Trustees report - September 2022
Well, Up Close Theatre got through another year. Massive thanks are due to The Bridge Trust, Bideford Council and Northam council for their financial assistance also to Mr Isaac, our landlord, who lets us use the studio at an extremely low rent.
Our two theatrical endeavours this year were both of our “vintage radio station live on stage” variety. In the autumn we reprised “War of the Worlds“ in a various of venues and we created the spectacle that was “The Big Dick Adventure” for Barnstaple Fringe Theatrefest at the end of June. Amateur theatre hasn’t been easy over the last year, audiences and players are either afraid to mix or have fallen out of the habit of theatre going. Hopefully our persistence will pay off and the audiences of old will return. Rehearsals for “Breaking the Code” begin in September.
Soundwave radio is doing rather well. After that period of being off air it was able to restart and is now offering 24hour content. At the time of writing 20 -25 hours a week are broadcast from our own studio. We have several new presenters and a list of interested people waiting for training. Several outside broadcasts have been produced this year. We have broadcast from Tesco’s in Barnstaple and Bideford’s pannier market in support of Ukrainian refugees. Also from South Molton for their Christmas lights switch on, Rock Park in Barnstaple for the Lions Picnic in the Park and from Victoria Park in Bideford for the Diversity Festival. We look forward to more events like these, some of which are already booked in. Plans are underway for a satellite station in South Molton and for opportunities for broadcasting from home. There will also be the possibility of recording shows for later broadcast which will reduce the pressure on evening studio time.
Soundwave has a growing presence on social media which will hopefully drive listeners our way (We can all help with this by re-posting SW and UCT content) and we are attempting to find sponsors for our radio shows. (Speak to us after the AGM!)
Your trustees continue to live in hope and they do their best to keep this fabulous community enterprise on track. If members have any expertise or interest in fundraising please come and see us. If you have exciting ideas for how we can develop our offering or reach minority parts of the community please bring your ideas to us.
Rob Sharrock (Chair of trustees)