Regal Trust Report September 2014

In September the Trust screened 16 sessions of film, 6 broadcast events and staged 3 live shows.  Audience attendance was rather poor during the month  5 film sessions played to audiences of less than 10 and 5 more between 11 & 20.  Even the broadcast shows failed to inspire more than an average of 50 people.   This trend seems to have been repeated across the country, but we may have been additionally hit by the exceptionally good weather and September being a favourite holiday month for our core demographic.

On a brighter subject, our pantomime has started rehearsals and we have an exceptionally talented cast including a number of professional actors.

We have now completed the selection of the dance troupe and babes and this event is now being widely and excitedly anticipated especially in some local schools.

We have now completed the installation of the proximity tag access control system for the front of the Regal, but have a number of ongoing or outstanding maintenance jobs.

1. The display screen in the foyer has a failed VGA sender.  It is likely that the cost of replacing this will be uneconomic so we will likely be looking for an alternate solution.
2. One of the emergency lights has failed it’s test and will be replaced.
3. The kitchen range has a fault on one of it’s burners.  This will be attended to when it is next inspected.
4. The automatic sensor in the dressing room has failed and needs to be replaced.
5. There is a leak in the central heating system.  This is awaiting parts.
6. The central heating system pressurisation system is faulty and is being investigated.
7. The guttering system is going to be altered (under the original renovation contract)
8. The issue with the switching of the main auditorium lighting is still ongoing.

We have some exciting events now on sales, including the Mistletoe Music showcase which will see three upcoming junior bands performing before the headline act the Misers take to the stage. As part of the package, & with help from a grant from Philip Bates Trust & professional assistance we are supporting the band's with photography, graphic design and advice on PR & stage presentation.

This year's Poppy Concert includes an appearance by the Military Wives Choir.

The Fabulous Ceri Dupree has been booked to perform the Mayor's Charity Concert which will be a night to remember.

We also have Basil Brush, appearing live on stage early next year.

Thank you from Teme Valley Band

Regal Trust Report June 2014

Regal Trust Report June 2014

June was a month marked by smaller than usual audiences.  This appears to be a trend at many cinemas across the UK.  Cinema’s are very much content driven, and the content recently has been particularly poor.

The volunteers fair with stalls from over 25 local volunteer organisations was a great success.  The fair was organised by Malvern Hills Volunteering, sponsored by the Blakemore Trust (Spar) and hosted by the Regal.  True partnership working.

The Regal volunteers had their summer update meeting and social event, to acknowledge and celebrate our continuing success.

We also hosted part of the Worcestershire Film Festival, and two showcase performance for Fusion Cheer & Dance.

In the last week we have hosted another evening with the Severn Valley Railway reenactors who visited in full costume and arrived in their 1940’s coach.  We screened “Millions Like Us” starring Patricia Roc & Gordon Jackson.

We have now held two auditions for our Christmas pantomime.  The most recent for younger people.  About 30 youngsters ranging from 5 to 16 had a great time, and demonstrated what a talented lot they are.  There should be plenty of choice for the Director to choose from, and hopefully nearly everyone will get a part to play as pantomimes lend themselves to accommodating additional players.

Looking forward; this week we host the Tenbury High School Creative Arts evening, a performance by the Teme Valley Band with Tenbury CofE Primary School Choir and the Ludlow & Hereford Got2Sing Choir.  The local Here to There amateur theatre company stage a modern version of Chekhov’s Seagull,

So as usual we are keeping busy, with the premises being used by a large cross section of the community.

Volunteers fair at The Regal in Tenbury

A WEEK celebrating the contribution made by volunteers came to an end with a festival at The Regal in Tenbury.

Volunteer Jynni Willatts discusses the Regal Cinema and Community with Annie Greenlees.
Photo: Keith Gluyas

It was held as part of National Volunteers’ Week, to encourage people to find out more about local volunteering opportunities and showcase some of the many local organisations looking for new volunteers.

The event was organised by Malvern Hills Volunteering - a non-profit organisation, supported by the South Worcestershire Citizens Advice Bureau and Malvern Hills District Council, which promotes volunteering, provides volunteer brokerage to non-profit organisations and help individuals looking to volunteer find the right opportunity.

“The Volunteers’ Fair in Tenbury is a fantastic opportunity for people who live or work locally to come and find out more about the many varied, fun, challenging and rewarding opportunities available with local organisations,” said Jacqueline Smith, a volunteer development worker for Malvern Hills Volunteering.

“Volunteering has changed dramatically in recent years to adapt to our busy lifestyles and plenty of organisations offer flexible and short-term roles during the day, in the evenings and at weekends too, welcoming just a few hours of people’s time a month.”

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Tenbury Volunteer Recruitment Fair a Success

A big thank you to all who helped with the Tenbury Volunteer Recruitment Fair.

Despite, very changeable weather I think the day was a success.  Although we only collected 6 new names, if just one of those could turn out to be as good as the volunteers helping on the day then we have taken a further step forward.


 I think the day also helped to raise our profile amongst the many other local voluntary organisations and demonstrated yet another way the room can be used.

So once again, thank you to everyone that came.

Harriett Baldwin MP opens the Volunteers Fair at the Regal

Two local volunteer organisations are recruiting new volunteers in the Regal Community Centre today.

Thank You from Bitterley School

September 2014 Provisional Film List

Film	Dates	Time
The Two Faces of January	01/09/2014	7.30pm
The Two Faces of January	02/09/2014	7.30pm
The Two Gentlemen of Verona	03/09/2014	7pm
NT Live Medea by Euripides	04/09/2014	7pm
The Fault in our Stars	08/09/2014	7.30pm
Joe	09/09/2014	7.30pm
Joe	10/09/2014	7.30pm
Boyhood	15/09/2014	7.30pm
Boyhood	16/09/2014	7.30pm
12 Years a Slave	17/09/2014	7.30pm
Guardians of the Galaxy	19/09/2014	7.30pm
Guardians of the Galaxy	22/09/2014	7.30pm
Begin Again	23/09/2014	7.30pm
Begin Again	24/09/2014	7.30pm
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie	26/09/2014	6.45pm
The Expendables 3	29/09/2014	7.30pm
The Expendables 3	30/09/2014	7.30pm

A Regal Restoration

Click to read full article

Regal Revolution - Screen Trade Magazine

The Regal featured in this months issue of Screen Trade.

Link to article

Link to photo page

Regal Trust Report May 2014

Last Friday we launched the brochure for the Summer Season.  The programme of events is increasingly diverse, with Hypnotism, Drama; both broadcast & live, live & broadcast Classical Music, Music from the 40s, 60s & 70s, Blues, Opera, Comedy, a poignant commemoration of D-Day and an evening of nostalgia and memories specially commissioned by the Regal, a film festival, and films of all genres including a feature film shot on location in Herefordshire & Monmouthshire, where we will be joined by the Director after the screening.

Luckily the only complaint has been that we were programming so much great content some people feel compelled to visit us several times some weeks.

One lady said that she has seen more great entertainment and has been able to participate in more cultural events, in the last two years than she has been able to in the last 70 years, and all this in rural Worcestershire. She previously lived near London!

Last night we staged Morecambe, this is the first time the Regal has been included as a venue on a major national tour.  The trust invested in additional stage equipment to make this show possible. The show was simply brilliant.

Tonight is also a significant night in the history of the Regal, with the first digitally downloaded film being screened.  Whilst we have had the equipment to accept films this way for a number of months, this is the first film to arrive by the method.

This coming weekend we host a volunteers fair where the people of Tenbury & the surrounding area will be encouraged to volunteer for 20+ local organisations. We are also encouraging school leavers to come and join us in running the Regal during the school holidays.

This month we also welcome back the reenactors from Severn Valley Railway, who will be arriving in their historic coach to see a classic film from the 1940’s.  We also welcome the staff, pupils and parents from Tenbury High School as they celebrate their achievements.

Fusion Dance & Cheer will be staging their showcase at the Regal, and we are delighted that their principal and head cheer coach has agreed to be the Choreographer for our pantomime, and will also be holding dance & cheer training at the Regal after the summer holidays.

The Regal is now often operational 7 days a week, with a mixture of advertised and private events, sometimes with more than one show or event each day.

Regal Trust Report March 2014

This year’s Oscar season was not as strong as last years, so we saw a year on year reduction in the number of tickets sold in March, but sales were bolstered by our participation in the Borderlines Film Festival.

The Mayor’s Show was a notable success and featured some unusual but very successful and well received acts.  The March programme also included a sell out performance by Roy Chubby Brown, which introduced a new audience to the Regal.

We received our first tourist coach party with a large group from Ledbury WEA.

The group enjoyed a cream tea, a tour and visit to the museum, a talk on Art Deco and it’s influence on Hollywood and one about the Regal, followed by a screening of the Art Deco styled film, Top Hat.  

The work by the building contractors to remedy the plaster problems has now been completed as has the work repairing the doors and lobby floor in the community centre.  The repairs to the front doors are still outstanding.  

The Regal Trust has now employed an Assistant Manager, through the apprentice scheme in conjunction with Hereford College.  Whilst the Regal remains a predominantly volunteer run organisation, it now employs 4 local people part-time in key area’s of the operation.

Looking forward; we are in the process of planning a Pro-Am Pantomime for the Christmas Season.  We have selected Aladdin, with a script by the leading Pantomime Script writer, Ben Crocker.

Open auditions will be held in town in the next few months.  Hopefully the majority of the main characters and ensemble will be found locally, but we have the option to hire professional players to fill any gaps.  

Ben will also be involved in the auditions and will hold a Panto Master Class for those selected.  The main rehearsals will be handled by a local director, with Ben returning a few weeks before the performance to add the final polish.

The set and costumes will be professionally produced, and the final product will be a high quality and enjoyable pantomime for the whole family.

Trustees Report for the year ending 31st July 2013.

REGAL TENBURY TRUST LIMITED

A Charitable Trust Company No 7954848

Charity No 1148555

We are pleased to present our first Trustees Report for the year ending 31st July 2013.

In December 2010 Tenbury Town Council (TTC) received a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant for The Regal Cinema to repair and conserve the building and run a two year programme of community activities. The REGAL TENBURY TRUST LIMITED came into existence in September 2012 to manage the Regal Complex.

The formation of and transfer of operations to the Regal Tenbury Trust by Tenbury Town Council -  who remain owners of the building -  is recognized by HLF as key to bring an independent  business-like approach and potentially benefit from grant aid in support of future development.  Work has begun on long-term sustainability, maintaining the volunteer body, recruiting new members and maintaining effective training for them.  The value of our volunteers is recognized here and elsewhere in this report.                                                               

The Trust provided an area within the Regal for the Heritage Learning Project as an office and museum.  The space continues as a display area and where practicable access is maintained for the public.

The Trust has supported CineMonkeys and MiniCineMonkeys; children’s activities that are part of the Heritage Learning Project. These have introduced very young and young children to the cinema along with their parents and grandparents.

The Trust has the following objectives

(1) TO ADVANCE EDUCATION, UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS, INCLUDING AUDIO VISUAL ARTS PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC OF WORCESTERSHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE AND SHROPSHIRE.

(2) TO FURTHER OR BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF TENBURY WELLS AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE OR OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS BY ASSOCIATING TOGETHER THE SAID RESIDENTS AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, VOLUNTARY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS IN A COMMON EFFORT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.

(3) IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE OBJECTS BUT NOT OTHERWISE, THE TRUSTEES SHALL HAVE POWER TO ESTABLISH OR SECURE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY CENTRE AND TO MAINTAIN OR MANAGE OR CO-OPERATE WITH ANY STATUTORY AUTHORITY IN THE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF SUCH A CENTRE FOR ACTIVITIES PROMOTED BY THE CHARITY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ABOVE OBJECTS.

Summary of Years activities

Main Auditorium

The Regal had 202 film screenings (excluding private hires) 38 live stage performances and 11 live to screen events.

The Regal hosted the Tenbury Film Festival as an outreach location of the Worcestershire Film Festival celebrating film and filmmakers. The Trust has worked with other local groups including

·         Tenbury Town Band

·         Teme Valley Band

·         Little Hereford Voices

·         Tenbury Floral Arts Club

·         Tenbury WI

·         Mandy Davis Cancer Support

·         Age Concern

·         Tenbury Primary School

·         Tenbury High School

·         Burford Primary School

·         Chantry School, Martley

·         Lindridge Primary School

·         Mistletoe Foundation

·         Tenbury Round Table

·         Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra

·         British Legion

In its first year the Trust has invested heavily in infrastructure.

·         Equipping the stage for live shows

·         Contributing funds for the digital cinema projector.

·         Installing satellite receiving equipment

·         Fitting foyer for café and bar use.

·         Purchasing furniture and crockery for the community function room

·         Addressing problems with the electrical supply system.

·         Purchasing an intruder alarm

·         Up-grading the fire alarm

·         Extending 3 phase power in the building.

·         Purchasing a computerised box-office system.

·         Installing data networks and telephone systems.

·         Providing a PA system to support all but the largest of shows

The Trust has initiated further works to improve the building in terms of its day to day functions, essential to operate efficiently, continuing to review what further investments are needed in terms of specialist equipment to improve service delivery e.g. a new lighting board.

The Community Function Room - the Regal

This year has seen a review and development of the function room as a resource for the community and addressing the question of how to make this building more in harmony with the main theatre.

We engaged representatives of the local community to explore this further with focused meetings, and an 'open day’ to coincide with Tenbury's Apple-fest.

We intend to set the direction of the function room as a 'studio' with activities more closely themed with cinema and theatre.

 The actions we have taken have been:

§  To make immediate improvements to the room by tidying it up and creating a more arts atmosphere with pictures and a small stage.

§  To encourage its use for events - meetings and small private parties which link the private showing of a film with a celebration

Future Plans

We aim to continue to encourage the use of the room

Make grant applications to raise funding to continue the improvements such as more mobile staging, lights and sound system

Fund raising events such as bingo

Small events and shows with a more intimate atmosphere than the main auditorium offers.

Issues

The building is not particularly attractive with poor natural lighting and heating so our longer term ambition would be for a more purpose built studio.

In the meantime we are trying to maintain a balance between the two venues so that one complements rather than competes with the other.

General

It is generally accepted by community users and business groups that in its first year the Trust has brought benefits to Tenbury Wells and its neighbourhood but remains mindful there is more to do. It intends to improve support for its bedrock of volunteers and widen its community appeal. It has made changes to its initial management structure and looks to further improve this.  

Regal Trust Report February 2014

The upward trend in sales continued throughout February with a 35% increase in audience numbers over the same period last year.  We had particular success with Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom, Disney’s Frozen and our first screening from the NT Live, War Horse.  Abbamania also played to a capacity house.  Our own fundraising Variety Show also contributed over £2,500 to our contingency fund.

This coming weekend, we start our run of films shown as part of the Borderlines Film festival.  The festival was covered by the BBC in their Midlands Today program last Friday, and the Regal featured quite heavily.

In March we receive our first tourist coach party with a large group from Ledbury WEA. The group will be enjoying a cream tea, followed by a tour and visit to the museum, a short talk on Art Deco in general and the Regal in particular and they will also be watching a film.  

The Trust has now purchased a replacement lighting desk, more suitable to our operation.  The money for this was kindly donated by Ken Pollock from the WCC Divisional Fund and by the Blakewell (Spar) Foundation.  The Trust has also received a grant from the Kingspan Community Trust to support the MiniCineMonkeys programme with additional active play equipment and funding towards staffing costs for the next two years.

The work by the building contractors to remedy the plaster problems still remains ongoing.  The work on repairing the doors and lobby floor in the community centre started today.  The repairs to the front doors are still outstanding.  

Vandals have caused some damage to one of our display cabinets nearest the bus stop.  There may be some delay in repairing this as the local company who produced the cabinets have several months backlog of work.

Regal Trust Report January 2014

Overall ticket sales remained buoyant throughout most of January, helped by our season of Shakespeare from the Globe Theatre and Gisselle from the ROH.  Notable film successes were the sequels of Hunger Games & The Hobbit and Disney’s Saving Mr Banks.  Other films this month didn’t do too well, including one night with no audience at all.

Great strides have been made this month by our Tech Team volunteers which has seen all the stage lighting, cleaned, serviced & safety checked, and the on stage working lights replaced.

We have replaced our specialised router following the water damage from a leaking pipe in the loft and our satellite dish has been repaired following storm damage.  We have also improved the display cupboards at the front of the Regal.

The work by the building contractors to remedy the plaster problems remains ongoing.

A new gas line has been run to the kitchen and a new range and gas safety equipment has been installed.  The kitchen is now fully gas safe compliant.  

Looking forward, War Horse from the NT & Roy Chubby Brown have already sold out, and we only have a few tickets left for Abbamania.   We have a very strong spring programme of events and our new brochure will be printed at the end of the month.

Hopefully the film sales will improve as the Oscar nominated film start appearing.  We are already seeing strong sales for Mandela.

With increased activity comes an additional workload, and we really need a few additional House Managers.  If you know of anyone who could fit this role, please let either Ian Little or the Trustees know.

Letter from Harriett Baldwin MP

Regal Trust Report December 2013

December was, predictably a busy month for us which included a ten day period where we had over 2,600 people through the doors.

December was also the first month we sold 500 ice creams, which is a logistical feat with a freezer that has a maximum capacity of 180 tubs.

Behind the scenes we are busily booking shows and films through the the end of 2015, with a number of months already fully booked.  We are particularly pleased to welcome back, the Here to There Amateur Group for their Summer production as well as both the Tenbury Town Band and the Teme Valley Band.

We have no live shows in January, so our Technical Team will be spending time (and money) on repairs, maintenance and renewals of the stage lighting equipment.

We are showing our usual eclectic mix of film genres and in addition three Shakespeare productions from the Globe Theatre, and a ballet from the Royal Opera House.

We have now had one film server installed and are awaiting the delivery of the second.  This will then give us extra flexibility with our programming and reduce our reliance on couriers.

We are looking forward to our Fundraising Variety Night on the 8th February starring Bobby Crush and co-starring Chris Davis who is returning to the stage with his comedy magic act. Book your tickets now for this unmissable show.