Download M6 Annual Report 2013

Annual
Report
2013-14
M6 Theatre
Company
specialises in creating
and delivering dynamic, high quality and relevant
productions for, with and by children and young
people. M6’s work is driven by a passionate
belief in the power of theatre to enrich, inspire,
challenge and even transform lives.
rts Centre Washington, Birdhous
e Theatre, Crea
te Theatre, G
ala Theatr
e,
Message
from the Board
Hartle
Celebrate! That’s how I feel about M6 Theatre. Celebrate young people – their hopes and dreams, talents
and potential, drive and enthusiasm. Celebrate the great resilience and positive response young people
demonstrate when given creative support and encouragement.
Celebrate! was the title of our Rochdale Youth Arts Festival in April. With performances ranging from fairy
tales to urban fables, from new writing to Shakespeare, this was a showcase of local young talent. This
talent has been nurtured in the many diverse young people who come to M6 Studio Theatre each week
to learn theatre skills – and so much more: confidence, collaboration and compassion.
Our touring performances lit up faces wherever they went. Grandpa’s Railway captured imaginations and
thrilled audiences as did Mavis Sparkle, a cleaner with her eyes in the stars. These were more than just
shows. They shone a light on our lives – the importance of understanding and forgiveness, of supporting
one another’s desires and expectations, of our need for friendship, and how we can all follow our dreams.
This year we made our debut at the Royal Exchange Manchester, as well as appearing at renowned
venues in London, Bath, Nottingham and more. From our roots in Rochdale to all corners of the UK and
out into the world beyond, M6 Theatre brings these moments of insight and wonder to hearts young
and old. All this is nourished and achieved with huge dedication and great inspiration by the small but
brilliant M6 Theatre team, supported by a highly committed and capable Board.
And to you, our friends and supporters, our partners and funders, without whom it could not happen –
many, many thanks.
Mike Reed
Chair of M6 Board
Productions
This year M6 Theatre has continued to champion
excellent theatre with a rich programme of
inspirational original productions for children
and family audiences.
Grandpa's Railway
epool Tow
n Hall, La
keside A
rts Centr
e, Lawren
ce Batley
Theatre, The
Lemon Tr
Local Pilot and National Tour
5+ Years
By Mary Cooper
M6’s powerful and moving original production for family audiences features
a working model railway and illustrates that coping with change is a universal
experience linking young and old alike.
As well as sell-out performances at key national theatre venues in England,
Scotland and Wales, including a residency at The Unicorn, London, Grandpa’s
Railway also toured to Rochdale and Oldham primary schools, community
settings, Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival and M6 Studio Theatre.
Supported by the GMSAF Cold Spot Initiative, children and
teachers participated in post-show workshops in targeted areas
of low arts engagement.
A brave, original and moving piece.
The Stage
I loved the story. 5/5. Wowo.
Ibrahim, Aged 7
Brilliantly and sensitively written for young children.
South London Press
"M6's quiet, understated
productions run
surprisingly deep"”
Lyn Gardner,
The Guardian
ou
atre, The Bor
e
h
T
e
g
n
a
h
c
x
E
l
a
ree, North Wall Arts Centre, The Riverfront, Roy
Mavis Sparkle
Christmas Residency and Festival Tour
5+ Years
Created and written by Gilly Baskeyfield
and Dot Wood
Mixing illusion, science, music and animation, this heartwarming story is full of new discoveries, delightfully
challenging pre-conceived ideas of who and what we are.
During a sell-out Christmas residency at Manchester
Royal Exchange, our imaginative production shared the
warmth and dreams of an extraordinary character.
Mavis Sparkle also embarked on a mini summer tour,
performing at The Spark Children’s Arts Festival, Birdhouse
Children’s Theatre Festival and the Lawrence Batley Theatre.
Pure magic.
Programmer, The Spark Children’s Arts Festival
Loved Mavis Sparkle and so did the kids.
All very impressed :)
@M6Theatre
tre Royal Bath, T
ntre, the egg, Thea
e
C
n
i
h
p
l
o
D
y, The
he Brindle
T
,
e
r
t
a
e
h
ugh T
Someone's Moving
Local Community and Schools Tour
3+ Years
Created and written by Dot Wood,
Romy Baskerville and Gilly Baskeyfield
This highly visual, gentle storytelling piece toured to primary schools and
non-theatre audiences in Greater Manchester. Someone’s Moving features
a new resident being welcomed into a culturally diverse, established
community. His very special qualities and unique talents make a positive
contribution to his new neighbourhood.
Every child took home a specially created Someone’s Moving book,
enabling them to revisit the magic of the experience and share the story
with their friends and family.
Relaxed, subsidised community performances also took
place at Children’s Centres, Touchstones Museum and M6
Studio Theatre as part of the GMSAF Cold Spot Initiative.
Beautifully shows how we can all live in
harmony.
Mum, Sure Start Centre
The acting was excellent and resource materials superb.
Head, St Peter’s Primary
A wonderful story that the children will never forget.
KS1 Teacher
The Lowry, Touchston
es, Unicorn T
heatre, Warwick Arts Centre, Arts Centre Wa
Projects
Speech Bubbles Programme
Cold Spot Initiative
During the past year, we have successfully
piloted the innovative Speech Bubbles
programme in the North West. The
programme supports children to develop
communication skills in a fun and nurturing
environment.
Building on the success of last year’s
achievements, we have continued to work
in partnership with GMSAF, Link4Life and
Sure Start and encouraged wider community
engagement and more new theatre
attendees in priority cold spots (geographic,
cultural and demographic) to engage with the
arts.
M6 Theatre, alongside Oldham Theatre
Workshop and Peoplescape, worked with
80 children across 4 schools on weekly
drama sessions to improve communication,
confidence and wellbeing. 85% of
participants showed a clear or striking
improvement in their communications
skills.
This pioneering, creative intervention
programme was introduced to the Greater
Manchester Area by London Bubble,
supported by SHINE.
Simply transformative
creative practice.
Teacher, Sandbrook Primary
This access initiative supported and subsidised
well attended, relaxed performances, post
show workshops and immersive artistic
Research and Development.
Please, please add us to your
mailing lists for everything.
Audience member, Touchstones
Town Hall, Lak
tre, HartlepoolFreelance
akeside Arts Cen
L
,
artists
employed
e
tr
a
e
h
T
ouse
h
d
r
i
B
,
n
o
t
ashing
Plans
41
Research and Development
Collaborative research and development is central to M6’s work, ensuring productions are
given the time and care to grow and flourish. This collaborative process allows initial ideas,
storylines and different theatre forms to be tried, tested and refined by the skills, experience,
observations and inspiration of artists, educationalists and most important of all – the children
themselves.
This year we’ve been developing our exciting new production Whatever the Weather in
association with Polka Theatre. In house story development sessions with specialist artist
Andy Manley were followed by child-centred R and D where children from Hamer and Healey
Primary Schools worked alongside artists Simone Lewis, Mark Esaias, Jo Beloli and Emily
Capstick.
Touring
Whatever the Weather will tour to local schools in autumn 2014 and nationally in spring 2015.
Mavis Sparkle, who will be dusting off her apron to appear at The Hague’s Festival De
Betovering in autumn 2014.
One Little Word, whose universal themes of friendship and sharing continue to be relevant,
enabling us to tour to new markets in summer 2015 including a residency at The Unicorn.
For venue/festival bookings, please contact:
Joss Matzen on 01706 355898 or email [email protected]
People
Patrons
Creative Teams:
With special thanks to:
Jane Cox
Anna Friel
Sue Johnston
Grandpa’s Railway
Touring Programme:
Mary Cooper Writer
Olwen May Director
Pip Nash Set and costumes
Tayo Akinbode Composer/
Sound Designer
Joss Matzen Lighting
Designer/Production
Manager/Model Railway and
props
Pete Toon Performer (Pilot)
Thomas Frere and Belinda
Lazenby Performers
John Ashworth, Millie
Kershaw, John Matzen,
Sharon McWilliams, Sophia
Palmer, Anita Smith Scenic
Construction
Alicia Brown, George
Denton, Morgan Forrest,
Caroline Kennedy, Rhianne
York Voiceover
Nicola Ingram Technical
Support
Lewis Wileman Photography
Leighton Wise Filmmaker
Steph Hollinshead, Gareth
Dennison Design & Print
Mark Esaias, Simone Lewis
Performers
Jo Belloli, Andy Manley Early
Years Specialist Artists
Emily Capstick Workshop
Facilitator
Yvonne Hardman
Touchstones Performances
Coordination
Rachael El Weshahi
Sure Start Performances
Coordination
Board Members
Mike Reed Chair
Tony Jackson Chair Access
& Engagement Committee
Angela Jackson Chair
Personnel Committee
Richard Ellis Chair Finance
Committee
Katharine Rhodes
Penny Kay
Robin Parker
Muriel Gott
Simon Whitehead
Board Observers
Claire Eddleston-Rose/
Penny Thomson Arts Council
England, North West
Julian Jefferson Rochdale
Metropolitan Borough
Council, Link4Life
Core Team
Deborah Palmer Managing
Director and CEO
Dot Wood Strategic Director
Gilly Baskeyfield Artistic
Programme Manager
Joss Matzen Production and
Tour Manager
Jenni Morris Finance Officer
Kelly Brophy/ Gil Graystone
Office Administrator
Maria Major
Communications Officer
Caroline Kennedy ACT
NOW! Programme Manager
Billy Cowan ACT NOW!
Programme Manager
Eleanor Samson ACT NOW!
Projects Manager
With thanks to our Funders:
Someone’s Moving
Dot Wood, Romy Baskerville
and Gilly Baskeyfield Writers
Gilly Baskeyfield Director
Alison Heffernan Designer
Chris Davies Composer
Andrea Crew and
Luke Walker Performers
Mavis Sparkle
Gilly Baskeyfield and Dot
Wood Writers
Gilly Baskeyfield Director
Joss Matzen Designer/
Production Manager/Stage
Manager
Tayo Akinbode Composer/
Sound Designer
Adam Carrée Lighting
Designer
Gil Graystone Movement
Advisor
Eve Roberston Performer
Participatory
Programme:
Robert Bradley, Kelly
Brophy, Caitlin O’Ryan,
Abigail Wood Workshop
Assistants
Matt Wardle, Parvez Qadir
Drama Facilitators
Phil Milston, Dan Powers
Technicians
Louise Combes Speech
Bubbles Facilitator
Tom Hogan (Aqueous
Humour) Workshop
Facilitator
Louise Harney, Glan Clancey
Musical Theatre Workshop
Facilitators
James Peaceful Filmmaker
Alex Flynn, Robert Bradley
Monologue Performers
Kaitlin Howard Stage
Combat Specialist
Elizabeth Hadley, Natalie
Milne Work Placement
Sarah Mphake NESTAC
Charlie Hussain RMBC Youth
Service
Hamer Primary School
Elaine Gansler Barnardo’s
Rochdale
Martine Bradford Skylight
Circus Arts
Sarah Nelson
Todoandahooha
Emma Stafford Casting
Cartwheel Arts
Backdoor Music
M6 Theatre Company
Studio Theatre
Hamer CP School
Albert Royds Street
Rochdale
OL16 2SU
t: +44 (0)1706 355898
f: +44 (0)1706 712601
e: [email protected]
M6 Theatre Company
@M6Theatre
www.m6theatre.co.uk
Participation
M6’s ongoing participatory programme provides unique opportunities for young people
aged 8-18 from diverse backgrounds to develop their creative and life skills through
participation in high quality and accessible theatre-arts activities. Activities take place at
M6 Studio Theatre and community outreach settings within Rochdale Borough.
During the 3 year Act Now! programme, over 800 young people from Rochdale Borough
participated in creative workshops, performances and sharing events, enabling them to
develop key life skills, create new friendships and realise their potential.
Following this success, a new 3 year project called Re:Act! will be developed to unlock the
creative potential, build resilience and develop emotional literacy in children and young
people aged 5-18.
Youth Theatre
Young people from all over Rochdale Borough increased their confidence and
communication skills through attendance at weekly drama sessions whilst working
towards an end of year performance. Three different age groups spanning 8-18 years
met weekly at M6 Studio Theatre.
95% of participants felt motivated for their future including gaining the confidence to
try out new activities.
My confidence has grown since coming to M6. This
confidence will help me be proud of who I am.
12-14’s ACT NOW! Participant
Youth Theatre projects took place over the summer holidays including
a musical theatre workshop organised by the youth panel.
Youth Theatre members also performed rehearsed readings of
their published plays from 2012, Glee and Glum and Invisible
at the official book launch during Rochdale Literature and
Ideas Festival.
Community Outreach
A weekly after school club with KS2 children from Hamer Primary School culminated
in a performance of The Other Side of the River at M6 Studio Theatre. NESTAC
(New Step for African Community) also created and performed A Place to Call Home
with M6 as part of Refugee Week celebrations at Touchstones. Both of these projects
celebrated community cohesion and expanded cross-cultural friendships in the
Borough.
Disabled and non-disabled young people from Barnardo’s Rochdale participated in
weekly drama sessions, working towards their Bronze and Explore Arts Awards. A
performance celebrating differences, similarities and the things that make people
special will take place in July 2014. This project was supported by NHS Heywood,
Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group’s social investment fund.
M6 is very important to us, helping creatively
unlock the potential of our young people.
Barnardo’s Rochdale
The Rochdale Youth Arts Festival was a celebration of the hard work, dedication and
talent shown by the young people who participated in the Act Now! programme over
the past 3 years. It was a showcase which united all sections of Rochdale’s diverse
community, celebrating the participants and the inspiring work that was created. 8
youth panel members worked collaboratively with M6 staff to inform the style and
content of the festival.
Festival in numbers
418 audience members
62 young performers
8 performance events by young people
8 project partners
6 workshops
Professional, caring and confidence building.
M6 believe in young people.
Dave Broome, Rochdale Borough Council
As part of the festival, a monologue writing competition was launched to discover a
new young talent from the North West. A panel of industry professionals and young
people selected Kate Collins’ winning entry, A Friend Request, from a very strong
field. Aged just 15, Kate is an outstanding young talent who we are proud to support.
The monologue was professionally published and performed by Robert Bradley at M6
Studio and Alex Flynn at Oldham Coliseum.
ACT NOW! is a Big Lottery Reaching
Communities funded project.
Income and Expenditure
Income 2013 - 2014
Total: £415,167
Box Office & Other
Earned Income
£49,976
In Kind
Support
£38,200
Revenue Funding
£215,959
Project
Funding
£111,032
Expenditure 2013 - 2014
Total: £403,814
In Kind Support
£38,200
Governance
Costs £6,862
Artistic Programme
£243,954
Core Costs
£114,798
Core costs include salaries for 3 permanent artistic staff.
The in-year operating surplus of £11,353 demonstrates a strong financial performance in a very challenging financial
environment. The Board has designated the majority of the surplus specifically to fund future audience access initiatives and
participatory programme delivery to ensure continued engagement with disadvantaged and hard to reach priority groups.
Copies of full accounts are available on request.