Pentabus report issuu upload

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

Our Mission 3

Chair’s Report 4

Artistic Director’s Report 5

2013-14 Programme:

Land and Landscape 6

Every Brilliant Thing 7

In This Place 8

Milked 10

The Husbands 11

Young Writers 12

Channel 4 Playwright 13

Pentabus Archive 14

Land and Landscape

in Numbers 15

Creatives 16

Our Partners 17

Pentabus Studio 18

Sustainability 20

Supporters 21

Finances 22

Company information 23

Pentabus is a contemporary theatre company,producing original plays about the rural world forlocal and national audiences.

Based on a farm in Shropshire, we make a realcommitment to the creativity of the countryside,encouraging artists to draw from it and urgingcommunities to participate in it.

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 3

Our Mission

Chair’s Report

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2013-14 has been a huge turning point for Pentabus. A newgeneration is now fully engaged in the company’s continualevolution. The year has seen four highly regarded original andcontemporary theatre productions – reaching audiences in ourheartland – the village hall tours – as well as festivals, up on the hillsand in theatres in both rural and urban communities. The Co-Directors have chosen to celebrate the company’s 40th year in 2014with the Young Writers Festival, investing in the next generation ofrural playwrights. This process began during 2013, with ArtisticDirector Elizabeth Freestone delivering free playwriting workshopsacross the whole of Shropshire. A core group of 8 have undertakena yearlong course with the company, gaining access to specialisttuition from playwrights and actors. In addition, the company’sscript submissions policy has borne fruit, with playwright SimonLongman submitting his play, Milked, through this route andsubsequently obtaining a much sought after Channel 4 Playwritingbursary enabling Simon to become a playwright in residence withthe company for a year from January 2014.

2013-14 saw Artistic Director Elizabeth Freestone and newManaging Director Rachael Griffin quickly establishing a strong andeffective partnership. This has seen the Co-Directors put in placebold and exciting artistic plans supported by a sound administrativeand financial strategy to lead the company towards its 40thanniversary and beyond. For Pentabus to flourish over such a longperiod of time many people have been involved in its evolution,exploring its possibilities, pioneering new ways and spaces fororiginal theatre-making, all from rural roots. The importance of thisimpressive history was recognised by the Business Archives Councilwho provided a grant to ensure the Pentabus collection will bepreserved in the Shropshire Archives for generations to come.

So many people are to be thanked for their paid and voluntary work.We especially thank our fellow members of the Board who havesteered some important policies to strengthen the company’sresilience to the ever challenging economic climate as well as allPentabus staff. We also thank our principal funders, Arts CouncilEngland who were instrumental in the establishment of Pentabus in1974 and have continued to recognise the organisation’s specialrole in speaking to and of the rural experience. We are immenselyappreciative of the financial support and in kind support of generousindividuals, Trusts and Foundations and business partners who havecontributed to the company during the year.

Kate Organ (Chair 2010-2014)Alison Vermee (Incoming Chair March 2014)

Artistic Director’s Report


In the last year we have continued to do what we do best – makenew plays about the contemporary rural world. We’ve also set oursights high for the future, using this year to lay the foundations fornew strands to our work which will see us reach more people inmore ways than ever before.

Our Young Writers Group began, the first of what will be an annualprogramme for young writers in rural areas. Our new script readingpolicy proved instantly successful, finding Milked by SimonLongman, a cracking play about unemployment in the countrysidewhich we went on to tour. The writer then became our first everwriter in residence with the support of Channel 4. Our new co-production model saw us work with Kali Theatre, Paines Ploughand the Courtyard on three brilliant new plays. And our newapproach to site-responsive work saw us create an audio theatreadventure using cutting edge technology to tell the story of alandscape.

Times continue to be tough for rural communities – and for artsorganisations – but the year saw us come out fighting, producinggreat new theatre for audiences all over the country.

The future begins here. Bring on the next 40.

Elizabeth Freestone, Artistic Director

2013-14 Programme:Land and Landscape

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Over the year we created 4 new productions. These rangedfrom a national tour of a new studio show, a site specificoutdoor audio theatre walk and investment in new playwrightsand artistic ideas via co-productions and our scriptssubmissions policy.

We visited new venues, forged a dynamic range of newpartnerships, took theatre to the hills and discovered aplaywright of genuine rural roots who delivered an urgent,compelling new play about rural unemployment.

Pentabus acts as a connector of ideas and artists, audiencesand venues, urban and rural worlds.

Audiences across the country have shownus yet again their thirst for contemporarytheatre that reflects their everyday lives.

P

4 productions

75 performances

4380 audiences

1 live stream tothe world

Bromfield Village Hall

Ludlow Women’s Centre

Ledbury Market Theatre

The Bog Centre, Stiperstones

Ludlow College

Wem Town Hall

The Courtyard, Hereford

The Edge, Much Wenlock

Plymouth Drum

Midlands Arts Centre

Leicester Curve

Theatre Severn

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Tewkesbury Roses

Ludlow Assembly Rooms

Soho Theatre, London

‘Memorable, moving and beautiful’ Audience member at Ludlow Fringe Festival 2013

A Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre Company co-production.

The year began with the development of a new play aboutdepression and the lengths we will go to for those we love.Every performance of Every Brilliant Thing involved members ofthe audience, making each night unique. This one man showwas developed during the year and showcased at the LudlowFringe Festival and Ledbury Poetry Festival with a view to alarger tour in 2014/15, as part of Pentabus Theatre Companyand Paines Plough’s 40th birthday anniversaries.


Every Brilliant Thingby Duncan Macmillan

In This Placeby Lydia Adetunji andFrances Brett

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Elizabeth Freestone conceived the idea for In This Place over adrink with writer Frances Brett, who had been interviewingShropshire women who had a connection to the landscape. Hercollection of interviews produced fascinating, funny and movingstories about women’s role in shaping and managing thecountryside. Elizabeth commissioned Frances and playwrightLydia Adetunji to shape the verbatim interviews into an audioscript to create a narrative audio walk amongst the landscape.12 female actors aged 30-90 recorded the narrative and sounddesigner Jon Mcleod created a 3D soundscape includingoriginal music. Visual Artist Sophia Clist created a visual artsinstallation along the walking trail. The project offered newopportunities for partnerships and saw the company work with avolunteer led visitor centre, the Shropshire Hills Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, locallandowners and 15 volunteers. In This Place reached 525audience members, an overall capacity of 97%.

A Pentabus Theatre Company production,in association with the Shropshire HillsArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Nearly half of all audiences surveyed werenew to Pentabus and the arts more generallyand 82% of audiences surveyed voted theshow 4 or 5 stars.

"Put your boots and anorak on –we’re going to the theatre."

Chris Eldon Lee, Virtual Shropshire on In This Place

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“A unique project that,for me as a volunteer,has been extremelyrewarding. I lovesharing thecountryside withothers and the viewsaround theStiperstones can bebreathtaking in anyweather. The storieswe hear in ourheadsets are veryemotive and I’veheard nothing butpraise from thewalkers. Only onemore day to go – it will be hard to saygoodbye to a projectthat I’ve become reallyimmersed in andthoroughly enjoyed.Well done Pentabusand all of the staffinvolved with ‘In ThisPlace’ and thanksagain for such amagical experience.”

Paul, volunteer on In This Place

ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14

Milkedby Simon Longman

“Simon Longman’splay Milked wasbloody brilliant.Moving, tender storyabout badly needingdirection in life. Good Show.”

James, Audience Member

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A Pentabus Theatre Company and theCourtyard, Hereford co-production.

A black comedy about friendship, unemployment – and acow called Sandy. We discovered this first play from SimonLongman through our new scripts submission policy. Onreceipt of Simon’s script, we worked quickly to secure a co-producer for the show to mount a short tour where it visitedrural market town venues. This play really struck a chord withaudiences, with all shows ending with a powerful post showdiscussion. We worked with the Royal Court Theatre inLondon on a world first – a live stream direct from the ruralmarket town of Ledbury – the home town of the writer – tothe world, with over 250 people from all over the globewatching online.

The Husbands by Sharmila Chauhan

“An excellentproduction. Very wellacted and offeringmuch to think about.Challenging manyassumptions.”

Audience Member

A Pentabus Theatre Company and Kali Theatre Company co-production.

An explosive new play about love, jealousy and a woman’s rightto choose. This new play by Sharmila Chauhan wove anextraordinary tale of love and wonder against a backdrop ofmodern rural India.

The show toured to a mixture of urban and rural studio theatreson a 6 week nationwide tour, reaching over 3,000 audiencemembers and engaging a genuinely diverse audience, with 26%of audiences surveyed describing themselves as from a black orminority ethnic background.


“Chauhan slowlybuilds a gripping four-hander that asksprovocative questionsabout duty, ambition,freedom, leadership”

Metro

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The company began its Young Writers Group in this year, withfree introduction to playwriting sessions delivered to 110 youngpeople in schools and colleges. From this, a core group of 8writers aged 16-25 joined the company for a year-longplaywriting course, free to participants. The group havebenefited from specialist tuition in all aspects of playwriting withspecialist tutors such as playwrights Phil Porter and FrancescaMillican-Slater. They have also been supported with readinglists, playscript purchases, free theatre tickets, time in ourwriters rooms and 1-2-1 curatorial and pastoral support. Thescheme will culminate in July 2014 with the inaugural YoungWriters Festival to celebrate our 40th birthday year.

“Pentabus HQ is a very welcoming place. Wheresometimes theatres can seem intimidating,Pentabus is the complete opposite of this withits friendly and inclusive atmosphere. But don'tbe fooled... the group isn't just an excuse for achinwag. We've been lucky to take part in areally inspiring series of workshops andexplored how words on the page translatewhen working with actors, and I'm alreadylooking forward to the next session.”

Young Writer Tom Wentworth

YoungWriters

Channel 4 Playwright Simon Longman with young writers

Following on from Milked wesupported Simon Longmanto develop an application tothe Channel 4 Playwritingscheme (formally thePearson Award.) We werethrilled to secure one ofthese prestigious bursariesfor Simon, who has beenworking with us as ourplaywright in residence andis also curating our YoungWriters Festival in 2014.

“Having the support and opportunity to workwith and write for Pentabus is a massivehonour. The company’s commitment to newand exciting work is really inspiring and to bepart of that is very overwhelming. They pushwriters to be the best they can be, allowingthem time and space to write and theopportunity to fully immerse themselves intheir work. I definitely would not be in theposition I'm in without their help, theirsupport and their faith in me.”

Simon Longman, Playwright


During the year we secured agrant from the BusinessArchives Council to producean archive catalogue of thecompany’s 40 year collectionof business records, showrecords, promotionalmaterials and photographs.The grant paid for 20 days ofa professional archivist’s timeto be based with thecompany to undertake thework. The whole collectionhas now been physicallytransferred to the ShropshireArchives in Shrewsbury,along with an onlinecatalogue. The work wassupported by core Pentabusvolunteers Mike and Stephenand volunteers at theShropshire Archives whotogether have contributedover 150 hours to the project.

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“It’s been a delight working with Pentabus tohelp bring this fascinating collection to life.The project will, I hope, not only ensure thelong-term preservation of this unique recordspanning 40 years of Pentabus, but also helpto generate interest in its potential to thrownew light on the development of theperforming arts in this period.”

Sal Mager, Senior Archivist, Shropshire Archives

Pentabus Archive

Land and Landscape in Numbers

1 national tour – The Husbands1 local tour – Milked1 site specific outdoor show – In This Place1 scratched production of a new play – Every Brilliant Thing1 live stream to the world3 visiting productions75 performances4380 audiences75% average capacity across all shows269% increase in Facebook followers227% increase in Twitter followers9, 567 website visits – with 61% new visits30 educational sessions, workshops and talks delivered withattendance of 542 people7 local writers using our writers rooms for a total of 50 days4 directors6 designers4 stage managers8 brilliant young writers28 volunteers12 board members43 partnersMet with 44 writersMet with 37 actors15 local businesses15 specialists4 core staff7 freelancers


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PlaywrightsLydia AdetunjiFrances BrettSharmila Chauhan Daffyd James Simon Longman Kieran Lynn Duncan Macmillan Rory Mullarkey

Writers Rooms Rory Boar Rachel Buchannan Simon LongmanKieran LynnFrancesca Millican-SlaterKaty Moran Rory Mullarkey

Pentabus Young WritersRory BoarJade EdwardsJack PurkisCara SquiresDavid ScotswoodNat VaughanMichael WildTom Wentworth

ActorsJoanna Bacon Jaimi Barbakoff Sacha BeharPhil Cheadle Rita Davies Jonny Donahue Noma Dumezweni Philip EdgerleyHarry Ferrier Tina Gray Chris Gunter Amanda Hadingue Thusitha Jayasundera Syreeta Kumar Aislin McGuckinVivienne Moore Oliver Mott Lisa Palfrey Gary Pillai Aled PughAnn QueensburyAdam Redmore Morgan Rhys Kama Roberts Rhik Samadder Marlene Sidaway Gurpreet SinghMark Theodore Jules Woodman

CreativesCreatives

DirectorsElizabeth FreestoneGeorge Perrin Adele Thomas Janet Steel

DesignersJean ChanSophia ClistSam EcclesArun GhoshJon McLeodPrema Mehta

Stage ManagersLuke ChildSam EcclesJo PhippsSarah Julie Pujol


Channel 41st Royal Irish Regiment, ShropshireArts Alive Bog Centre, Stiperstones Woodlands.co.uk Jane Packman Company Julie’s BicycleKali Theatre CompanyLedbury Poetry FestivalLive and LocalLocal private landowners Ludlow Fringe FestivalNational Rural Touring ForumPaines PloughRoyal Court TheatreShropshire Archives Shropshire Media CompanyShropshire Regimental MuseumShropshire Hills AONBShropshire Wildlife Trust The Courtyard, HerefordThe Other Way Works Tonic TheatreWomen and Theatre

Our Partners

The Pentabus Studio

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The Pentabus Studio continued in 2013-14.It is a physical space: a rehearsal room andperformance studio for workshops andproductions as well as a number of writersrooms that allow playwrights the space andtime to develop their work.

It is a creative space: accepting scriptsubmissions, offering shadowingopportunities and a space for our youngwriters group, ensuring we support anddevelop the best new work from the nextgeneration of writers.

It is an open idea: a way to support theatremakers both locally and nationally to stepoutside their usual working practice tothink, play and develop in a supportive andcreative environment.


Examples of the Pentabus Studio inaction during 2013-14 include:

• 60 scripts submitted, read and responded to, in line with thecompany's rural mission and environmental policy. Ourscripts policy ensures a commitment to playwrights and theirpersonal and professional development and is an activecatalyst for unearthing hidden playwriting talent.

• 7 writers used our writers rooms for a total of 50 days to writenovels, playscripts, screenplays and other artistic ideas.

• We offered script development support for Kieran Lynn and arehearsed reading of Wild Fish, a black comedy aboutsustainable fishing.

• Supported a writer/director development process for DaffydJones and Adele Thomas for Into the Night, to develop andscratch the beginning of a new play about crime and safety inthe countryside.

• Sharmila Chauhan, writer of The Husbands, spent 3 days inscript development.

• We supported writer/performer Francesca Millican-Slater andrural touring scheme Arts Alive with in kind artisticdevelopment support and use of our writers rooms. Thisculminated in an invited performance of My Dearest Girls.

• The Co-Directors established an advance commissioningpolicy, ensuring longer term planning for the company andearlier commissioning of script development. Advancecommissions included Rory Mullarkey to write Each Slow Dusk.

• Artistic open days continued with 21 local creativesconnecting with the company through this open door route.

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Sustainability

We are committed to green theatrepractice and ensuring we are anenvironmentally responsible organisation.We work with Julie’s Bicycle and supporttheir vision to ensure all organisations go green.

In the past year wehave reduced ouroverall carbonfootprint by 5%

We are on a journey of sustainable transformation, a creativeand practical journey driving down our carbon footprint, fromcomposting the real turf flooring from the tour of Milked toinstalling eco-friendly lights across our office.

Our approach begins with our productions, ensuring we have areuse, recycle and repair strategy for designing and creating allour shows. We then check all our office facilities and modes ofpractices to ensure as much as possible is done to preserveenergy and recycle.


Supporters

FundersArts Council EnglandAshley Family FoundationBaron Davenport CharityBishops Castle Local Joint CommitteeLudlow and Clee Hill Local Joint CommitteeMillichope Foundation Shropshire Hills AONBShropshire Council

Business and In Kind SupportBarringtonsBromfield Post OfficeCaroline Morgan Catering Hobson’s BreweryLudlow Food CentreMajestic Wine Warehouse LudlowNomad Designs LtdPenny BurnsShropshire Media TrustShropshire Turf and SoilSilent Disco Simon Wall Silver Pear Spa CreativeSunshine RadioThe Earl of Plymouth EstateThe Shack RevolutionVelcourt

DonorsAnonymousKaren BradeMr & Mrs BrettMr & Mrs BurbidgeAndrew CrossMia DaviesPhilip Dunne MPDiane DixeySam EcclesDavid & Thelma EccleshallMr & Mrs FoulkesAlan & Karen GrieveMr & Mrs GriffinWM GriffithsRichard GuetenbockMr & Mrs HattsMr & Mrs JonesJeremy LammondDiane LennanMr & Mrs LockermanKaren MclellanKathe MorleyCharles MorrisMr & Mrs NeilKate OrganMr & Mrs PaddockRobert PettyMichael QuarteyMr & Mrs RedfordJane RichardsJeremy RyeHumprey SalweyMr & Mrs StaceyG StephensPeter & Carolyn StewartMr & Mrs SuttonJames TannerMr & Mrs VaughanAlison VermeeNick WarburtonMary & Colin WellsViscount Windsor

We would like to thank all of our funders, supporters andcontributors. Without your help we wouldn’t be able to do whatwe do. Thank you for believing in us and championing our work.

Income

Arts Council England NPOFunding:£186, 574

Arts Council EnglandCatalyst Programme: £38, 756

Shropshire Council: £3,400

Trusts:£16,627

Individual Donors:£7,978

Fundraising Event: £5,135

Earned Income: £12,747

Other Income: £1,382

Total: £272,599

Expenditure

Artistic Programme:£152,867

Catalyst Programme:£38,756

Administration:£17,406

Overheads:£27, 214

Total: £236,243

Finances

During 2013-14 the company enteredthe second year of a three year corefunding agreement with Arts CouncilEngland as a National PortfolioOrganisation and received a one yearaward from Shropshire Council.

Additional income came from the beginnings of a newfundraising strategy aimed at diversifying the company’sfunding base. This included securing initial funding fromtrusts, with the Ashely Family Foundation providing£5,000 towards our writer development programme, anda 5 year funding award from the Millichope Foundationtowards core costs. In addition, project funding wassecured towards In This Place from local trust funding viathe Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beautyand the local joint committee for the area, totalling£3,000.

Individual donors contributed £7,978 from a range ofdonation campaigns, and the company held a fundraisingevent in March 2014, generously hosted by boardmember Richard Burbidge. This event raised £5,135 fromticket sales and auction income and was a wonderfulcelebration of 40 years of Pentabus Theatre Company.

The company worked in co-production with Kali TheatreCompany and Paines Plough to produce two new shows,sharing artistic creation and touring costs.

The company also delivered the first year of itsconsortium Arts Council funded programme, Catalyst.This grant is specifically awarded to develop fundraisingcapacity, skills and knowledge and Pentabus is the leadpartner.

The trustees and co-directors make significant advancestowards building reserves during the year in order toprovide a firm financial foundation for the charity.

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Board and AdvisorsKate Organ (Chair 2010-March 2014)Alison Vermee (Chair, March 2014-current)Deborah Kermode (stepped down Nov 2013)Edmund CollierSean HolmesMary WellsLyndsey TurnerJoseph AlfordElanor HazlehurstRichard Burbidge OBE (elected May 2013)Diane Lenan (elected May 2013)Karen Mclellan (elected May 2013)Jamie Perry (elected May 2013, stepped down March 2014)

CH4 Playwright in ResidenceSimon Longman (from Jan 2014)

Associate ArtistsSoutra GilmourGary OwenThusitha Jayasundera

StaffElizabeth FreestoneRachael Griffin Thomasina Carlyle (left Dec 2013)Sarah Hughes (left March 2014)

Freelance BookkeeperLynda Lynne

BankCAF Bank

AuditorsBeth Norris FCCA - until Feb 2014Turner Peachy, Shrewsbury – from Feb 2014

Pentabus Theatre CompanyBromfieldShropshireSY8 2JU

01584 856564www.pentabus.co.uk

Company Number 1747169 Charity No 287909


Pentabus Theatre CompanyBromfieldShropshireSY8 2JU

01584 856564www.pentabus.co.uk

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