## **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT JULY 2024** In my report last year I remarked on the fact that it hardly seemed a year since the previous one. Well, this year has been much the same. Whether that is because, as I get older, the years get shorter, or we have simply been just as busy. I prefer the latter reason! We commenced the year having recently come out of the one-act weekend, yet we were ready to embark on rehearsals for our participation in the inaugural Petersfield Fringe Festival. No rest for the wicked – or for the rest of us! The Fringe performance followed our successful participation in the Summer Festivities in the Half Moon garden the year before. This time, the event was staged in Churcher’s College, and we presented two Agatha Christie Murder Mysteries from the Winton Radio Studio, complete with oldfashioned microphones and live sound effects. Our performances were well received and we have been invited back for this year’s event to be held at the end of August. Our October play, the Wilkie Collins thriller _Woman in White_ , was an accomplished production, as one would expect in the experienced hands of director Laura Sheppard. It was a lovely set, with very atmospheric lighting thanks to Green A, with all the high drama well brought out by the excellent cast. Our pantomime, _Beauty and the Beast_ was the first time we had presented this story. Anyone expecting all the songs from the Disney version was disappointed, but it more than made up for this with all the traditional pantomime features. Penny Young, the director, made light work of the many complexities and managed her large cast to produce a hugely enjoyable production. Special mention also of Jane Blower’s set design and Philip Young’s musical accompaniment. We had decided a while ago that it was time for us to stage a farce, and so our Spring play was the Alan Ayckbourn adaptation of _Tons of Money_ – complete with strange signals, dodgy beards, a very loud explosion and a naked man! Played on the auditorium floor of the Festival Hall, the beautiful set allowed all the elements of farce to be exercised to their fullest. We ended the year earlier this month with our one-act plays at Rake. The juniors presented _The Selfish Shellfish_ , which gave many of our young members acting opportunities. They all performed with great confidence, giving a very good account of themselves. Particular credit must go to Joe Tully, another of our junior members, who researched, designed and directed the play with a confidence and ability that belied his years. Yet, he overcame all the pitfalls that came his way and produced a splendid production. This, we are sure, is the first of many for Joe! Another newcomer to the director’s chair was Em Sefton-Smith who presented, as a radio play, the first episode in a series of short humourous plays called _Welcome to our Village, Please Invade Carefully_ . For this she had about a dozen of our hardened adult actors to contend with, but with strong direction, attention to detail and disciplined approach, produced a half hour of such fun that was as enjoyable to be in as to watch. Rather than hoping Em might do something else in the future, we know she will be, as she has been signed up to direct a stage version of Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment at the Festival Hall in October next year. All in all, a successful weekend was made all the more satisfying as it allowed us to get back to the original purpose of the one-act weekend in giving new directors the platform to do so. Let us hope we can continue with this. It is gratifying to see all our younger members – not just those involved in the one act play - continuing to meet on Junior Club nights to learn theatre skills and enjoy themselves. Our thanks go to Karla, with support from Sarah, Matt and all those who run the sessions, which help to bridge the gap and maintain interest between pantos. The most noticeable change to the hut this year you may have noticed as you came in. Thanks to grants from the District Council and Sheet Parish Council plus an equivalent amount from ourselves we have been able to purchase a cabinet for the defibrillator. This has enabled us to site it outside, which then makes it available to anyone – not just Winton Players - to use if necessary. In the meantime, the Bodgers meet on Monday mornings, collectively growing old together and creating the magic that are our sets. We still enjoy the few minutes we set aside when the kettle boils and talk about anybody who isn’t there! Expenditure on the Hut, when required, is made possible through the healthy state of the Hut Repair Fund. We are again very grateful to Sarah and Lesley for running the Draw each meeting which enables us to keep the balance in the Fund at a good level. The plans for the Festival Hall continue to drag slowly on, and we maintain contact with developments through Simon, Philip and John, and we are grateful for their support in doing this. Changes in personnel in the Festival Hall mean that there is now a Venues Manager who is very much a theatre man, knows what is required and is pressing the councillors to do the right thing. There is also a new Town Clerk who, again, is a theatre person, so we have another ally. All this looks positive for the performing groups with the changes that are beginning to filter through. We continue to actively support PPAF along with most of the other performing and musical groups in Petersfield. This year, there continues to be considerable focus on the proposed Festival Hall developments. We have ensured that those responsible for the development have been made aware of our requirements and any concerns we have with the plans. John Whitaker, now PPAF Chairman, can ensure that WP requirements are well represented. We continue to hold occasional meetings to discuss and read potential future plays, and these are available to the whole group. Attendance at these meetings has been patchy, but for the time being, we will continue to make future meetings open to all members, but it is up to you to support them. Similarly with General Meetings – the last of which did not have sufficient attendees to form a quorum. This meant that we could not make any decisions but could only report on matters. Our quorum is only 15 members, which, from a membership of around 80, is not particularly high. If members do not wish to come along to General Meetings, then we will stop having them and rely on other communication routes, such as Winton Words, Facebook or email, to disseminate information. The bottom line is use it – or lose it! I would like to thank the committee for all their hard work during the year, which has enabled the group to present high-quality productions, plan for the future and keep the fabric of the group in good order. This is particularly noteworthy as we have been operating with fewer members than we should have. Hopefully, the elections later in the meeting will rectify this. As Chairman, I am extremely grateful for all they have done to support me. Three of our committee are standing down this year. They are Jane Blower, who will continue to be involved with the wardrobe and set design, and Lyn Pease, who will be taking over as Hut Manager from John Whitaker, who is retiring from the role after 8 years. The third is Amanda Bell, but I am delighted that she will continue in her role with publicity from outside the committee. They have been outstanding committee members and we give them all our grateful thanks. Those of you of a certain age will probably recall the song “The Times They Are A -Changing” That is certainly true of the Petersfield Theatrical scene. Our performing home, the Festival Hall, is certain to be changing both in the short and long term with imminent operational changes and the planned development. Both of these will, or, in some cases, are starting to, affect us now, and it is important that we deal with them in the right way – that is best for Winton Players. We have to embrace the change and not be daunted by it. Fortunately, as mentioned, there are people on the council side that have one foot in our corner and will be fighting for what we, and the other performing groups, need. We are acknowledged as being one of the major players in this and thus our voice will certainly be heard. We must keep this at the forefront of our thinking as we go about our bread and butter business of two plays and a panto each year. I mentioned last year that Winton Players was a welcoming, friendly, supportive and inclusive group. That remains true today. Because of this, it is much more fulfilling to be in the position of leading the group and I am very grateful for that. It shows in the way we conduct our business – both on stage and in dealing with our audiences – and long may it continue! Thank You Roger Wettone, Chairman Winton Players Independent oxamlner's reportto the trustees ofWINTON PLAYERS I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the WINTON PLAYERS for the year ST ended 31 MAY 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my ttention in connection with the examination givirig me cause to believe that in any material respect= 1. accounting records were not l