura Portanier played Dick, accompanied by an excellent cat played by Jeff Barker with great feline
empathy inside a beautifully made and very effective cat costume of his own making. Sarah
Pamphilion as Fairy Bow-bells and Terry Wood as King Rat, also in a beautifully realised costume,
were a great hit with the audiences, while Lizzie Beech Garwood took her first lead role as Alice, the
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Principal Girl, daughter of Alderman Fitzwarren played by Julian Moore, returning to our stage after
his role as Beast a few years ago. Marcus Hogben in only his second appearance as our Dame gave
us Sarah the Cook to great effect, while Neal Morcom and Steve Clement provided the comic duo,
working the audiences with their usual skill. Ruth Clement played Idle Jack, and built a strong
rapport with all the audiences. Oh yes she did!
Cameo roles were well-played as always by Niki Kelly as the Sultana of Morocco and Chloe Miller as
her maidservant Zubediah, and supported by an enthusiastic and versatile chorus of citizens, sailors,
and rats.
Much appreciated backstage help came from Jane Goodson and her husband who made a seriously
impressive throne for the Sultana.
For the first time, this year we had decided to put on two matinees on the Saturday, to respond to
the apparent need for more matinee seats. The first performance at eleven in the morning produced
a house about two thirds full, while the afternoon performance was full, and produced the greatest
sale of refreshments of the whole run. The Saturday evening performance was full and also provided
the best audience of the week.
One downside was that Jeff’s costume was very hot to wear, and with the third performance he was
in costume for thirteen hours, and it is probably fair to say that a less fit man might not have
managed it.
One important point was that due to the hard work of Niki and Sarah with our newly enhanced
wardrobe, we were able to clothe the Dame very well in a different costume for each entrance, as it
should be, and entirely from our own wardrobe reserves.
Again, this production was thoroughly enjoyed by our audiences.
Other Events
There were the usual social events, the Strawberry tea in the summer and a quiz at the old schools,
which were much enjoyed by those who attended, and thanks go to those who organised and
worked for them.
There was also a Summer Spectacular in the gardens of the Bell which brought in people from
outside the Playhouse and was a great success, leaving the intention to do the same again in 2015.
This event was a fund-raiser for the charity CRY and donated £250, and here I should mention that
the Playhouse has donated some considerable sums to charity this year, and it is a happy thing that
we were able to do that.
In the autumn the Playhouse put on another Spooktacular for Hallowe’en, with Jeff Barker and the
Experience trio providing excellent music and showmanship. The Hall was decorated and lit to
enhance the experience and, with the exception of one miserable soul, the Playhouse really went to
town on costumes and make-up, and to great effect.
A wonderful evening was had by all, even the miserable soul, and there was considerable support
from the Village, with the Bell taking two full tables, the Bellringers another, and some other
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villagers joining in. It was sad that, out of a contact list of over a hundred people, so few of the
Playhouse attended to support this excellent Playhouse event.
Finally, last year Lynn noticed in the local paper a local awards system, the Obelisk Awards, for local
drama and performance. This was investigated, and Move Over Mrs. Markham was entered. The
Awards ceremony was held on Saturday 13th December, we were delighted to learn that MoMM had
won the award for Best Play!
Congratulations to everyone involved with this production, and let’s do it again!
Technical
The technical side of the Playhouse continues to advance. Sets by Peter have withstood the rigours
of farce and its constantly slamming doors, and provided running water on-set for Steel Magnolias.
The ability to light the stage from above by the provision of bars from the beam to the proscenium
wall has revolutionised our lighting, allowing us to use our very limited resources to better effect,
and at the same time making the erection of the Front of Stage curtains much quicker, and their
positioning more versatile.
For the Pantomime we sited Stan on Stage Left for the first time which seemed generally to be an
improvement in our use of Hall space. Stan still provides us with an extremely professional sound for
our shows which we so much appreciate. He isn’t here, but we thank him.
As a final brief note, we have had a young and enthusiastic supporter of the lighting department in
Josh Sullivan whose keenness was rewarded by allowing him to operate the board for the Saturday
night performance. Josh is only eleven, but he operated with amazing fluency and touch, and did not
put a foot wrong. At his age it is early days yet but I think that he has the eye as well as the touch
and may grow into the role of our next lighting man.
Financial
Without treading too heavily on our treasurer’s toes, it is clear the Playhouse is in good financial
health. At one time in our history the Pantomime made a small profit, and the May Play lost a small
amount of money, or broke even. With greater effort in selling advertising for the programme,
selling the programmes, and providing refreshments that people want to buy at a really cheap, but
still profitable price, the Front of House now makes a profit, and this has helped to bring most
productions across the line into a profit situation.
It is a little disappointing that with this relatively new profit centre our productions this year have
slipped back financially. This year we spent more on the staging of the productions, because as the
quality of our staging increases, no one wants to go back to a lesser situation.
It may also be that our publicity needs to be enhanced, and this is a topic that the Committee has
been debating at length this year, and is already being acted upon.
It is very difficult to know what more to do to get more people to attend our performances. We
work hard to find productions to please our public, and to produce them to a high standard, wellstaged and performed.
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The Committee
To answer this question, and other similar ones, we need useful people on the Committee. The
existing members of the Committee would really welcome new minds and thoughts. This isn’t a
daunting commitment – Committee meetings are held once a month or less frequently, and are
usually about an hour and a half in length. They are business like, but fun, and we have a lot of
laughter.
Next year and beyond
In 2015 we have a comedy, Plaza Suite, for our May Play, each of the three separate acts being
directed by a different director with the intention of keeping each act distinct in terms of direction
and cast.
No actor will have a huge part to learn, and the piece is fun with each act amusing in a different way.
The directors are: Sarah Pamphilion directing Act I; David Downes-Powell Act II, and Terry Wood
directing Act III.
Act I Is about an older couple and their failing marriage; Act II about a young middle-aged couple
trying to get back together; and Act III about a nervous bride on her wedding day, and her family’s
reactions. The comedy gets broader with each act.
No decision has yet been taken on our autumn production, but we hope to have the Summer and
Hallowe’en events again.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to thank all those members of the committee who have not already been
mentioned and thanked; Terry, who left the office of Secretary in the summer, but who remains a
committed worker at every get-in, and get-out, and on stage; Roger our careful and prudent
treasurer; Steve, the quiet voice of experience; Ruth, who stepped in to take over as Minutes
Secretary, and Lynn.
As before, I would also like to mention the Village Hall Committee and Eric James in particular, who
have been so ready to allow the Playhouse to install its equipment in the fabric of the hall and for
their support for the Playhouse and our performances.
Finally, I thank the committee and the membership for their support to me, but far more
importantly, to the Playhouse itself.
In closing, I remember the Sunday after the last night of the Panto, when get-out was over, and I said
to Lynn that, while many people would see what we all do with the Playhouse as “just a hobby”, it
does leave you with the feeling that you have spent the time, the effort, the aches and pains and the
tiredness on something worthwhile, because people come to see what we do, and leave happier,
with a smile on their faces and “Thank you” on their lips. We have much to be proud of; much to
build upon; more audiences to delight, and the people in the Playhouse to make it all happen.
David Downes-Powell
Chairman
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