Information for Members
Newsletter March 09
Last Update 06-Oct-2009
A play of such Intensity
On Monday of last week I had the privilege to see an exemplary demonstration of our art. In Not About Heroes the cast showed ranges of expression and emotion that brought the interaction between the two characters to life in a most impressive way..
Congratulations to Richard and Tom for their performances, and to Vicky and the crew for an evening to remember. The news about the excellence of the performance seemed to spread very fast as after two nights of medium sized audiences the last four nights sold out!
Comments
We should be proud! Seldom do our patrons put "pen to paper", but recently I have received correspondence from four people who have been VERY SATISFIED. The comments place us on a par with the Hippodrome Rep and Malvern.
A Social Event
Natalie Minaker has set up a social event for ALL members AND friends, AND their partners (if they wish).
Thursday 29th January
Night of Improvisation.
Next Play
I hope that you have booked your seats for the next play Improbable Fiction. The seats are starting to sell well, and already Friday is sold out.
This play is taxing the capabilities of the company in unusual ways. The set is not more difficult than some we have built but has its own special requirements. The costume is much more difficult than usual because of the number of quick changes. The Alien Detectors and Containment Pod have thrown at us some interesting challenges.
The play is great fun, just the thing to brighten a dull February evening.
Marketing
"The Publicity Committee are working hard to get The Nonentities and the Rose Theatre well known in the community, but from previous research it is evident that word of mouth is the best form of advertising we have.
This is where we would like your help! We have a number of postcards that need to be distributed, and would like some volunteers from within the society to help us to distribute them especially in the area where you live.
Please contact Kerena at publicity@rosetheatre.co.uk or leave a message with the Box Office for her if you are able to help.
It would also be appreciated if you can take brochures to places of interest for display, and if you could continue to tell friends and family about the theatre.
We also have some posters for use in shops, or other public places. If you can help please contact the office
Thank you" Kerena
The rapport that is developing with the local papers is paying off. Before Improbable Fiction you will see a competition in the Chronicle. Please don't mock the question, remember we are dealing with public awareness, and if the public are aware of the Rose Theatre then maybe they will turn to us for their entertainment.
Next Year
I know, we are only half way through our current season, and yet here we are talking about next year. We need to plan ahead so that we can get licences for our own shows and our visitors also need to be able to plan.
We will open the season in mid September, then do two more main house plays before Christmas. We have left some flexibility for the Christmas play to suit the type of play chosen. Christmas Entertainment will be on four nights again.
Already we have two professional visitors booked, and will be seeking more.
Spring 2009 Season
Do has managed to cast the last three plays.
“April in Paris” -
20th to 24th April - 1st rehearsal 2nd March
Al BOB GRAHAM
Bet JOAN WAKEMAN
Director PAMELA MEREDITH
Prompt LIZ COLE
“Ladies Down Under”
18th to 23rd May - 1st rehearsal 30th March
Pearl VILMA WATSON
Jan NATALIE MAY
Shelley KERENA TAYLOR
Linda NATALIE MINAKER
Men's parts to be doubled up
KIERAN MARCHANT
CRAIG RAYNER
DAN TAYLOR
MARTIN COPLAND- GRAY
[ET AL!! i.e. MEANS ANY ONE AROUND?! ]
Director DO EVANS
Prompt Volunteer Needed
"Arsenic and Old Lace"
15th to 20th June - 1st rehearsal 27th April
Abby Brewster JUDY BASSETT
Martha Brewster JENNY EGLINGTON
Teddy Brewster STEF AUSTIN
Mortimer Brewster RICHARD TAYLOR
Jonathan Brewster ROB CARCATERA
Dr. Dinsteine ROSS WORKMAN
Elaine Harper LAURIE POLLIT
Rev. Harper STUART WOODROFFE
Mr. Gibbs STUART WOODROFFE
Mr Witherspoon BOB GRAHAM
Officer Brophy BOB GRAHAM
Officer Klein DAN TAYLOR
Officer Orhara STAN BARTEN
Lieutenant Rooney MATT GIBBONS
Director DAVID WAKEMAN
Prompt MARGARET WHITE
N.B. as you can see we are a touch short of men!
if there is any one out there who did not send in his [ or her ]“availablity” list and now finds he or she are actually available I would welcome a few more volunteers ASAP.
[ new members are now made very aware ,when they join, that “the nonies” mean all of us should be willing to work in all areas of the theatre. ]
Back stage to follow ASAP.
Finances
With all of the talk about recession you may be wondering if the Rose Theatre is financially viable. We have some cash reserves, but recent experience shows how essential those are.
At the last committee meeting David gave us a projection to the end of year. With typical audiences we will make a profit although much reduced from last year.
However if you look at the figures based only on the performances by the Nonentities the picture is not so rosy. We estimate that our own productions will result in us just about breaking even.
It is only when you add the revenue from the visitors, that the theatre becomes viable.
So far this year we have had to spend money on the roof and in the summer will have to spend money on a new boiler. Also a number of other parts of the theatre are needing repair or replacement. If we do not make a profit, we will not be able to carry out the essential maintenance!
As a society we will need to do some shows each season that are highly commercial. The committee has decided to continue the policy of hiring the theatre to other local societies. Also the committee has decided that we must have a number of professional visitors that will deliver good returns.
The moneys earned from the profitable shows will allow us to perform some of our own plays and hire visitors that we know will not be a commercial success but are good theatre and appreciated by our patrons and members.
Web Site
I am very pleased to welcome Bob Graham into the role of web site assistant. Bob and I will be working to keep the site up to date and moving forward.
It is several years since we last overhauled the site so we are considering if there are any improvements that we would like to make. If you have any ideas please let Bob or myself know.
Comments to your Chairman
Paul Cutland
0797 004 8159