Minutes of TADS Monthly Meeting – 20/6/07

Present: Apologies:

Richard Hughes Laura Giles

Jane Hughes Sarah Warrington

Oonagh Hughes Mike Babb Hannah Moore Pam Jell

Geoffrey Guy Martin Oaks

Tony Guy

Kate Matthews

Geoff Matthews

Brenda Read-Brown

John Williams

An agenda for the meeting was passed around and last month’s minutes (16/05/07) were read aloud by Oonagh comprising the following:

- A telephone tree was discussed.

- Martin is to handle the license for the website which should cost around £40-50 to operate. The final decision will be made at the next meeting.

- A Woman in Mind – this play is a good idea for a production but there is a lack of interest on the directing/producing front.

- Oonagh is in touch with Mr and Mrs Grimshaw regarding the hire of their barn for the showcase in Autumn.

- Laura is looking into a trip to the Globe.

- Martin is in discussions with the Tuckwell Theatre about a possible production. They will consider 2008’s festival after July.

- Treasurer’s report showed that TADS had more money than expected.

- Showcase ideas were discussed.

- Awaken Your Senses Festival was raised as a possibility for next year.

- A price list for venues around Tewkesbury was discussed.

- AOB: Oonagh brought up a conversation she’d had with a Gloucestershire Echo reporter regarding the hiring out of the Roses being too expensive for amateur dramatic societies. It was suggested that we write a letter to Deborah Rees stating our point of view and how the comments were taken out of context. Since then Deborah and Oonagh have spoken and a meeting has been arranged between TADS, Manor Players and The Roses to work towards a solution for this problem.

• JW gave a Treasurer’s Report. At the AGM TADS had £1130 in the bank, we now have £1829. This is mainly due to money being recovered from The Factory.

• A repayment to the Treasure was brought up regarding the hire of the Wheatpieces Community Centre for A Christmas Carol. JW has been paid back fully for this.

• It was questioned whether we could find cheaper insurance for TADS. Currently it costs £188 per year for third party cover. It was suggested by JW that we cover ourselves per event rather than per annum; however this is unlikely to work out any cheaper.

• A suggested telephone tree was passed round along with an up to date contact list of members, participators and supporters of the society. This can cover any information that needs to be passed on.

• Pride and Prejudice – RH proposed that we stage this in the Roses next year. He has read two versions of the stage play. The first by Constance Cox is more true to the original text but only includes three of the Bennett daughters. The second is by Jane Kendell and whilst it appears to be written more for adolescents it does contain all five Bennett sisters and explores their characters more deeply.

• RH suggested that TADS committee read both plays and then decide on a version to produce.

• The estimated cost is £3000. Theatre hire is likely to be £1800 for two nights with the possibility of a matinee catered towards OAPs and schools. The matinee is feasible because of the size of the cast and only needing to sell 25 tickets at full price (£8) to make a profit.

• In total we need to sell 300 seats at £8 over 3 performances to break even.

• It was put forward that we have the Tech and Dress on the same day (Thursday) rather than the Sunday before and that we rent the theatre per hour rather than per day/week. KM and HM pointed out that publicity is key in promoting the show to the Roses audience. The theatre does their own promotion of the show but TADS need to think of a striking image and their role in publicising the production.

• Following the success of using a small chorus of singers between the scene changes in A Christmas Carol, RH hopes to use this in Pride and Prejudice.

• The Boys Brigade HQ in Newtown was put forward as a rehearsal space and Liza Otter has offered £50 towards rehearsal hire of we do Pride and Prejudice.

• February was suggested as the month to put the play on with £8 for adults and a flat rate of £6 for the matinee. Pride and Prejudice was carried unanimously.

• Theatre trips will be looked at when Laura is back with us, though the Guildhall in Gloucester is putting on Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.

• OH suggested that a TADS diary is created to show deadlines for festivals and when productions are taking place.

• The Autumn showcase is still under discussion. The Grimshaws can only hire out the barn if it is a charitable event. A Co-ordinator is needed from TADS and RH suggested that a good mix of singing, acting, comedy and dance is needed for a successful production.

AOB: - GG discussed the possibility of providing entertainment at next years Abbey Fete. He was approached by the organisers and has written a short play around the story of Jonah and The Whale. He also talked about putting on garden plays more often suggesting the Queens Head at Aston Cross as a possible site.

RH is looking for some Stage Managers – volunteers please!

John Dixon from Tewkesbury Council approached Oonagh with the information that the Council have lots of money available to local companies and societies. Proposed letter to council.

Next date for meeting set for 25^th July and a read through for Pride and Prejudice set for 11^th July.