THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FROM THE FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE June 2016
2016 STAGE-WRITE
1|Page
HELP WANTED
This is a plea to all those who may have any memorabilia to do with the theatre - be it newspapers cuttings, photos etc - I need your help please. Not quite sure how but I seem to have acquired responsibility for the compilation of the FOST scrapbook. Whilst I have been diligently collecting cuttings from the middle of 2015 there is a paucity of cuttings and photos from the 2011 onwards. I am endeavouring to work my way through the CP archives but this is a long and time consuming task and any cuttings that you may have will be more than gratefully received. I understand that you may not want to part with any originals of either cuttings or photos but copies will be just as welcome. We do not have many photos of events that the theatre has taken part in and any that people have taken of workers and volunteers about their daily tasks, the date and source of said cuttings is essential and can be added lightly on back of photos/cuttings or noted separately. Ideally, I would like to do two copies of the scrapbook - one for the public to look at in the box office (to show off our achievements) and another to be placed in the usherette's room so the volunteers - new and old - can look at it and reminisce over our triumphs and struggles and more importantly our successes. Anything that you may have to offer can be sent to me care of the theatre. Thanking you in advance for your help, Debbie Clement.
Building Shanklin Institute, circa 1878.
2|Page
SPOTLIGHT ON FOST VOLUNTEER – JACQUI ROBERTSON MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Who are you and what role do you play as a volunteer? My name is Jacqui Robertson, originally from France and married to Rob from the Theatre Maintenance team. Currently, I hold the role of the Friends of Shanklin (FOST) membership secretary. Why are you here? When we decided to retire, we wanted to be near the sea, hills and a small town with connecting transport and keep active by volunteering - Shanklin ticked all the boxes. Why do you stay here? As I love walking and keep active, Shanklin, its surrounding area and the Theatre give me good reasons to stay. Another point is that the community is very welcoming and working as a volunteer at the Theatre and for the Ability Dogs 4 Young People charity means that from knowing nobody on the island, I can't walk along Regent Street without having a chat with someone. Where is your Wight heaven? Walking up Culver Down on a sunny breezy day. Favourite Town? Shanklin. Favourite beach? Shanklin beach towards Luccombe Chine. Favourite beauty spot? Wroxall/Bonchurch Downs carpeted with Bluebells. Favourite pub / restaurant / café? This is something we haven't much explored on the island yet - except enjoying the early sunshine along the terrace by the sea front in Shanklin.
What do you miss when you are away? Quietness/uncrowdedness if there is such a word. What don’t you miss when you are away? The Wind!
3|Page
TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honourees that takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12 month period, as well as the tenure of the businesses and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. “Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team and volunteers at Shanklin Theatre. We would also like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Anthony Wood, Vice Chairman & Company Secretary of both Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust and Shanklin Theatre Ltd. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.” Help us to achieve our next excellence award in 2017 and write a review based on your customer experience at Shanklin Theatre, download the Tripadvisor mobile app or visit us on-line here: Shanklin Theatre on Tripadvisor
4|Page
FROM THE SEAFRONT TO SHANKLIN THEATRE
Over the years three shows have been accommodated at the theatre from our two Piers in the bay, of course both Piers have now been lost to live entertainment. The first show which was accommodated at the theatre was in 1945, all be it for a short run. This was called “After Dinner”, which had been a show that had run for four years up to the outbreak of the Second World War. The show had starred the great Comedian / singer Tommy Trinder as the star in the show in 1937 and 1938. The show had been booked in for the Shanklin pier Casino assuming that the gap in the pier, (which had been created at the start of the war) would be filled in; however the pier theatre would not operate until the season of 1952. One must remember that in those far off days Shanklin Theatre and the Shanklin pier Casino were great rivals and to be able to stage the show at the theatre was a miracle in itself. Permission had to be sought from the great Bernard Delfont, who was responsible for the entertainment at the theatre and also Barry O’ Brien who was the local manager who presented a repertory season. The “After Dinner” show opened on June 11th 1945 and ran for four weeks, it was presented by H.Terry Wood the owner of the pier and Hastings Mann, a well loved person who was the producer, also making Shanklin his home. It starred George 5|Page
Doonan, Jimmy Edwards and Hastings Mann plus a company of 12. The show was well received but didn’t return the following year. It was 1972 that the theatre received another visit from a show that was originally performed at Shanklin Pier; this was at Christmas when the pantomime “Babes in the Wood” was presented by Buddy Fuller. A very similar show was presented the previous year at the pier and at the same time of year and titled “Red Riding Hood” and had many of the artists in both pantomimes. You don’t need much imagination to realize how cold the pier theatre was in December as it was built for summer shows and had no fitted heating. 1989 was the third time a show transferred to the theatre, it was due to a major fire at Sandown Pavilion on the night of Saturday August 26th which destroyed the upper dressing rooms and affected some of the stage area. The council decided (with the cooperation of the Phoenix company and Bellevue Players who were in residence at Shanklin) to transfer the show at Sandown to Shanklin. This was completed by the Tuesday, when the show reopened, not a mean task then or now. The show concerned was Summer Magic which starred Jimmy Tarbuck and Kenny Lynch and a full summer show cast, it ran though for only just over a week when the contracted season finished on September 8th.
Tommy Trinder pictured previous page, Jimmy Edwards pictured top left, article written & images courtesy of Derek Stephens, Shanklin Theatre archivist.
6|Page
IVAN NEEDHAM
Peter Coleman, Chair of Friends of Shanklin Theatre, pays tribute to Ivan Needham who sadly passed away in March this year. “Ivan leaves a legacy which we can all applaud. His diligence to ensure that the Friends of Shanklin Theatre accounts were immaculately kept and that the financial priorities were strictly adhered to will never be bettered. Softly spoken and always easily approachable as the Treasurer of the ‘Friends’, Ivan was the team member you could always count upon. The many hours he spent with the finances, were only part of his contribution to the theatre, he worked with the Box Office team helping with the expanding numbers attending shows, and was often in one of his preferred seats in the theatre watching another favourite show. We pay tribute to Ivan and Doreen, who was his pillar of support. He will be greatly missed by us all”.
Ivan & Doreen pictured together in 2014.
7|Page
KILLER CAST PULL OFF PERFECT MURDER IN MISS MARPLE’S “A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED”
Prior to attending the opening night of Agatha Christie’s, “A Murder is Announced” back in March, I was told by a friend, and not for the first time, that the Isle of Wight was nowadays regrettably devoid of culture. It seems apt, therefore, that an adaptation of one of Britain’s finest literary talents was coming to our humble frontier; Shanklin Theatre on the face of it, a most fitting venue for a period drama, set during the peak of their respective powers in the 1950’s. Yet would the production deliver me some counter-argument? I wasn’t to be disappointed. Diane Fletcher as Letitia Blacklock is simply majestic, owning the stage from the opening scene, in a part that allows her to showcase a range of her honed dramatic talents. Above, Alicia Ambrose-Bayly as Phillipa Haymes and Rachel Bright as Julia Simmons.
There are seldom ever police on the scene prior to a crime nor cue for our heroine, Miss Marple (despite her uncanny ability, common place among fictional super sleuths, to always be in just the right place at the right time to witness murder – albeit in this instance courtesy of meticulously reading her local newspaper). Yet from his entrance, Tom Butcher as Inspector Craddock asserts himself in the role of leading man; his portrayal always compelling and delivered with conviction. Right, Tom Butcher with Judy Cornwell as Miss Marple.
8|Page
Above, Judy Cornwell and Lydia Piechowiak as Mitzi. Below, Dean Smith as Edmund Swettenham.
Judy Cornwell as Miss Marple gave a beautifully balanced performance, delivering the character’s trademark deceptive fragility & exceptional shrewdness while bringing a humorous, playful cheek to the role in more lighthearted moments. From the excellent support cast, a particular mention needs to go to Lydia Piechowiak’s fiery maid, Mitzi, her interpretation offering timely comic flair into the drama upon announcing each guest to the scene. Middle Ground Theatre Company has provided a real treat in bringing its production to the Island, with commendable casting and meticulous production, “A Murder is Announced” was a credit to local theatre & a riposte to the naysayers. Article written by Charlie Turner IW County Press, images courtesy of Middle Ground Theatre Company Ltd.
9|Page
FIRST ACT THEATRE GROUP
Shanklin Theatre provides a great home for First Act Theatre Group (a theatre group for people with learning disabilities). We have use of the bar area and the stage (when it is free) to rehearse our shows, which we present twice a year at the Theatre. The staff (who are mainly volunteers) are so helpful and supportive of the work we do. In March 2014 we had the great honour to perform to the Earl and Countess of Wessex when they visited the Theatre, this year we have already presented our Spring show “Mutiny on the Bounty“, we also run Summer workshops in theatrical skills and produce our annual Christmas show, all this would not be possible without SHANKLIN THEATRE & THE STAFF, all of us at First Act feel very lucky to have such an amazing venue to work in. Carol Laidler (founder of First Act Theatre Group). Below, First Act performing “Mutiny on the Bounty”. Image courtesy of Ingenious Design UK.
A message from Councillor Ian Ward: "Tonight, Connie and I attended a Pantomime show put on by the First Act group at Shanklin Theatre. The Pantomime was Sleeping Beauty. It was just great. We went backstage to meet the performers and their mentors. Just some lovely people". First Act - Theatre Group for people with learning disabilities (Age 18+). Learning theatre skills with a production of two shows a year. First Act operates from Shanklin Theatre on Monday’s and Tuesday’s 10.00am – 3.00pm.
10 | P a g e
PRIZE RAFFLE DRAW RESULTS: 2nd APRIL 1st Prize
1078
£250 Mr. L. Tafano, St. James Road, Barton Under Needwood, Staffs.
2nd Prize
3431
£100 Anon. Donated to Friends of Shanklin Theatre.
3rd Prize
1943
£50 Mrs L. Procter, Beam Ends, Windmill Lane, Totland Bay.
4th Prize
2022
£50 Mark Pugh, Shanklin. Donated to Friends of Shanklin Theatre.
5th Prize
1109
£25 Margaret Buckett, Dracaena Gardens, Shanklin.
6th Prize
1310
£25 Chris Parsloe, Granville Rise, Totland.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our prize raffle draw. ***************************************************************************************** WINDOWS REPLACEMENT UPDATE
As many will know, the Theatre’s steel windows have seen better days! They date back to the 1930s when the theatre was created from the ashes of the Shanklin Institute. The windows have served the theatre very well, having started their life before the days of galvanising (rust proofing) but are well past their predicted lifespan having suffered serious corrosion, resulting in draughts, holes and gaps that let the wind and rain into the building. All is not lost though, thanks to the generosity of those who have attended the theatre and been involved in fund raising; it was possible to start the initial stages of the expensive repairs to the theatre’s windows back in August 2015. As in any conservation planning of a listed building such as the theatre, there is a choice between repair and replacement of the constituent parts of the building, in the case of Shanklin Theatre, following consultation with the Isle of Wight Council Conservation Officer, the planned approach was to repair the windows, with the intention of retaining the appearance of the theatre that so many have come to appreciate and recognise. Commissioned by Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust, the first steel window was removed by Island company Graham Filer Engineering, with the object of understanding the work involved in removing and sympathetically renovating the window before replacement. Left: First window removal in 2015. 11 | P a g e
During August 2015, one of the very badly corroded theatre windows was removed for repair; this was very much an experiment as, with the window in such a poor state, the repair method was not clear. A brand new window could have been installed, but the decision was made to preserve the existing window as being very much in keeping with the theatre's history. After the window unit removal from the theatre, the glass panels were removed, the frame shot-blasted to remove the old corrosion, new steel sections obtained and welded into position where the old steel had rusted, the frame paint powder coated, the brass handles and window stays cleaned and polished and new glass obtained. A big surprise was the gleaming brass window sill under the layers of old paint! Now we are delighted to report that the first window has now been re-installed, looking just as it did many years ago with a bright white baked-on paint finish that should last for many years, the brass sill and fittings once again showing the elegance and importance of the theatre. An order has been raised for repair of a second window with Graham Filer Engineering once again; others are planned for the future hence helping to continue the theatre renovations in a sympathetic way using local labour and materials where possible. Above: Newly refurbished window frame before glazing. Right: Original Brass window handle. Below: Fully glazed and completed window unit.
Shanklin Theatre is a Grade II Listed Building, the windows must be restored in their original style, and the cost of the restoration is in excess of ÂŁ100,000. Phase 1 will cost in region of ÂŁ30,000, That is a lot of money, but with modest support from a large base of patrons we hope to be able to raise this money as soon as we can! So - Can you help? Please? Make a difference by making a donation today! Why not do it right now? If you pay Income Tax you can Gift Aid it to make it worth even more! http://www.charitycheckout.co.uk/1146834/window Images and text courtesy of Rob Robertson & Anthony Wood.
12 | P a g e
SHANKLIN HOTEL & ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION SUPPORTING THE FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE
The Chair of Shanklin Hotel and Accommodation Association Mrs Sally Beston presents a cheque for ÂŁ700 to the Chairman of The Friends of Shanklin Theatre Peter Coleman. The money had been raised by the hotel association during 2015/6 organising various raffles throughout the year. The money donated has been used to purchase a set of latest Hi-Tech radio microphones for use in the theatre building and auditorium. Peter Coleman thanked the hotel association at its annual general meeting held at the theatre on the 25th April; Peter added that the radios were an important investment in keeping the volunteers and staff fully equipped with the latest audio aids. Left to right, Sally Beston (SHAA), Sharon Merrick (FOST Secretary) and Peter Coleman (FOST Chairman).
Image courtesy of Michael Beston.
13 | P a g e
A BIG THANK YOU TO PETER COLEMAN FOR SERVING AS CHAIRMAN FOR THE FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE
Whilst our volunteers have been visibly doing their jobs in and around the theatre, Peter Coleman has been beavering away at home ensuring that the machinery of the FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE has run smoothly. As Chair of the FOST committee, Peter has over the past six years devoted many, many hours of his time preparing agendas, liaising with the theatre management and directors of Shanklin theatre, communicating with the treasurer, writing cheques, sending reminders in order to keep our website updated, attended endless meetings and composing hundreds of emails. When he has left his computer to come into the theatre, which he has done regularly, he has addressed audiences at events such as AGMs, thank you evenings, celebrating seat sponsors and introducing fire evacuation training. We can be proud that he has been an excellent ‘face’ of FOST. Peter has also had to represent us at sad times when FRIENDS have passed away and also at happy celebratory events. Although his attempts at being a comedian could be a case of ‘don’t call us we’ll call you! In 2011 Peter initiated the process to enter the Friends of Shanklin Theatre for the Queens Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS); in June 2012 we were successfully awarded this highly prestigious award at Osborne House in Cowes. Peter has skilfully chaired many FOST committee meetings which are all well prepared and well planned. He has also spent several cold Christmas Shanklin Fun days manning the FOST stall and taken a lead part in several very wet and windy Shanklin regattas as well as other promotional events. He has been particularly good at keeping up to date with all the shows and produced a very useful and informative booklet on the achievements of FOST, highlighting how much has been contributed through funds raised by FOST. Peter has also been one of the main contributors to our quarterly news letter, “Stage Write.” One of his particular interests is to ensure volunteers receive good and useful training and it is thanks to Peter that so many courses have been arranged such as: first aid, fire
14 | P a g e
extinguisher and defibrillator training. He was instrumental in arranging for the theatre to have its own defibrillator which is now accessible for public use. Throughout his life, Peter’s philosophy has embraced the wish for a fair and more equal society. He has brought these beliefs into his role as Chair of FOST by treating members in an open and fair manner, and sincerely acknowledging other people’s contributions in their roles as volunteers. It is now Peter’s turn to receive our thanks and recognition for all he has achieved for Shanklin Theatre. He shall be greatly missed in his role as Chair. We look forward to seeing him in the theatre. Thank you Peter and we hope you enjoy your retirement as FOST Chair. Over: Peter Coleman receiving the QAVS on behalf of FOST from lord lieutenant major general Martin White in 2012. Text courtesy of Sharon Merrick. *************************************************************************************************************
VOLUNTEERS INFORMATION BOOKLET Volunteers at Shanklin Theatre are the force behind the working of the theatre. The jobs are varied, interesting and require many different skills. A new booklet has just been developed & issued describing the many team activities and individual roles of the volunteers. This booklet is aimed mainly at our new recruits to help them decide which role is best suited to them. It is also a source of useful information for current volunteers, we now have over 120 active volunteers but not everybody is fully aware of others in their varied roles. The idea of the booklet originated from Mike Crowe, Sharon Merrick took on the relay and I collected the information from volunteers over the last 6 months, discovering new roles as we went along. This booklet has been produced & printed and will be available at the Coffee, Cake, and Chat mornings every first Saturday of the month. Current volunteers will be able to pick up a copy at the theatre. Click HERE for the online version. Many thanks, Jacqui Robertson.
BABY SHANKLIN SUPERSAURUS DINO’S NOW AVAILABLE We have just taken delivery of the beautiful Baby Shanklin Supersaurus dinosaurs, these little chaps are priced at £4.99 each. They are super child friendly and bear the CE mark of safety. Available now in the theatre's sweet kiosk. 15 | P a g e
NEW BENEFITS FOR FOST MEMBERS
Dear Friends, at our AGM held on the 25
April 2016, new benefits for FOST members were announced. Please see below for the complete list of these excellent benefits: th
* Discounts on tickets for selected shows, please look on the latest theatre brochure, the theatre website and posters to find out about the discounted shows for Friends.
*Our newly revamped quarterly FOST Newsletter “Stage Write” magazine which brings you the latest news on FOST and the theatre.
*Priority bookings whenever possible. FOST members have the opportunity for a short while, generally a day or two, to buy tickets in advance of the general public. Subscribing members are notified by email.
*A monthly members’ draw of three £10 theatre vouchers, the draw is free and the membership number is automatically added to the draw. The draws are now taking place in the Box Office on the last Friday of each month. No fees to exchange tickets for the same show, for non members the fee remains at £2 per ticket. Advance notice of forthcoming big shows, when possible. Members will be notified in advance by email of the date the tickets are going on sale, this gives the opportunity to be one of the first to buy selected tickets.
The April members draw took place at the end of the AGM. The winners are: NAME LINDA ARMSTRONG RICHARD WILLIAMS LYNDA PLATT
FOST No 636 985 642
Each winner will receive a £10 theatre voucher, in order to profit from all the benefits above including the chance of winning theatre vouchers, your membership will need to be up to date. On behalf of the FOST committee, I would like to thank you for continuing to support Shanklin Theatre. Jacqui Robertson, FOST Membership Secretary. Email: membership@thefost.uk 16 | P a g e
FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE SUPPORT FUND-BETTER KNOWN AS “THE BUCKET COLLECTION”
An update on our Bucket Collection initiative from Alana Bird. “I am pleased to report on another great year for the Bucket collection and would like to pass on a huge thank you to all those who so kindly donated to our buckets this year. High season: July, August, September and then December brought us more than £2,200 donations per month, thus showing how the audiences love our great shows and happily support the theatre with a handful of coins or sometimes even notes. The Bucket collection total for the year ending in April 2016, as announced at the FOST AGM, was £20,471.21. This is only for eleven months as we were closed for maintenance and repairs in January. Since we started the Bucket collection back in June 2011 we have now reached a massive £88,970.00!! All the money raised is put to good use, but even more is still needed for future projects such as replacing the theatre windows and repairing the external canopy above the foyer steps etc. Our new target is now £100,000, so we will be there at all the shows with our buckets at the ready” Thank you for your continued support, regards, Alana. HAPPY BIRTHDAY’S
One of our wonderful Usherettes, Shirley Armstrong had her picture taken with Roy Hudd during his theatre performance of “Roy Hudd’s Very Own Music Hall” in May this year. Roy celebrated his eightieth birthday on the 16th May and was also celebrating a magnificent sixty years in the entertainment business; he went on to say that he had no plans on retiring! Shirley is also celebrating her eightieth birthday in June this year, so on behalf of all the volunteers and staff at Shanklin Theatre; we would like to wish Shirley a very happy 80th birthday. Shirley went on to say: “Roy was very kind to me and autographed my show flyer with the words, “Happy Birthday from an older man!”
17 | P a g e
THE LAKE TUESDAY GROUP
The magnificent Ladies of the Lake Tuesday Group have donated a wonderful amount of £600 to the Friends of the Theatre back in May this year. The Lake Ladies raised the funds through organising competitions, raffles, tombola, quiz nights and supper over the last twelve months or so, they have also named four seats within the theatre using our “Name a Seat” initiative. You can "Name a Seat" for a minimum donation of £50.00 that lasts for ten years, your special or personal message will be engraved onto a plaque which will be affixed to an auditorium or balcony seat of your choice, thus making it a very special part of the theatre's history. Supporting and naming a seat could not be easier; you can collect a support form from the theatre or download a copy HERE. The Lake Tuesday Group, group leader Miss Edna Morris presents a cheque for £600 to Theatre Manager, Roger Coleman (far right).
18 | P a g e
A NOTE FROM DAVID KAST – THE NEW CHAIR OF FOST “Ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their Community” This was the headline of an article I was reading a couple of months ago regarding another community project in the UK. At the time I was struck how it also applied to all that FOST members do for Shanklin Theatre. However, I would firmly suggest that in respect of our Theatre, the word ‘ordinary’ is changed to ‘extraordinary’, due to all the skills and experience we can call upon from our various supporters who help run the Theatre. My wife Lesley and I have been members of FOST since moving to the Island some five years ago, and in that time - as with all of you, we have seen our Theatre continue to grow and become an important centre of entertainment for the Island. Today of course, it is also recognised as a venue in the UK for many major artists. Quite simply, we wouldn’t have our Theatre in place today without all that has taken place over the last six or so years. As a part of that process, FOST has been a terrific example of a community coming together to save and maintain something it cherishes! One of my personal interests also rests with amateur theatre and since being on the Island, I have appeared a few times on the Shanklin stage with the Island Savoyards. All of us ‘treading the boards’ are only too aware that without a well run theatre in which we can present our productions, together with being able to comfortably host and attract our audiences, we couldn’t put on a show. Having been elected to the Committee during the last AGM and now as the Chair of FOST, I am only really just beginning to come to terms with all that goes on behind the scenes to keep our Theatre going. Alongside the small number of full time Theatre personnel, the number of volunteer hours worked within the various functions such as box office, front of house, cleaning, maintenance, gardening, etc, is enormous! As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, I am also learning that we are most fortunate to be able to call upon a vast range of skills and experience from members helping make all these a success, together with a huge dollop of enthusiasm amongst all concerned! I very much look forward to working with the Committee and all of you in the year ahead and hope that I will be able to continue the excellent work of FOST’s previous Chair, Peter Coleman. Peter has been involved with FOST from the very beginning and over the last six or so years has helped steer and oversee many significant stages in its development. Now enjoying a well-earned rest, I am delighted that Peter will continue to work with our Committee as Training Officer. So for now, thanks to all of you for your continued support, and as they say in the theatre business. “On with the Show!” 19 | P a g e
MY LIFE A FULL LIFE - COMMUNITY ACTION AWARDS 2016
The efforts of Isle of Wight volunteers are set to be recognised again thanks to the return of the Community Action IW Awards. Community Action IOW runs an annual competition to encourage and reward the dedication within the Island’s voluntary sector. Any voluntary or community group on the Island can enter and have the opportunity to win prize money up to £1,500 for their organisation. Last year’s awards went to groups including the FYT Bus, Age UK IW & Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival. In April this year, the Friends of the Theatre entered the competition to discover some extraordinary statistics upon completion of the CAA entry form, our first task was to describe our primary objectives as a voluntary group supporting Shanklin Theatre, that’s an easy one, tick that as done……….. Q. Does your organisation have a management committee? Q. How do you fund-raise for your organisation? Again, both fairly easy questions, both ticked as done. Next question: How many people benefit from the work that you do? Mmm, that’s a bit trickier and very difficult to quantify, with a lot of head scratching and a few calculations we got there in the end………. Then came the SHOCKER: Q. Do you have volunteers? If so, how many and how many hours do they contribute? Part one of that question no problem, 140 volunteers was the answer, part two was a complete unknown, and so, with the help of a few colleagues we carried out a survey of the volunteering hours………….. We calculated that the hours contributed by our dedicated theatre volunteers are in the region of a staggering: twenty seven thousand (27,000) hours per year!! We thank all of our theatre volunteers, without your support, help and dedication Shanklin would not have the Island’s number one premier entertainment attraction.
“Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless” 20 | P a g e
FRIENDS OF SHANKLIN THEATRE VOLUNTEER STRUCTURE
THEATRE SUPERVISORS Box Office – Doreen Armstrong. Ushering / Front of House – Peter Franklin. Bar – Maureen Harden. Deputy – Brian Platt. Maintenance – John Steege. Deputy – Rob Robertson. Catering – Annie O’Neill. Housekeeping – Shirley Hughes.
THEATRE CO-ORDINATORS Confectionery Kiosk – Christine Reed / Lesley Kast. Theatre Support Fund-Bucket Collections - Alana Bird. Social Media & FOST Publicity – Michael Beston. friends@shanklintheatre.com Theatre Archivist – Derek Stephens. delboyds@talktalk.net Theatre Hospitality – Margaret Ashfield. Prize Draw Sales – Sylvia-Lay Flurrie.
FOST CO-ORDINATORS Webmaster – Tim Marshall. tim@rookley.net Coffee, Cake & Chat – Pam Phillips. Welfare – Cilla Morris. Training – Peter Coleman.
21 | P a g e
FOST COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
Chair – David Kast. d.kast@btinternet.com Secretary – Gwyn Dawson. Vice Chair – Michael Beston. friends@shanklintheatre.com Treasurer – Terry Dawson / Janet Wardle. Membership – Jacqui Robertson. membership@thefost.uk Merchandise – Vivien Howell. Training – Peter Coleman. Bucket Collections – Alana Bird. Theatre Tours – Roy Coleman. Ushering – Peter Frankling. House Keeping – Shirley Hughes.
**********************************************************************
Stage-Write magazine, published by the Friends of Shanklin Theatre. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of Stage-Write magazine, the publishers do not accept any liability or provide any guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or up to date. The publisher and its contributors have used their best efforts in preparing these pages and this publication but make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information supplied. Editor: Michael Beston, June 2016.
22 | P a g e