Apm event at Kings Theatre, Southsea - a hands on approach to programme management

The Kings Theatre Trust:

A hands-on approach to

programme management

KINGS THEATRE, SOUTHSEA Frank Matcham 1907

Courtesy: V&A

TIMELINE 1907 - 2001

1910s 1940s 1960s 1990s

Variety +Concerts Flying HCC

Added Matinees Purchase

Opening +Films Halcyon Years Decline PCC

1907 1920s 1950s 1970s 2001

2001

2001 THE KINGS THEATRE TRUST LTD

Company Limited by Guarantee

Registered Charity

Appointment of an Operator

Chairman

Finance Building Technical PCC reps General Directors

Co Sec

Members

Operator

Staff

2001 BENEFITS MAP

Remain

open

Build a

future

PCC

support

Audience

support

Performers’

support

Fundraising

Plan

Media

Plan

2001 - 2003 PROJECTS

H&S work for theatre licence

Dressing room refurbishment

Redecoration of foyer & main bars

New heating system

Motorised safety curtain

Replacement of some “lighting dimmers”

2001 - 2003 RISKS & REWARDS

2003

2003 TRUST BECOMES OPERATOR

Failure of the Operating company left no other

option but for the Trust to run the venue

Chairman

Finance Building Technical PCC reps General Directors

Co Sec

CEO & staff Members

2003 BENEFITS MAP

Remain

open

Build a

future

PCC

support

Audience

support

Performers’

support

Business

Plan

Media

Plan

EXPERTISE – IN-HOUSE

Trust includes standard professions found on

many boards

Finance

Legal

Building

Trust also includes those with theatre

experience

stage technical

performers from local top amateur groups.

EXPERTISE – BOUGHT IN

Surveyor

Architect

Structural engineer

Fundraiser

Heritage trades

Professional building trades

CDM Co-ordinator

Site Manager

COMMITTEES

Over the years various sub groups formed and

dissolved, to meet the changing needs.

Fundraising

Building

Centenary

Finance

Technical

STAKEHOLDERS

Customers

PCC (owner, revenue funding & cap grants)

Taxpayers

Staff (Front of House, Rear of House, Admin)

Volunteers

Donors

GOODS OR SERVICES ?

(Palmer, 2011)

Theatre

BALANCING THE PROJECT PROGRAMME

Business as usual

Projects (and general maintenance)

Stakeholders

H&S, DDA, Grade II* listing

Audience expectations

Risk management

Closure periods

PLANNING THE PROGRAMME

2004 – 2007 PROGRESS

Works undertaken with PCC H&S grant

Successful operations generate profits

PCC Capital Grant

Small projects completed

Flagship “Centenary Project 2007”

AUDITORIUM PLANNING

STUDENT PROJECTS Marble-effect pillars (Glen Filer,

University of Portsmouth MSc project)

Wood-graining (Gillian Stevenson)

on completion of UofP course

Dress Circle Box restoration (Kelly Hickman,

University of Portsmouth MSc project)

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

NATS Community Project.

Decorating an entrance

Old Stagers A regular team of

volunteers who strip wallpaper

and paint from the heritage tiles

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 May 2006 Full inspection by all trades to enable

scope definition and reduce unknowns

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007

Planning A meeting with all

the project contractors held in

the Irving Room (Note the

plaster removed to allow walls

to dry out).


Volunteers start on Sunday

following a performance on

Saturday night. Covering

everything, removing

equipment and making tea.

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 The Trust Office becomes the Site Office too. The hired-in Site Manager works from

here during the 15-week project.

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 Scaffolders start building the birdcage

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 View from the stage


A working top-level

platform complete

with access shaft

and winch, to lower

the chandeliers, and

raise the materials

and equipment.

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 Kings Housekeepers clean the plasterwork

About 40 years of dust


Colour-matching the gold leaf Securing the heavy ornaments


Cleaning the oil paintings

Plaster Repairs


Electricians install

trunking and cable


Meanwhile – on the stage: The show goes on. A season of

studio productions keeps the

venue open for business.

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 Directors and volunteers repair & clean the

drapery

CENTENARY PROJECT 2007 Directors and volunteers repair & clean the

chandeliers in Dressing Room 12


Courtesy: The News

A glass of champagne to celebrate the

completion of the main project work.

On-time, on-budget, and to a high standard.


Courtesy: The News

TOWER PROJECT 2008

Good-bye to the

rotten, leaking

cupola

TOWER PROJECT 2008

Hello GRP

replacement

‘Aurora’ & cupola

Yacht technology provides the answer

TOWER PROJECT 2008 GRP replicas of the long-

removed ‘lions’ arrive in

the back of a truck.

Replica ‘original’

windows made

from Accoya, for

the Irving Room

POLITICAL & ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Politics

All local politicians claim to have ‘saved’ the Kings

Any issue with another venue has an impact

Children’s and Old People’s services rank above art

Economy

Patrons buy tickets nearer the time

Producers are not touring shows in uncertain climate

Grant funding (PCC, local & national Trusts)

Low interest rates reduce Charity Trust grants available

Heritage Lottery Fund

Portsmouth plc (partners in city regeneration)

MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE

A theatre is not just for performing shows . . .

Stage2 Studio Theatre

Dress Circle Promenade Art Gallery

Art Installations

Artist In Residence

No 28 event space for hire

Window Displays

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY

Trident Training Scheme

University Placements

Apprenticeships (Technical, admin etc)

Kings Youth Theatre

Heritage Open Days (Every September)

Kings Open Day (Every January)

Albert Road Traders Association

World-wide partnerships

Training course venue (Theatre & general)

VISION 2023

To become a regional and national centre of

excellence for theatre and the performing arts.

VISION 2023

VISION 2023

THE FUTURE

Audience expectations (ever increasing)

Cinema facilities are modern

Chichester and New Theatre Royal upgrading

Finances (always very tight)

Projects (many more to do)

Heritage Lottery Fund

Fundraising

SUPPORTING THE KINGS

Bucket Collections

Regular Donors

Corporate Packages

Legacies

Seat sponsorship

www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk

The Kings Theatre Trust:

A hands-on approach to

programme management