ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 1
£1M
BOX OFFICE INCOME
8
MAIN AUDITORIUM PRODUCTIONS
3
WORLD PREMIERES
490
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
2
1,698 BOTTLES
OF TH’OCTAGON ALE SOLD IN OUR BAR
95 %
OF AUDIENCES RATED
OVERALL EXPERIENCE AS GOOD OR VERY GOOD
82,348
TICKETS SOLD THROUGH OUR BOX OFFICE
8,596
ICE CREAMS SOLD
143
PEOPLE
VOLUNTEERED ACROSS THE YEAR
100+
NEW PIECES OF WRITING
PERFORMED ON OUR STAGES
11,228
PARTICIPATIONS
£6.2M
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
WELCOME On stage we produced eight new main auditorium productions, with our festive show of Cinderella becoming the highest grossing in our history. Singin’ in the Rain was a phenomenal hit with audiences who enjoyed the huge theatricality (and rain!) of this feel good show. It was a hit with critics too, gaining two Manchester Theatre Awards. Away from the main production, we took theatre out of the building with our inaugural REVEAL festival – where performances were seen in pubs, cafes and even car parks! In the summer we transformed our theatre into a beach as part of Bolton Food and Drink festival. Complete with sand, water, a coconut shy and even donkeys, the event attracted over 7000 people to the building across the weekend. Just two examples of how our new artistic vision is engaging with more of Bolton’s diverse communities.
WELCOME PRODUCTIONS
What another brilliant year for us at the Octagon – with award winning productions, record box office figures and lots of exciting projects engaging with people in our community.
We continue to provide quality participation opportunities for many young people and adults including our Academy project, which gives a chance for a group of young people write, perform and tour their own production across Bolton. As ever, we are looking to the future. The Octagon celebrates its 50th anniversary in November 2017 and we have a major capital development on the horizon for 2018, which will reimagine our building to ensure it is accessible and fit for purpose for another 50 years to come. Our thanks to you, our audiences and supporters; and to the brilliant team of staff, actors, creatives and volunteers who give so much to make it all happen! Claire Moreland Chair of the Board
Roddy Gauld
Chief Executive
Elizabeth Newman Artistic Director
octagonbolton.co.uk
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PRODUCTIONS THU 7 – SAT 30 APRIL 2016
LOOK BACK IN ANGER By John Osborne Directed by Sarah Brigham
FRI 3 –SAT 25 JUNE 2016
THU 8 SEPTEMBER – SAT 15 OCTOBER 2016
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Directed by Elizabeth Newman Co-produced with the New Vic Theatre and Sailsbury Playhouse
Co-produced with the Derby Theatre ‘COMPELLING’ THE TIMES
BEST ENSEMBLE BEST DESIGN MANCHESTER THEATRE AWARDS 2017
By Harper Lee Adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel Directed by Elizabeth Newman
THE WINTER’S TALE
By William Shakespeare Directed by David Thacker Co-produced with University of Bolton
BEST NEWCOMER MANCHESTER THEATRE AWARDS 2017
★★★★★ ‘FLAWLESS’ MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
4
FRI 21 OCTOBER – SAT 5 NOVEMBER 2016
★★★★
‘HEART-STOPPING TENDERNESS’ THE GUARDIAN
THU 19 JANUARY – SAT 11 FEBRUARY 2017
THU 23 FEBRUARY – SAT 11 MARCH 2017
THU 30 MARCH – SAT 22 APRIL 2017
ASHES EDUCATING RITA
By David Rudkin
Directed by Elizabeth Newman
Co-produced with University of Bolton
By Willy Russell
CINDERELLA Written by Mike Kenny
Directed by Ben Occhipinti
★★★★
‘CAPTIVATING’
Co-produced with Derby Theatre
★★★★
‘JESSICA BAGLOW IS RADIANT’
Directed by David Thacker
★★★★
‘INTIMATE, FUNNY AND TOUCHING’ THE OBSERVER
THE GUARDIAN
THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL
PRODUCTIONS
FRI 18 NOVEMBER 2016 – SAT 14 JANUARY 2017
Based on the novel by Anne Brontë A new adaptation by Deborah McAndrew Directed by Elizabeth Newman Co-produced with York Theatre Royal
THE STAGE
‘PHOEBE PRYCE EXCELS’ THE BOLTON NEWS
Look Back in Anger. Photo: Robert Day Singin’ in the Rain, To Kill a Mockingbird, Cinderella, Educating Rita, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Photo: Richard Davenport The Winter’s Tale. Photo: Ian Tilton Ashes. Photo: Jonathan Keenan
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SOMETHING NEW INAUGURAL REVEAL FESTIVALS
31 DIFFERENT SHOWS, IN 17 DIFFERENT VENUES, ACROSS 2 FESTIVALS
OVER 100 PIECES NEW WRITING PERFORMED ON OUR STAGES FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING BEST OF BOLTON AND OUR TOP FIVE FESTIVALS
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WORLD PREMIERE
A NEW ADAPTATION OF ANNE BRONTË’S SEMINAL NOVEL
WORLD PREMIERE
A NEW SITE SPECIFIC MUSICAL SET IN A CHIP SHOP
WORLD PREMIERE
A NEW CHILDREN’S PLAY BY RENOWNED AUTHOR TERRY DEARY
This year has been full of new work seen on our stages and beyond. It saw the inaugural REVEAL festival which showcases new work from local and emerging artists in site-specific locations across Bolton including, houses, cafes, pubs and car parks! Three new world premieres featured across the season including a new play from world renowned children’s author Terry Deary which brought to life Shakespeare for primary school children. We also had a brand new adaption of Anne Brontë’s The Tennant of Wildfell Hall and a new musical – #Chipshopthemusical performed to sell out audiences in the local fish and chip restaurant.
NEW WRITING WRITING NEW PRODUCTIONS #chipshopthemusical - Photo: Paul Longden, Bolton Camera Club
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YOUNG PEOPLE ANDCOMMUNITY 83
YOUNG PEOPLE IN A NEW ADAPTION OF THE SECRET GARDEN
LAUNCH
OF STORYPLAY STORYTELLING SESSIONS FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS
6
DINNER PARTIES INVITING 100s OF PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES FROM BOLTON
8
1,800
TICKETS GIVEN TO BOLTON AT HOME RESIDENTS
11,228 PARTICIPATIONS
As ever we have continued to strive to create quality and life changing experiences for young people and others in the Bolton community and this year has been no different. A culmination of this work saw over 80 young people be part of our major summer project. Participants worked over three weeks and with professional actors and stage crew brought to life a new adaption of The Secret Garden on our main stage. The Academy which has been running successfully since 2011/12 and has once again seen young people who otherwise would not take part in culturally activities write, perform and tour their own production across Bolton.
COMMUNITY The Secret Garden. Photo: Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club
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WE ARE OPEN! 7,932
PEOPLE VISITED THE OCTAGON OVER 4 DAYS FOR OUR PLEASURE BEACH EVENT OVER THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY
82,348 PEOPLE SAW A PRODUCTION AT THE OCTAGON
23
ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
10
40%
OF BOOKERS NEW TO THE OCTAGON
95%
OF AUDIENCES RATED THEIR OVERALL EXPERIENCE AS GOOD OR VERY GOOD
We pride ourselves on being an open and welcoming organisation and throughout the year we have undertaken many ways to bring more people into the Octagon. Not least of this was our Pleasure Beach event over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Bringing sand, water and beach huts into the auditorium we transformed our theatre into a beach and it was enjoyed by thousands of families who visited us, many of which were new to the organisation. Over 80,000 people saw a production at the Octagon during the year and To Kill a Mockingbird broke records on income for a non-festive show at the Octagon with over 11,000 attenders. Audiences once again rated their experience at the Octagon very highly.
AUDIENCES Pleasure Beach: Paul Longden, Bolton Camera Club
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FINANCE Total consolidated income and expenditure.
7
TOTAL INCOME
6
£3,215,083 5
4
3
1. T HEATRE DIRECT COSTS 2. L&P DIRECT COSTS 3. CAPITAL PROJECT 4. C ATERING DIRECT COSTS 5. STAFF COSTS 6. SUPPORT COSTS
2
£1,523,889
2. LEARNING & PARTICIPATION
£37,848
3. CATERING 4. D ONATIONS, SPONSORSHIP & OTHER TRADING INCOME
£315,075 £85,738
6. CORE GRANT FUNDING
£138,225 £941,990
7. THEATRE TAX RELIEF
£172,318
5. C APITAL GRANT
£964,934 £53,131 £88,0211 £145,512 £1,214,817 £570,548
This information has been extracted from the annual 2016/17 audited consolidated statutory accounts. For the full statutory accounts either download from Companies House or apply by email to the registered office.
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1
1. B OX OFFICE & OTHER THEATRE INCOME
6
1
TOTAL EXPENDITURE £3,036,963 5
4
3
2
FINANCE Cinderella. Photo: Richard Davenport
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OUR SUPPORTERS The Octagon is a registered charity (no. 248833) and we would like to thank the many individuals, businesses, trusts, foundations and funders who have supported the Octagon in 2016 - 17. Our work would not be possible without your support.
FUNDERS
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR PRINCIPAL PATRON
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Age UK Bolton Ambition for Ageing Bolton Big Lottery Fund Bolton CVS GMW NHS Mental Health Trust IGEN Trust P Leigh-Bramwell Trust E Mills & Reeve LLP The Oglesby Charitable Trust
CORPORATE MEMBERS PREMIER
Sue Hodgkiss, CBE DL
MAJOR PARTNER
PRODUCTION SUPPORTERS
CORPORATE MEMBERS PLUS
CORPORATE MEMBERS Bolton
ROCKGLEN DEVELOPMENTS
14
OTHER PARTNERS
OCTGAON REIMAGINED: CAPITAL SUPPORTERS
We would also like to thank our Love Octagon supporters, seat and production photo plaque sponsors, all those who made a donation to the Octagon, and those donors who wish to remain anonymous. For more information on how to support our work please visit octagonbolton.co.uk/support
OUR FUNDING SUPPORTERS Octagon People’s Gala. Photo: Ray Jefferson, Bolton Camera Club
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box office 01204 520661 octagonbolton.co.uk Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, Bolton, BL1 1SB
@octagontheatre
www.facebook.com/ OctagonBolton
The Octagon Theatre Trust is a Limited Company Registered in England No: 882226. Registered Charity Number: 248833