MINUTES
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
DUNSTABLE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
HELD ON 6[TH] SEPTEMBER 2024
AT THE LUBYA HALL MANCHESTER PLACE, DUNSTABLE
COMMENCING AT 7.45PM
1.0 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE –
received from Liam Whiteside, Fiona Whiteside, Julie Foster, Liam Rowlands, Denise Ryan, Kat Laing, Jayda Moyse and Catherine Maile.
2.0 MINUTES OF LAST AGM - one error – Ed Smale is a life member for all that he does for the society and his name was not on the list.
3.0 MATTERS ARISING - none.
4.0 CORRESPONDENCE – none
5.0 REPORTS -
CHAIR - Chairman Report – DMTC 2024.
Good evening everyone. I would like to firstly thank you all for coming and for the support that you have shown myself and the society across this year. And what a year it has been!!
When I took over as Chair in July 2023 we had just started our production of Sunset Boulevard. This production was to be out first back in the Grove Theatre since the phenomenon that was CATS and of course the odd times of Covid. We were incredibly lucky to have Alan Goss as Director of this epic show and the fabulous team of Jo Smale and Jo Herd accompanied by Angela Goss. This show was always going to be a challenge – large sets, huge costume requirements and of course the fact that it can be regarded as a ‘marmite show’ – you either love it or hate it. Thankfully we had a great cast, crew and production team and we wowed the audiences that we had with the show. Many who came to see it were taken aback by the professionalism of the cast and the wonderful voices of our leading men and ladies, notably Elliot Bunker, Jules Fraser and Rachel Malloy. Thanks to Sunset DMTC were firmly back in the public eye, producing west end quality shows in the local theatre setting. I would like to thank all those involved in making it a success, but particular thanks must go to Alan, Jo and Jo. Of course we must also extend thanks to Ed Smale for his continued support and impressive piano playing.
Off the back of the success of Sunset, we embarked on our annual Christmas concert – which this time was to take place in the Collins’s Well hall in Caddington, rather than at The Rep. This gave us more scope to have tables and food and a general Christmas atmosphere. This event is always well received, and the audience in Caddington did not disappoint, especially with the rendition of the 12
days of Christmas, including actions. As always we were able to make a small profit on the night, and I think all will agree it was a fun and festive affair. Thanks again must go to all those involved, but especially to Jo, Ed and Chris.
The Christmas concert saw us then turn our attentions to our 60[th] Anniversary year. What better way to celebrate than to put on the show to end all shows – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. This is a show that DMTC had wanted to do for a long time and was incredibly fitting for our 60[th] year, despite the fact it almost gave Pauline heart failure just thinking of doing another Grove show so quickly after Sunset!
We were incredibly lucky that both Lucy and Ashley wanted to take this on board and produce what turned out to be an amazing production. I feel very proud as Chair when I hear people talking about the professionalism of our shows, and that is down to the cast, crews and production teams every time. Joseph was not a straight forward show – finding 11 brothers was always going to be a challenge but thankfully we rose to the occasion and I think everyone will agree that the show brought joy and happiness to many people (including Pauline!!). The children’s choir helped to lift the show to different heights, with many audience members commenting on how well behaved they all were and how well they sung. Huge thanks have to go out to both Chris and Veronica for their organisation of the children. This was no mean feat with over 100 children to deal with, not to mention the parents!!
Joseph’s was an amazing success in many ways – it brought new members to the society, it wowed new members of the audience and it also made a profit! I therefore extend my thanks to all involved. To Lucy and Ash for the vision they had and getting that to the stage, to Liam W for all his hard work on the production side. To Ed for being amazing and of course to Jo S for her endless hard work getting us and the choir to sound excellent.
So as our year draws towards a close we have our Anniversary concert to look forward to – which will be a night of remembering our time at the Queensway hall as well as our recent shows at the Grove. It will be a time to welcome new members and old members back to the stage to celebrate this amazing group we have.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the committee for their support this year. Without doubt they are some of the best people and friends to work with. In particular I would like to thank Chris and Manda for their never ending support– I ask for things and they just do it! I couldn’t ask for more help and support if I wanted it.
Lastly, I want to thank each and everyone of you for your contributions to our society – without the members we would not exist.
Here’s to the next 60 years.
TREASURER’S REPORT 2024 AG Treasurers Report
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You should all in possession of the accounts.
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As of 30[th] June we are in a fairly healthy position in the bank with £18,948.60. This excludes the final costs/income for Joseph.
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Very unusually we performed 2 shows at the Grove theatre.
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Sunset Boulevard - Unfortunately, we made a very large loss of £10,289.57. This would have been more without the kind & very generous donation from Freed Ven Ltd of £3,000, our grateful thanks go out to them. Sunset was a very expensive show to put on with lavish costumes and set.
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Joseph - As this show was performed in July 2024 the accounts for this show have all been carried over to next year (final profit £8547.76). We did however raise a small profit on the T-shirts produced for the cast and crew to purchase, unfortunately these costs are split between 2 years accounts so I cannot give an overall sum.
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We made a very good profit on our Christmas concert held once again at the Collings-Wells Hall in Caddington - £547profit. This venue has once again proved very popular with the local community.
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Social committee raised £507.08 with our ever popular Strictly sweepstake, plus the big fat quiz of the year. The quiz was very popular as was held in a new venue, Priory Church Hall which was fabulous, especially as it had a kitchen and parking right outside the door! Our raffles are always a great boost to any event we do, for which we thank the Social Committee and all who partake.
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Gift Aid 23/24 came in one day too late for this years’ accounts (1[st] July) so unfortunately will be entered into next year’s accounts. You will be interested to know we claimed £1,300.68. You can see why it is very important to fill out our Gift Aid Forms
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Sundries/Misc consists of Ticketsource Referral (Rep) £257.99. Photo sales, T- shirt/Hoodies sales.
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Overall loss for the year £9,016.25
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Over the last few years our patrons have dwindled greatly. We would welcome any one wishing to become a Patron. Their support is always greatly appreciated.
BUSINESS MANAGER – expressed thanks for the support we have received from the Town Council and from Central Beds Council.
VICE CHAIR – Thanked Zoe Foster for her excellent leadership and hard work.
6.0 ELECTIONS
6.1 Councillor Peter Hollick was elected as President – proposed by Zoe Foster, seconded by Joanna Smale.
6.2 Greg Varney was elected as Vice President – proposed by Barbara Morton, seconded by Christopher Young.
6.3 Zoe Foster was elected as Chair – proposed by Veronica Yates, seconded by Manda Isiekwe.
6.4 Christopher Young was elected as Vice Chair – proposed by Zoe Foster, seconded by Manda Isiekwe
6..5 Veronica Yates was elected as Hon. Secretary – proposed by Zoe Foster, seconded by Christopher Young
6.6 Pauline Knowles was elected as Hon.Treasurer – proposed by Zoe Foster, seconded by Veronica Yates
6.7 Manda Isiekwe was elected as Business Manager – proposed by Zoe Foster, seconded by Christopher Young
6.8 Unfortunately we had no nominations for Production Manager
6.9 Liam Rowlands was elected as Publicity Manager – proposed by Veronica Yates, seconded by Zoe Foster.
6.10 Naomi Star was elected as Members Secretary – proposed by Veronica Yates, seconded by Zoe Foster
6.11 Joanna Smale was elected as Social Secretary – proposed by Zoe Foster, seconded by Veronica Yates
6.12 Life members – no new members were added. Our Life members are Robert Adams, Susan Adams, Wendy Baker, Anne Blow, Alistair Brown, Phillida and Terry Driver, Debbie Dunstan, Bernadette Freed, John Fryer, John Hansen, Julie Jay, Christopher Lane, Catherine Maile, Colin Parrott, Edward Smale, Greg Varney, Veronica Yates, Christopher and Susan Young.
6.13 – Higginson and Co were elected as our auditors – proposed by Veronica Yates, seconded by Katy Elliott.
6.14 – Morton Solicitors were elected as our Hon. Solicitor – proposed by Christopher Young, seconded by Manda Isiekwe.
6.15 – Lloyds bank will continue to be our bank – proposed by Naomi Star, seconded by Helen Rudderham
7.0 Subs – it was proposed that our subs stay the same - £30 per year , or £20 if paying by standing order. Proposed by Christopher Young, seconded by Manda Isekwe
8.0 AOB – Patricia Bunce asked how we chose shows. Christopher Young explained that he regularly sent out emails for suggestions from our members – but a lot depends on the
availability from the licence holders , which Manda Isiekwe checks. Some shows are unavailable because the Grove Theatre is too big!
Meeting ended at 8.15 pm
DUNSTABLE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1180255
GENERAL ACCOUNT YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE 2024
| INCOME Members Subscriptions Patronage Gift Aid 21/22 Gift Aid 22/23 Members Efforts (Social Committee) Donations Sundries/Misc. Little Shop of Horrors Profit Xmas Concert Profit LESS EXPENDITURE NODA Membership Insurance Audit Sundries/Misc. Loss On Shows Sunset Boulevade NET PROFIT/LOSS |
£ £ £1,170.00 £65.00 £501.46 £40.00 £1,168.99 £547.52 £3,492.97 £230.00 £712.40 £390.00 £887.25 £10,289.57 £12,509.22 -£9,016.25 2023/24 |
£ £ £1,030.00 £65.00 £382.06 £340.60 £507.08 £237.01 £294.58 £712.08 £3,568.41 £135.00 £632.36 £390.00 £63.75 £1,221.11 £2,347.30 2022/23 |
£ £ £1,030.00 £65.00 £382.06 £340.60 £507.08 £237.01 £294.58 £712.08 £3,568.41 £135.00 £632.36 £390.00 £63.75 £1,221.11 £2,347.30 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,221.11 | |||
| £2,347.30 |
Pauline Knowles
Pauline Knowles Hon.Treasurer
General Account Year Ending 30 6 24