Lyceum Theatre - Annual Review 2007/08

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INGOODCOMPANY Annual Review 07/08



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THE RIGHT DIRECTION Mark Thomson Artistic Director and Chief Executive

Vanity Fair has been one of my favourite productions during my tenure here. It epitomises so much of what I believe makes great theatre: generous and bold with real swagger and surprise; ideas which stimulate our audience and resonate through laughter and reflection. Altogether, a great evening’s entertainment. Yet, in order to deliver this, it’s not simply about what happens on stage, but the activity behind the scenes too: our artistic teams, set and costume designers, marketing and hospitality departments all work together to make the whole Lyceum experience special. And this is what makes our theatre such a splendid, yet complicated, organism. This Annual Review, the first from the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, describes the company in a way that highlights our successes, identifies our challenges, and really shows who we are and why we exist. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the funders and supporters who enable us to produce topquality drama for our beautiful theatre. First of all, I am delighted to report that the Lyceum is performing excellently. Our programme of quality theatre is underpinned by sound business practice and operational sure-footedness. We continue to be a forwardthinking company. A total of 85,860 people visited the Lyceum in 2007/08 and were rewarded with

Last year 3,257 people became Royal Lyceum Season Ticket holders

1The Wizard of Oz 2The Winter’s Tale

an exciting mix of classical and contemporary theatre. Our professional company produced seven main stage productions, helping to create an incredibly varied programme. We filled, on average, 64% of our seats – a result that is the envy of many repertory theatres of our size. Our dynamic education and youth theatre initiatives are helping us to achieve our aim of enhancing people’s lives through theatre. We are introducing children to theatre, often for the first time, through our SPARK programme, where we offer priority schools free access to performances and participation in workshops. The youth theatre continues to be central to our summer programme, and performed two main stage productions as part of the Lyceum’s Summer on Stage and the National Theatre’s Connections Festival. For the fifth consecutive year we hosted the festival, showcasing work from eight different youth theatres. Our Business Plan, revised for 2008, refocuses our priorities for the next three years. This ambitious document positions the Lyceum as a sustainable entity capable of development and of increasing its profile in its sector. A new Performance Management System will help drive staff development and create an effective working environment. An exciting partnership with Redpath sees our printed and electronic material, and the visual marketing beacon of

the Lyceum brand, emerge more vividly. And the substantial progress made in electronic marketing over the past year has enabled us to engage with new markets. This is clearly the narrative of a company in excellent health. We are a complex organisation, energised by our potential to evolve through creative and positive response to challenges in art – and in the art of business. Our ambition remains to make the Lyceum a vivid and creative powerhouse for the benefit of Edinburgh and Scotland, its people and the art of theatre.

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“Our season of fantastically varied productions represents an exciting mix of classical and contemporary theatre.” Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Annual Review 07/08


A BIG PERFORMANCE On Stage Our Christmas production, The Wizard of Oz, broke Box Office records with an average capacity of 98%. Over six weeks, 32,000 people watched the production, including 12,500 school children. In other productions, Mark Thomson and his cast won critical acclaim for Six Characters in Search of an Author. This was our second co-production with Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow and National Theatre of Scotland. Amy Manson’s performance as The Step-Daughter won Best Female Performance at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS). The First Look Friday preview shows have been a huge success and every performance during the Season sold out. The £5 tickets increased Box Office revenue by £14,000.

According to a member of our audience: “The introduction of the £5 bookable ticket for the First Look Friday preview was an excellent innovation and should be continued in future seasons.” Season Ticket sales rose by 3% with 3,257 people subscribing to see all shows in the Season. Income from ticket sales also rose by 2.4%. Online During the year, we appointed Redpath as our design partner and, in October 2007, launched our brand new website. The website now contains rich web content, including behind the scenes videos. This is something we plan to develop over the coming year. More than 100,000 people have visited

the new site and online sales have increased by 10% since October 2007. In the Community Local charities and community groups received 1,200 complimentary tickets for the popular First Look Friday performances and the charity performance of The Wizard of Oz. Home-start Leith and North Edinburgh said: “Thank you very much for the 50 tickets for The Wizard of Oz. We know our families really appreciate this opportunity to experience the magic of theatre... it means a lot to them to know there are people willing to help them in this way.” Through our partnerships with Benchtours Theatre Company and the Edinburgh Young


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“Season Tickets lie at the heart of the Lyceum’s regular audience. Last year 3,257 people became Season Ticket holders.”

The SPARK programme, funded by Provident Financial, continued to offer creative learning opportunities to primary school children. We were also delighted to offer 11 high school pupils work experience placements.

version of Into the Woods and After Juliet by Sharman MacDonald for the Summer on Stage Programme.

We are delighted to have the continued support of Standard Life who, for the fourth consecutive year, sponsored the Lyceum’s theatre provision for audience members with special needs and requirements. This year, Standard Life also sponsored the charity performance of The Wizard of Oz.

Carers Project, we were able to provide drama sessions for adults with additional support needs, and to help 15 young carers build self confidence and develop interpersonal skills through drama workshops. Encouraging Participation The Lyceum’s Education programme aims to engage audiences of all ages. In 2007/08, 806 people enjoyed a range of participation programme events, workshops and talks.

Hunwick Hughes continued to sponsor the National Theatre’s Connections programme in Scotland. Eight youth theatres performed at the Connections Festival which was hosted by the Lyceum for the fifth consecutive year.

Through our schools programme, we provided opportunities for 1,492 primary and secondary pupils to take part in drama workshops. Last year, 270 participants aged five to 18 years attended the Lyceum’s Youth Theatre groups. They produced Broadway’s junior

Over 800 people attended 31 separate events throughout the year

Increasing Support In 2007/08, we welcomed several new Corporate Members. The Premier Property Group became Patrons. Tods Murray also became Patrons and sponsored the refurbishment of the Henry Irving and Ellen Terry Rooms. Home House Edinburgh sponsored the opening night of Vanity Fair.

Our fundraising income increased by £20,000 in the past year, and we launched the new fundraising initiative - The Lyceum 500 Club. Profits from the initiative have funded Lyceum productions and, along with growing support from Charitable Trusts and Foundations, helped to fund the incredible range of education and participation activities offered by the Lyceum.

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Annual Review 07/08


THE SEASON 2007/08 Man of La Mancha The stage at the Lyceum came alive with this fantastic and romantic tale of Don Quixote and his faithful servant, Sancho Panza. Audiences were entertained by a multi-talented ensemble who performed and played the wonderful score live on stage. Robert Pettigrew deservedly won the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) for Best Use of Music in a production. A truly wonderful piece of musical theatre. “Warm-hearted, witty and hugely enjoyable…” The Times The Winter’s Tale As part of his aim to bring lesser-known Shakespeare works to the Scottish stage, Mark Thomson chose to direct this play of two halves. The tale of love, revenge and remorse was a tour de force of emotions and dramatic effect, with Liam Brennan playing Leontes, the tormented King. “…some fine moments of theatre as it comes to grips with the Bard’s awkward script.” Sunday Herald

Living Quarters The Lyceum was extremely privileged to be granted the rights to perform the UK première of Living Quarters. In Brian Friel’s play, the family of a proud man, Commandant Frank Butler, re-enact the events leading up to the moment of his suicide. Michael Taylor created a wonderful revolving set to take the audience into the Donegal home of the Butler family and witness their happiness, pain and ultimate loss. “…a superbly realised production.” Evening News The Wizard of Oz A huge Box Office success and the hot ticket in Edinburgh at Christmas! Nominated for Best Show for Children and Young People at the CATS Awards 2007/08, Gill Robertson worked her directorial magic on a wonderful stage version of the iconic film. Fabulous costumes, produced by the workshop at Roseburn, and lots of energy and enthusiasm from the cast, made this a favourite among audiences aged 5 to 95.

The Glass Menagerie A beautiful play for our January audiences. Tennessee Williams’ bittersweet story of Laura, told through the eyes of her brother, was performed brilliantly by the cast of four and directed sympathetically by Jemima Levick. One to treasure. “…great production of an American classic, the perfect sop to the winter blues.” Big Issue Six Characters in Search of an Author Mark Thomson’s production of Pirandello’s classic was hailed as a triumph. Rarely done, this unusual story about six characters looking for someone to perform their story was captivating. This was truly an ensemble piece with all the acting company on stage for the duration of the play. We witnessed the exciting new talent of Amy Manson, winner of CATS Awards for Best Female Performance. “…a fascinating production…gripping from start to finish…” Evening News

“Fantastically well-paced and extraordinarily cohesive this is, surely, the finest big-stage Christmas show seen in Scotland for many years.” Sunday Herald

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1Living Quarters 2The Wizard of Oz 3Six Characters in Search of an Author 4The Glass Menagerie 5Vanity Fair 6Into the Woods 7Fugee


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“Last Season was hugely successful with award winning performances and a great deal of critical acclaim.”

Vanity Fair What a romp and what fun! Tony Cownie and his ensemble company of seven actors and a musician took us on a journey spanning many years and continents, and followed the exploits of Amelia Sedley and her cunning friend, Becky Sharpe. Never has a set been so imaginatively designed and used by the company to tell their tale. “…a thoroughly satisfying production… extremely funny.” Evening News

AND FROM THE LYCEUM YOUTH THEATRE... DNA In June 2007, the Lyceum Youth Theatre performed DNA, a play by Dennis Kelly, as part of the NT Connections Festival. Into the Woods and After Juliet Steve Mann directed a stunning version of Sondheim’s Into the Woods with a cast of 27 young actors, as part of Summer on Stage – a three-week youth theatre performance project. Ruth Hollyman directed an equally large and enthusiastic company in Sharman Macdonald’s play, After Juliet. Fugee A cast of 17 Senior Youth Theatre members performed the final youth theatre production of the season. The play, written by Abi Morgan and directed by Xana Maclean, told the story of a young asylum seeker trapped in the confusion and bureaucracy of the UK immigration system “The Lyceum Theatre’s formidable youth company.” The Scotsman 153 school groups and 4,114 young people came to see performances

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Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Annual Review 07/08


SETTING THE SCENE Donald Emslie Chair

Of the 237 performances on our stage, the Lyceum produced 210

Reference and administrative details Charity number SC010509 Company number SC062065 Principal office Royal Lyceum Theatre 30B Grindlay Street Edinburgh EH3 9AX Auditors Chiene + Tait Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 61 Dublin Street Edinburgh EH3 6NL Bankers Bank of Scotland 1 Castle Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2DP Solicitors Tods Murray LLP Edinburgh Quay 133 Fountainbridge Edinburgh EH3 9AG

We are, as we complete this Annual Review, in the midst of the artistic and cultural extravaganza of the Edinburgh Festival. This reminds me how much choice the citizens of Edinburgh and beyond have in the arts. And reinforces the importance of the role the Lyceum plays in delivering high quality theatre within this fragile but well-balanced arts eco-system.

Last season was very successful. We enjoyed award-winning performances, a great deal of critical acclaim and strong audience support. My own favourite, the musical The Man of La Mancha, was a departure from the Lyceum’s usual approach but this variety is so important for the health of the Theatre. I believe that the 2008/09 season will continue to excite and challenge audiences.

Competition for audiences and funding is fierce. This healthy tension challenges artists to take risks and reach new creative heights.

It is a privilege to chair the Lyceum and I trust that our audiences will continue to support us and enjoy challenging and thought-provoking theatre.

At the Lyceum, we thrive on challenge and, as a Board, support the ambition and artistic vision that Mark Thomson and his team have set for the years ahead. We are not complacent and realise challenges lie ahead, especially with the transition to Creative Scotland and the potential tightening of funding in the current economic climate. The Lyceum however, having delivered a small surplus this year, can look forward with some confidence. Directors and Trustees The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees. The trustees serving during the period, and since the period end, were as follows: Donald Emslie (Chair) Richard M Findlay (Vice Chair) Mark Thomson Vikram Lall (resigned 6 December 2007) Jennifer Black (resigned 24 April 2008) Neil Menzies (re-elected 20 February 2008) David Anderson Eric Milligan (re-elected 20 February 2008) Frances Benton (appointed 3 July 2007, resigned 13 June 2008) Lynne Higgins (appointed 3 July 2007) Neil McKerrow (appointed 3 July 2007)

CEC nominees Cllr Deirdre Brock (appointed 3 July 2007) Cllr Charles Dundas (appointed 3 July 2007) Cllr Paul Godzik (appointed 3 July 2007) Cllr Richard Henderson (resigned 24 May 2007) Cllr John Longstaff (resigned 30 May 2007) Cllr Kathleen McKenzie Cllr Chris Wigglesworth(resigned 25 April 2007) Secretary TM Company Services Limited Artistic Director and Chief Executive Mark Thomson


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SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS CORPORATE MEMBERS Patrons:

SPONSORS

Benefactors:

Partners:

DESIGN PARTNER

MEDIA PRODUCTION PARTNER

We thank the following for their support this year:

SUPPORTERS

DONORS 29th May Charitable Trust The Binks Trust Cross Trust Cruden Foundation D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Dr Guthrie’s Association The Ernest Cook Trust The Inchyre Trust Lord Rosebery Charitable Settlement The Lynn Foundation The MacRobert Trust The Nancie Massey Charitable Trust Russell Trust The Tay Charitable Trust

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Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Annual Review 07/08


SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY INCOME

EXPENDITURE

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£ Box Office/Productions 957,838 Education 145,482 Activities for generating funds 409,897 Grants 1,583,590

31% 5% 13% 51%

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Box Office/Productions Education Costs of generating funds

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

£ 2,639,075 86% 191,956 6% 250,792 8%

The trustees are pleased to present the financial statements of the charity for the period ended 5 April 2008

THE ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE COMPANY LTD CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT THE ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE COMPANY LTD CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 5 APRIL 2008 OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 5 APRIL 2008 Total funds Total funds period ended period ended 5 April 2008 7 April 2007

Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income: Grants and donations Activities for generating funds: Fundraising events and sponsorship Commercial trading operations Rental income Investment income: Bank interest

£ 1,604,322

1,340,068

53,138 219,138 90,736

33,592 184,736 113,009

23,793

15,251

1,991,127

1,686,656

Incoming resources from charitable activities Operation of theatre: Box Office/Productions Project/service specific grants Education

£

£

1,014,900

1,117,707

Current assets: Stocks Debtors Cash at bank and in hand

19,145 147,524 718,059

19,473 215,544 311,345

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

771,229

550,654

Net current assets/(liabilities)

113,499

(4,292)

1,128,399

1,113,415

926,247 202,152

1,042,363 71,052

1,128,399

1,113,415

Fixed assets: Tangible assets

Net assets 957,838 2,360 145,482

926,009 468 121,338

1,105,680

1,047,815

3,096,807

2,734,471

Costs of generating funds: Cost of sponsorship and fundraising events 48,036 Commercial trading operations 189,552

65,894 173,524

237,588

239,418

Operation of theatre: Box Office/Productions Education Governance costs Total resources expended Net movement of funds in period Total funds brought forward

2,639,075 191,956 13,204 3,081,823 14,984 1,113,415

2,424,891 185,611 9,236 2,859,156 (124,685) 1,238,100

Total funds carried forward

1,128,399

1,113,415

Total incoming resources

5 April 2008 7 April 2007

£

Resources expended

Charitable activities

The funds of the Charity: Restricted capital funds Unrestricted income funds Total charity funds


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“Our ambition remains to make the Lyceum a vivid and creative powerhouse for the benefit of Edinburgh and Scotland, its people and the art of theatre.”

These statements are a summary of information taken from the statutory accounts of The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd The full accounts, approved on 19 September 2008, from which these summarised financial statements are derived, have been audited by Chiene + Tait and their report is unqualified. The full audited accounts can be obtained from Fiona Semple, Management Accountant on 0131 248 4813 or fsemple@lyceum.org.uk. The Directors’ annual report and accounts are submitted to both Companies House and to OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator). Signed on behalf of the Directors

Donald Emslie, Chair

Independent Auditors Statement to the Directors of The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd We have examined the summarised statements set out on page 10.

Basis of Opinion We conducted the work in accordance with Bulletin 1999/6 ‘The auditor’s statement on the summary financial statements’ issued by the Auditing Practices Board.

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditors The Directors are responsible for preparing the summarised financial statements. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency of the summary financial statements with the full annual accounts and Directors’ report, and its compliance with the relevant requirements of section 251 of the Companies Act 1985, and the regulations made thereunder. We also read the other information contained in the summarised annual report and consider the implications of our report if we become aware of any apparent mis-statements or material inconsistencies with the summarised financial statements.

Opinion In our opinion the summary financial statements are consistent with the full annual accounts and the Directors’ report of The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd for the period ended 5 April 2008, and comply with the applicable requirements of section 251 of the Companies Act 1985 and the regulations thereunder.

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd is a registered Scottish Charity No. SCO10509.

Chiene + Tait Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 61 Dublin Street Edinburgh EH3 6NL 29 September 2008

Photography: Ian Jacobs, Douglas McBride, Richard Campbell, Alan McCreadie

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Annual Review 07/08



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