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.

Regal Trust Report November 2013

The trust has now completed it’s first full year of trading and completed the first annual accounts.  Predictably due to the amount of capital expenditure undertaken, we made a small loss, but after depreciation our asset value has increased to over £22,000.

Now that we can compare trading figures year on year, we can see growth in sales all of which is coming through online sales.

More people are visiting us from further afield and people are planning visits to the cinema and theatre whilst in the area on holiday.  Local restaurants are reporting an increase in pre-show sales, and along with increased stopovers this is having a positive effect on the local economy.

We have now launched a business partnership scheme, to work more closely with a number of businesses and a friends scheme, with various rewards for our most loyal customers.

We have already staged the first of our Christmas shows with the ever popular and spectacular Tenbury Floral Arts “Spirit of the Season” Show that is something that has to be seen to be believed.  We are now looking forward to a busy December, with several  Christmas favourites.  Firstly the Nutcracker from the Royal Opera House, then the Tenbury Town Band’s Christmas Concert, followed by four performances of Dick Whittington, and our Children’s Christmas Party with the Muppet’s Christmas Carol.  

We have no live shows in January, but have packed the schedule to breaking point with great movies and award winning productions from the Globe Theatre.

From February we will be able to show content from the National Theatre, starting with their award winning War Horse.  Along with content from the Royal Opera House, the Royal Shakespeare Company & the Globe Theatre, we are seeing us become the venue of choice for an ever larger number of people.

Our live season kicks off in February with our own variety fund raising show, starring Bobby Crush & Chris Davis, followed towards the end of the month by Abbamania which is guaranteed to get Tenbury up and dancing however cold it is outside.

In early March we are joining in with the Borderlines Film Festival which we hope will give us even greater exposure to regular film goers, and remind people that we are back in operation, better than ever.

On a sad note; we say goodbye this month to our Heritage Access Officer, Sarah Fellows who starts a new job in Birmingham.  Sarah has been the driving force behind many initiatives and has been of immeasurable assistance behind the scenes.  We are desperately seeking additional funding to try to retain her if only part time.  We have also seen our part time Arts Manager, James Dakers find a new job in Birmingham, which has resulted in far fewer hours being spent with us.

Regal Trust Report September 2013

The Tenbury Wells Floral Art Club held their 40th Anniversary show “A Celebration in Flowers” In the Regal Function room.  This was a great success and really helped demonstrate how our partnership working with other local organisations is really beneficial to both parties.

The Regal also joined in with the National Heritage Open Day. Tours of the Regal were advertised locally and nationally, and quite a number were fully booked.  The day was a great success and will be repeated again in the future.

We are currently planning to increase the usage of the community centre function room. Everyone is invited to the open morning next Saturday between 10am and 12pm to see great ideas on how the room can be used.  We will be cross promoting from our stand at Applefest.

Tickets for our professional pantomime are selling very well, so if you want to come, buy your tickets soon.

We are also holding another party.  After the success of our summer Cinderella birthday party, we have decided to hold a Christmas one.  We will be showing the Muppets Christmas Carol, this will be a free event and I expect there will be cake.

Work is well underway planning the entertainment for the first quarter of 2014.

Amongst the many films on offer we will see the next installment of the Hobbit story with The Desolation of Smaug, and the eagerly awaited new Disney film, Saving Mr Banks starring Emma Thompson & Tom Hanks.

On the technical front, the new dimmer racks have now been commissioned giving greater flexibility in the way the lights are controlled for live shows.  The new three phases supply to the stage is being used by the larger visiting shows, which has resolved the power failure problems.

We hope to start receiving DCP’s (Digital Cinema Packets - i.e Films) via the internet rather than by Courier within the next few months.  Although film is now digital, it currently moves around the country on hard drives.  The technology now exists to distribute the majority of films over the internet, and then be stored locally until played. We hope to be amongst the first independent cinemas to adopt this new technology.

Regal Trust Report July 2013

June was a very busy month for live entertainment at the Regal.  We saw fantastic shows by Fairport Convention, Pam Ayres, The Fortunes & a really great evening of community entertainment from the Teme Valley Band & Little Hereford Voices Community Choir.

17,000 tickets have been sold for films & shows and an even more ambitious program has been planned leading up to Christmas.

This Thursday we are showing the wartime film, Went The Day Well and will be welcoming a large group of volunteers and enthusiasts from the Severn Valley Railway who plan to arrive in a period coach and I believe in period dress.

At the end of July we are holding two events to mark the Regal’s Birthday and to mark the first year of trading.  The first is a Gala Performance of the musical version of the War of the Worlds, originally recorded at the O2 arena.  The second is a Free family birthday party, with party games, cake and a screening of Cinderella.

We are pleased to announce that the broadcast of Pompeii Live from the British Museum was a great success, both the rather racy “adult” version and the schools version.

We now also have contracts with

• The V&A Museum to show David Bowie is happening now.
• The Glove Theatre, London, to show their 2013 season.
• We’re thrilled to be screening the first ever live cinema broadcast from the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Company with the sellout production of Richard II (the fastest selling show in the RSC’s history), with David Tennant in the title role.
• and will be screening Peter Grimes on Aldeburgh Beach.
• We are still in negotiations to screen content from the National Theatre.
  

We continue to seek out as wide and as interesting programme as possible, and welcome suggestions and ideas from our customers.

The Trust recently held it’s first AGM.  Chris Davis was reappointed as Chairman, but has indicated he doesn't intend to stand again next year.  Peter Drew was appointed Deputy Chairman.  The Trustees are looking to strengthen their team, and would be interested to hear from anyone interested in becoming a Trustee, in particular people with experience in the following fields:

• Legal
• Accountancy / Finance
• Fund Raising
• Property Management

Regal Trust Report March 2013

March was as busy as predicted. More than 3,000 people, attended shows and films.

April promises to be busy month for technical improvements. The intruder alarm has been installed and the update to the three phase system has been started. We are also planning to start the process of installing a permanent sound system for use on some live shows.

We are pleased to announce that we will be receiving a live broadcast from the British Museum, a world first, and will have a special showing of War of the Worlds, recorded at the O2 arena, which we will show as part of the Regal Anniversary Black Tie Event (more details to follow)

We are in the final process of putting together the next season, which will include live performances from, The Counterfeit Sixties and Desperado (Eagles Tribute), a variety show from the Lights Down Theatre School, and a performance of Treasure Island from the Blue Orange Theatre Company.

During the school summer holidays there will be a special season of family films.

The day-time cafe is currently closed due to unprofitable trading, but the Trustees are considering a number of alternate options.

You are all encouraged to come along to the Regal this Thursday to see a performance of Finding Joy by Vamos, the incredible full mask theatre company. This will be a show that will bring tears and laughter in equal measure.

On Saturday 20th, the Regal steps back in time to the early forties, for the Mayors Charity Show, where a band of talented entertainers recreate a wartime Garrison Theatre. This special show promises to evoke the spirit of Wartime Britain, with the music and laughter that kept Britain smiling through her darkest days.