Gainsborough Musical Theatre Society Chairman’s report Y/E 31.07.24
August 2023
Audi�ons held for concerts and all parts have been cast. Posters have been sent to Gainsborough Life magazine, local newspapers and the event has been promoted on our social media. We have been prac�cing twice a week, one day focused on solos/small groups and the other on group numbers.
September 2023
and are going well. A small group of the concert cast performed at Lea Park anniversary fes�val. Raffle �ckets have been ordered for the Christmas fundraiser. GMTS were confirmed to be Co-Op Community Champions from December to the beginning of March. AGM held with a good turn out. Sharon Spalding taking over from Dion as publicity manager. Commi�ee decided to absolve the role of �cket manager due to disappoin�ng responses from party booking forms.
October 2023
Devon Riley as Choreographer. “9 to 5” voted by the commi�ee to be our 2025 show and Chicago voted to be our 2026 show. Concerts were performed and did very successfully. Disappoin�ng turn out at Gringley however the weather definitely played a part as people who had pre-booked �ckets didn’t turn up. Date was set for budget mee�ng for Our House. Christmas social event was booked. No�ce sent of transfer of archives to Gainsborough Heritage Centre.
November 2023
Budget mee�ng held for Our House. Poster made and shared for our Christmas quiz fundraiser. Venue and quiz ques�ons confirmed and sorted. Prize dona�ons received for the quiz night/raffle draw. We Do It In The Dark contacted to help with backstage elements of Our House.
December 2023
Christmas quiz fundraiser held and was very successful. There was an impressive turn out and feedback on the quiz content was posi�ve. Our House cast and crew group was made on Facebook with the launch night date announced. Launch night adver�sed in Gainsborough Life magazine, local newspapers and on social media.
January 2024
Launch night was held for Our House with a very good turn out. Rehearsal material, audi�on pieces and rehearsal schedule was shared with the cast and crew. Chloe Andrews agreed to be in charge of props for Our House. Julie Leaning, Faye Newell and Sharon Spalding agreed to organise costumes for Our House.
February 2024
Audi�ons were held for Our House, we were unable to cast the role of Calum so had to look outside of the society for this role. Rehearsals were going very well, singing for Our House is
no�ceable easier to learn from The Addams Family and dance rehearsals were well taught with different dance moves for the core dance ensemble and the rest of the cast. Lots of chorus pieces have been set. Decision was made to find our own members to help with backstage/scene changes. WDIITD were contacted again to help with sound and ligh�ng at the theatre. Emily Jenkinson agreed to take headshots and promo�onal photos for Our House.
March 2024
Rehearsals con�nue for Our House. All roles now cast. Jacqui Walker joined the costume team. It was decided due to our low membership fees cast would be asked to provide their own costumes for parts of the show. Set for Our House proving difficult, no set confirmed yet. Promo�onal materials received for Our House and distributed to be displayed. Noted that �cket sales are slower at this point in comparison to last year, cast need to do more to promote including sharing posters on social media/in local shops and leafle�ng. Easter quiz fundraiser was confirmed for 28[th] April. Dona�on received from D. Speight for the food at the fundraiser. It was decided to increase the price to take part in the quiz. Patron’s adver�sed and current patrons contacted for renewal.
April 2024
expensive however there are benefits from the company as they help with the building and taking down of the set. Ticket sales s�ll slow in comparison to TAF last year. Compe��on for 4 free �ckets for Our House confirmed for the Gainsborough Life magazine. Andy Evans confirmed to come the dress rehearsal to take photos and do a review for publicity. Headshots were taken. Concert commi�ee confirmed to be Chris Smithson, Anna Hrycak, Chloe Andrews, Dion Oldridge and Hannah Leaning. First mee�ng was held. Disscusion was held regarding cos�ng for 2025 show, was confirmed to s�ck to original plan of “9 to 5” in 2025 and “Chicago” in 2026. Quiz was held with a fantas�c turn out. Received confirma�on from Co-Op Community funds that £835.16 was raised for us. Thanks was given to Leigh Troop for her fantas�c work on fundraising.
May 2024
Concern was raised regarding who would be available to help with the quick changes for the lead role in the show. Ticket sales s�ll slow and our banner was stolen from outside of Tesco in Scunthorpe. Trentside Radio contacted for interview to help promote the show. Fashion show fundraised confirmed for 8[th] September with discussion of another Christmas quiz in December. Concerts confirmed for Marton 11[th] , Blyton 12[th] , Gringley 18[th] and Morton 19[th] October. S�ll looking for a venue for a concert in Scunthorpe. Concerts launch night confirmed for 16[th] July.
June 2024
Our House was performed, 598 �ckets sold in total (41%). This was a disappoin�ng result for the society meaning we made a loss for this show. However, lots of posi�ve comments were received from the audience members. Issues with sound noted, we will look in to this in the future. Work sheet submi�ed to the theatre late so they were unprepared for our get in. It was noted a�endance at rehearsals/a�tude from some of the cast this year was very poor.
Some of the set/props were not used when paid for so this needs looking at closer next year. Greg Snape, Simon Percy and Devon Riley were contacted to see if they would be interested in being our produc�on team again this year. License deposit paid for 2026 show “9 to 5”. Launch night held for the concerts with a very good turn out. It was decided to contact Trinity Arts Centre to see how much they would charge for us to perform there poten�ally in 2026 and compare with current costs at the Plowright in Scunthorpe.
July 2024
Further invoices received for microphones/sound equipment for Our House. Confirma�on from Plowright Theatre that they are not renewing contract with Ticketmaster which should help with �cket sales in future. Concert rehearsals started and audi�ons were held. Christmas quiz has been booked.
AIN58ROU6H AWSICAL THEATrE SOCIEri Qr the ended 31st Jul 2024 31.7.24 31.7.23 INCOME Subscriptions Patrons Refreshments tJoMti¢ns 1.715.1Xl 350.C(I 156.50 835.16 I.0.00 300.00 210.00 150.(X Surylus from activities Surplus on Adrtms Family SLrplus on concerts Interest received Premium 8ond prizes Quizmas a Easter quiz of costumeg & props E¢W Fundroisin9 0.00 996.57 340.04 0.00 1.743.73 32.27 269.63 3,686.48 858.75 162.40 75.00 1,002.80 891.05 222.08 TOTAL INfOME 6.438.SXJ 9.508.56 EXPENDrnIRE Def ieit ort Our House/Addarns Farni Premi$e$ rent As*nin[strati exptttses rnsumiKes Post & stationery NOCIA $ubscriplion Miscellaneous 7.414.16 1,596.00 1.339.50 608.96 1.25 199. 130.txl 499.31 O.CM) 135.CK) 208.95 939.21 843.26 TOTAL EXPENDITiJRE 9.949.37 2,182.76 Net deficitl swpkn for the year -3.510.47 7.325.80
6AINSBROU6H MUSICAL THEATrE SOCIEf>l BALANCE SHEEf AS AT 31st Y 2024 1.8.23 De 31.7.24 31.7.23 FZXEts ASSErs Keyboard 1.00 RENT ASSETS TS8 Bank Yorkshire Buildin9 Society Cash in hond 17,995.93 10.337.45 36.76 28.370.14 21.805.00 9,997.41 98.20 31,9CX).61 Payments in odvance Show licence Programme adverts 500.Tr) 225.CQ 725.CQ 705.00 Net Assets 29,096.14 32,606.61 FiThJnced by Balonce 1.8.23 Surplus/ def icit for year 32.606.61 -3.510.47 25,280.81 7,325.80 As at 31.7.24 29,096.14 32.606.61 Ian Burges$ Hon.Treasurer
6AINSBROU6H MUSICAL THEATrE socIEri Notes to the financial stot s for the e4r ended 31st 2024 2023 Addams Family INCOME Ticket Sales Pro9ramme Advertisements Raff le & Programme Sales Show sponsorship 10.067.5J 445.CQ 513.12 o. 16,548.40 581.95 709.00 3,C(JO.00 Total Income 11.025.62 20,839.35 EXPENSES Royalties Hire of libs. scores & postage Theatre & rehersal room hire MD fees Accompanist & orchestra fees Hire of scenery Hire of microphones & sound system Costumes & props Publicity, leaf lets posters etc Programme printing 1,914.60 i.000.oJ 2.886.44 1.200.IXI 3,460.Crf) 5.026.CK) 935.00 1.244.54 473.20 3(K).Crf) 2,934.35 600.00 2,254.90 1,200.00 4,698.00 3.316.00 434.56 959.00 455.96 300.00 Total expenditure 18.439.78 17,152.77 Net surplu5/ - deficit -7.414.16 3,686.58
GMTS TREASURER'S REPORT 31st July 2024 I stood before you last year to report a very successful financial year for the Society with a surplus of some £7,325. In contrast, I have to say the results for 2023124 financial year are disappDintir)g with a deficit of £3,510.47, which reverses half of the previous year's SLJrplus and the deficit would have been much worse but for some excellent fundraising work Needless to say that this trend cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely The effects of the deficit are reflected in the society's cash and bank balances which decreased from an opening balance of £31.9LN).61 to £28,370.14 The biggest contributor the loss for the year was the production of Our House. Although this was very well performed it did not do well with ticket 5ale5 and with hiEh production costs and no show sponsorship a deficit overall was incurred of £7,414. A breakdown of the show's income and expenditure is shown in the attached notes. As previously stated the effects of this deficit were mitigated to a degree by some excellent fundraising initiative5 The early Autumn concerts achieved a Surplus of very nearly £l,(K)O and the Xmas and Easter quizzes combined raised a very impressive £1,743.73 Other sources of income on the whole were fairly consistent with 2023. A notable exception wa5 the donation of £835.16 from the Coop which we received as part of their local community support fund and with an upturn in interest rates meant int received was more than doubled in the year to £340.04 The society's expenses remained fairly consistent The decision to relinquish the North Street lease continue5 to be justified with the savings 1 rent this has achieved. Insurance premiums general y increased in 2023124 and this is reflected on the increase in from £499.32 to £608.96. The success of the Addams Family show also meant that the NODA sub increased as the so( into a higher ticket sales bracket on which NODA ba5e5 Its subscriptiuns. As a result £199.00 was paid as opposed to £135.00 In light of the unsustainable overall loss incurred and wtth no prospect of costs coming dow, future show choices need to be considered carefully with regard to its likely financial c05t and whether the show will be popular at the box office In addition fundraising become5 more paramount and every society member should endea to support or contribute to an event or initiative if they are able. Hopefully next year. I will be able to report on an improvement in the society finances.