## **Annual Report for 2024** 

**In accordance with our Constitution and our obligations as a CIO, Heroica Theatre Company’s Trustees met at four Board meetings and an AGM across 2024, and accurate Minutes were kept. Accounts and reports will be submitted to The Charity Commission in October 2025.** 

1. To begin 2024, the Pat Douthwaite project and proposed production was on the drawing boards and we already had in place: 

      - A draft script for the piece by Anna Carlisle: _Pat Douthwaite: Alive and Kicking_ which became a work in progress for development by both AC and AM. 

      - An agreement secured with NGS: one performance in September 2024 at The Hawthornden Lecture Theatre. Early in the new year, a budget was devised, discussed and agreed in principle with Grainne Rice of NGS: NGS paying us a flat fee of £1000 plus a 50/50 split of the box office. (Up to 200 audience, tickets £15). 

      - Further performance venue suggestions were followed up early in the year: Glasgow Women’s Library; the Lillie Gallery in Milngavie; the Paisley Museum; and Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh (to coincide with their Contemporary art fair). It was also agreed that performances would be premiered in Hebden Bridge Town Hall. 

   - 1.2 AC created a P _at Douthwaite: Alive and Kicking_ page on the Heroica website, outlining plans and developments, and located some guide information to it on the HOME page. 

   - 1.3 It was agreed with Heroica Trustees that the production should involve only AC and AM who would do all liaison, research and marketing; travel, haulage and setting up; and all performance: AM in the title role and AC accompanying the piece with Dave Brubeck piano music, tailored into the script. This meant that costs could be minimized with the main expenditure being music (PRS) and image (DACS) licences; rehearsal spaces, travel and accommodation; sound and other electronic/electrical equipment (see below: 5.). Set and costume costs would be minimal. 

2. In summary: 

      - NGS secured: one performance September 2024 at The Hawthornden lecture theatre 

      - (via Grainne Rice of NGS) Glasgow Women’s Library agreed to mounting one performance also in September 

      - Lillie Gallery, Milngavie came on board in principle but have deferred till another year (2025). They have one Douthwaite in their collection. 

      - Paisley Gallery remains closed at least until December 2024 so that venue idea was put on hold. 

      - In its place, we liaised with Carly Shearer of Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, proposing a performance there in January 2025 which was agreed by both parties. 

      - It was agreed that we should premiere the production in Hebden Bridge, with two consecutive performances in early September in The Space at Hebden Bridge Town Hall and appropriate bookings were made. 

3. Research and site visits: 



   - In June, AC and AM spent 8 hours in the company of and conversation with Richard Demarco and his PA Terry Ann Newman – which was very fruitful in regards to background information regarding Pat and her various associates. 

   - A conversation was begun with DACS representative Pete Woronkowitz regarding permissions for use of the painting/image ‘Rage 1960’ in web pages and on publicity material/social media; and a series of 11 other Douthwaite paintings as images in a backdrop presentation, and also to liaise on our behalf with the ‘Estate’: Pat’s son Toby Hogarth who lives in Mallorca and would authorize any further licences we required. 

   - Several visits were made to Matilda Mitchell in the Scottish Borders (widow of Douglas Hall, first keeper of the SNGMA and faithful supporter and mentor of Pat Douthwaite). A huge range of PD’s drawings and paintings were viewed. 

   - We made contact with and visited Andrew Brown, ex-director of the 369 Gallery, who gave Pat one of her rare one-woman shows back in the ‘70s. 

4. Confirmed performance dates secured: 

   - 5th/6th September at The Space, Hebden Bridge Town Hall, for first and second previews 

   - 13th September - Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, National Galleries Scotland, Edinburgh 

   - 19th September - Glasgow Women’s Library 

   - Lyon &Turnbull, Edinburgh: early January - to tie in with their sale of contemporary art. 

5. By mid-2024 then, the following had been set up and/or implemented: 

   - Ticket sales in progress for Hebden Bridge and Edinburgh performances 

   - Licences (for music and paintings images) applied for and in train (DACS and PRS) 

   - Supporting galleries issuing high-res jpegs of Douthwaite paintings for our use, including the Hepworth Gallery who gave permission for us to use their ‘Gwen John in Paris’ 

   - Design of flyers, posters and programme enabled by issue of licence for use of ‘Rage’ 1960, thus also: 

   - Marketing and promotion widespread, both online, on social media and in hard copy 

   - Local promotion in place, e.g. the Hebweb and What’s On Hebden Bridge 

   - A generous donation received from local friends and their charity 

   - Additional properties and other essentials acquired e.g. piano cover, side lighting, trolleys, car-roof container 

   - Other items borrowed e.g. mic and amplifier, exhibition display panels (Pennine Heritage.) 

   - Set items agreed and in preparation or purchase (many already held and  ‘borrowed’ from the 2017 Joan Eardley project) 

   - Costumes and properties in train 

   - Music selections synced to script (excerpts from Dave Brubeck numbers) 

   - Two voice coach sessions for AM held on Zoom with Carol Ann Crawford 

   - Continuing liaison with first-hand research sources e.g Matilda Mitchell 

   - Continuing liaison with key venues (NGS and GWL). 

## 5.2 Later, in August 2024: 

- Overhead projection sequence decided upon and timed within the scenes of the play 

- Comps and acknowledgements finalized 



      - Programme designed and printed 

      - Exhibition display content (for HB only) decided and mounted 

      - Teeing-up volunteer personnel (to include Heroica trustees) for HB performances. 

6. July-August rehearsals for the September performances (10am- 6pm daily for 5 weeks) took place at: 

      - Land Farm, Colden: four weeks (@ £20pw), followed by: 

      - The home of Rosemary and Andrew Daley, Jumble Hole: one week (FoC). 

   - 6.2 Pre-performance ‘audiences’ included Liz and John Williams (LF), Rosemary and Andrew Daley, Lizzie Lockhart and Steve Gumley, and a group of their friends and neighbours, and Amanda Dalton, chair of Heroica. 

7. First and second performances: September 5[th] and 6[th] , the Space, Hebden Bridge Town Hall. All creative and ‘crew’ work carried out by AC and AM as well as performance, projection and music-playing. Much volunteer support from Trustees and friends in respect of front-of-house, door sales, seating and programme distribution. Geoff Tansey photographed the dress rehearsal and filmed both performances. 

   - 7.2 A visual exhibition, prepared by AC, supported the production next door in the Saltonstall Room: with biographical images of Pat Douthwaite, her works and her associates featured. 

   - 7.3 Full houses were recorded for both performances well in advance, but admissions exceeded the maximum by 5 each night (55 in total including volunteers). Many people stayed on for the Q&As conducted by AC and AM and very positive responses to the overall production were reported. Relatively few in the audience had heard of Pat Douthwaite before. 

8. Third performance: September 13[th] : The Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, NGS, Edinburgh: We were pleased to welcome an audience of c120 (it is a 200-seater), most of whom knew of Pat Douthwaite; some of whom actually knew her: including Richard Demarco and Matilda Mitchell. Also in the audience were supporters from the Edinburgh theatre and art worlds plus six personnel from Lyon & Turnbull auction house. The responses, especially at the Q&A, were heart-warmingly supportive of our production and interpretation of Pat. 

   - 8.2 AC and AM were grateful for the help and support of Grainne Rice (adult learning co-ordinator and stalwart Heroica supporter at NGS) for ease of access, get-in and technical support. Ross McDougall, technician at The Hawthornden, offered generous sound and lighting support and recorded the performance. 

   - 8.3 Personnel from Lyon & Turnbull followed up their declared enjoyment of the show by confirming their willingness to host a special performance of _PDAaK_ (fee TBA) in January at their auction house in Edinburgh, to coincide with their Contemporary art fair where they expect to sell a good number of Douthwaite works. (Date and fee at his stage TBC.) 

9. Fourth performance: September 19[th] Glasgow Women’s Library: 



Once again we were supported well by personnel at the venue, especially events organizer Farzane Zamen. 

- 9.2 We were initially a little anxious about audience size: with only 17 bookings made prior to the performance day, but we ultimately had a ‘bijou’ audience of c 30. (Several people had travelled significant distances: from Hebden Bridge, Dumfries and Galloway, Aberdeen and Montrose.) The response we received was once again very heart-warming, and the interest and praise expressed at the Q&A were gratifying. 

- 9.3 Several audience members were from prospective venues e.g. the Lillie Gallery in Milngavie and Paisley Museum; personnel also from Kelvingrove Art Gallery, and artist/painter Kate Downie whose latest Eardley exhibition was currently being featured at the GWL. 

## 10. Fifth performance: 

   - As a result of the success of the previous four performances and in light of many local people having missed the first two performances, it was agreed to schedule a further Hebden Bridge performance: November 21[st] : The Space, Hebden Bridge Town Hall. 

   - 10.2 All music was this time live, Phil Taylor having arranged a Brubeck four-hander piece for two hands - _Points on Jazz_ - and made it playable by AC as play-in music _._ Once again, there was a Douthwaite exhibition in the adjoining Saltonstall Room which people found helped their understanding. 

   - 10.3 There was volunteer assistance from Roger, Maggie and Kerry. A concurrent (and popular) event taking place in the Town Hall main space at the same time might have constituted competition, and adverse weather conditions meant that seven of those who had booked didn’t make it, but there were seven walk-ups in their place and a good 48 in attendance. 

   - 10.4 A few additions to the theatre piece meant that that there was one additional image on the image presentation, helping to make for a more meaningful ending. 

   - 10.5 There was a hugely positive response. This time we also asked for written feedback from audience in addition to the Q&A and we received, via email, a lot of very thoughtful and helpful evaluation. Once again, we were hugely gratified by the response to the piece from an audience who had, mostly, never heard of Pat Douthwaite before. 

11. In October 2024, Heroica welcomed Rachel Doyle-Richards as our new Trustee. With her outstanding expertise as a community theatre director and teacher of drama, we will appreciate her fresh eye on current and future Heroica projects, especially pertaining to social media promotions, and on updating our governing documents. 

12. Also by the end of 2024, we had in place: Confirmation of the proposed performance (performance no. 6) at Lyon & Turnbull auction houses, Edinburgh negotiated and agreed: January 16[th] 2025. 

   - 12.2 Following negotiation with Zoe Mendelson, head of painting and 



printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art, a January visit to the School was scheduled with a view to a spring 2025 performance date at GSA. The GSA is expecting to provide us with an audience of c200 non-paying students and has funding for a £1000 payment to Heroica. As an educational organization, they would be able to waive copyright licences and allow us to use a wider range of Douthwaite images, should we require. 

   - 12.3 A firmer offer and range of dates given from The Lillie Gallery, Milngavie to host a performance in early 2025, offering an 80/20 split for a paying audience of 45-50. The Lillie will be able to give us access to a large (3’ X 4’) Douthwaite painting _The Bridegroom_ as a backdrop to the performance. 

   - 12.4 Both the above invitations (GSA and The Lillie) come as a result of an adult student and personnel respectively attending our September 19[th] performance at the Glasgow Women’s Library and responding positively to the play and the idea of hosting it at their own venues. 

13. The Heroica website has over the year 2024 been updated in accordance with all the aforegoing information, developments and changes. New performance image material has been uploaded to the dedicated _Pat Douthwaite: Alive and Kicking_ page. 

14. We ended 2024 very gratified by the responses so far to this challenging production, and look forward to further interesting and exciting venues hosting the production in 2025. 

   - 14.2 AC and AM continue to travel the show fairly effortlessly, with the set fitting neatly into our car and thus far with no glaring need for hiring a van. All venues have made access and accommodation easy and generous. 

   - 14.3 We ended 2024 with the privilege of Pat Douthwaite’s lithograph _Black Spiky-Haired Geisha with Bent Topper_ hanging on our wall, a gift from research contact and friend Matilda Mitchell who said she felt sure ‘Douglas [Hall] would have wanted you to have it’. 

15. Thus all Heroica work in 2024 was devoted to the development of this project, secure in the support and guidance we were receiving from Heroica Trustees, from audiences and from the various potential partners in and supporters of the project. 

16. Financial report for Jan – Dec 2024: 

   - Opening balance on 01/01/2024: £2,678.83 

   - (£1,790.78 current account; £51.16 cash; £836.89 deposit account). 

Incoming funds 2024: Income from 2024 activities and Pat Douthwaite project: £6,105.28 Donations £684.54 unrestricted; £1,800 restricted to main project work. Sales £3,616.17 box office returns from main project; £4.57 script sale Total Income 2024 including funds carried over: £8,784.11 Total Expenditure 2024: £5,466.30 (£499.80 administration costs; £4,966.50 main project costs) 

Total funds to carry forward: Closing balance on 31/12/2024: £3,317.81 



(£2,423.91 current account; £47.50 cash; £846.40 deposit account) 

Report written and compiled by Angela Cairns, for Heroica Theatre Company 2nd October 2025 



## **Heroica Theatre Company** 

## **Total Receipts & Payments Account for the year ended 31-12-24** 

|||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Previousyear|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Receipts**||||||
|Fundraising Income||-|-|-|-|
|Donations||558.25|1,820.00|2,378.25|628.91|
|Grants||-|-|-|-|
|HMRC - Gift Aid||-|-|-|65.25|
|Interest||9.51|-|9.51|7.30|
|Sales||56.77|29.35|86.12|-|
|Easy Fundraising||40.01|-|40.01|-|
|Paypal||-|-|-|-|
|Ticket Sales||-|3,586.82|3,586.82|-|
|Maverick Monologues||-|-|-|-|
|**Total receipts**||**664.54**|**5,436.17**|**6,100.71**|**701.46**|
|**Payments**||||||
|Room Hire||-|410.00|410.00|-|
|IT - Domain and Hosting||298.80|-|298.80|337.12|
|Miscellaneous||51.00|827.35|878.35|-|
|Insurance||-|425.00|425.00|134.07|
||0|-|-|-|-|
|HTC Office||-|-|-|113.77|
|Project Appraisal||-|200.00|200.00|150.02|
|Consultancy||-|-|-|-|
|Marketing||-|146.20|146.20|-|
|WCAS Fee||-|-|-|-|
|Salaries||-|-|-|-|
|Fees||-|-|-|-|
|Rehearsal||-|-|-|-|
|Sets and Props||-|88.15|88.15|-|
|Costume||-|-|-|-|
|Equipment and Hire||-|553.51|553.51|-|
|Venue Management||-|-|-|-|
|Licensing||150.00|2,077.60|2,227.60|-|
|Transport & Travel||-|234.12|234.12|-|
|Education||-|-|-|-|
|Venue Hire||-|-|-|-|
|Hospitality||-|-|-|-|
|Subs||-|-|-|-|
|Conference Expenses||-|-|-|-|
|Maverick Monologues||-|-|-|-|
|**Total payments**||**499.80**|**4,961.93**|**5,461.73**|**734.98**|
|**Net receipts / (payments)**||**164.74**|**474.24**|**638.98**|**(33.52)**|
|Transfer||(47.25)|-|(47.25)|-|
|Balance brought forward||2,726.08|-|2,726.08||
|**Balance carried forward**||**2,843.57**|**474.24**|**3,317.81**|**(33.52)**|
|Made up of:||||||
|Lloyds TSB Current Account||2,423.91||||
|Lloyds Deposit account||846.40||||
|Cash float||47.50||||
|Paypal||-||||
|||**3,317.81**||||
|_Checks - this should equal zero_||_0.00_||||



## **Approval of the accounts** 

The financial statements were approved at a meeting of the management committee and signed on its behalf by: 

Signed:  …………………………………… 


Name  AMANDA DALTON  (Chair; Trustees) 

Date:  AGM - 06 October 2025