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.
