Theatre Bath Meeting With The Bath Chronicle Draft Report

Report of the Theatre Bath open meeting

with the Bath Chronicle with regards to

their new review policy

Held on Monday 8 October 2012,

17:30hrs at

The Mission Theatre, 32 Corn Street,

Bath, BA1 1UF

Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle

Page 2 of 30

In August 2012, members of the theatre and creative communities in Bath received

emails similar to the one printed below:

From: [email protected]

To: (Name Removed)

Subject: Chronicle reviews

Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:57:20 +0000

Dear (Name Removed)

I am writing to tell you that the new editor of the Chronicle has decided not to carry any more

theatre or music reviews except for the Theatre Royal. I am writing to say though that if you

can arrange a review yourself for any of your productions that Steve Pope who looks after the

website has agreed to have them in full on line. Just send them to me and I will put them on.

But as regards pre-show publicity it is very much business as usual for the Chronicle.

Best wishes

Christopher

The Bath Chronicle

These emails prompted members of the creative communities to write emails and

letters to Lynne Fernquest, the editor of the Bath Chronicle, expressing their

concerns about the new policy. A copy was forwarded to Theatre Bath who were

asked to help share the information. After conversations between Luke John Emmett

of Theatre Bath and Lynne Fernquest it was agreed that an open meeting would be

held to discuss this policy further. The following pages contain the notes taken at that

meeting and transcribed from the audio recording made on the night.


Page 3 of 30

Special meeting called by Theatre Bath on 08/10/2012 at The Mission Theatre,

commencing at 17:30hrs, to discuss The Bath Chronicle’s position on their

decision to stop writing any arts and entertainment reviews, other than

performances taking place in the Theatre Royal Main House. This meeting was

held by Theatre Bath, and the minutes/notes taken by Jazz Hazelwood.

Lennie Almond; The Bathford Players, Colin Barnes; Bath Drama, Jill Bennett;

Engage Project - The Theatre Royal, Joanna Bowman; Next Stage Theatre

Company, Michael Burgess; The Argyle Players, Bob & Sandra Calleja; Trustees of

Andrew Brownsword Charitable Foundation, Sarah Carter; Curtain Up Theatre

Schools, Alan Casse; Next Stage Theatre Company, Chronicle Reviewer & Festivals

Steward, Rob Cottrell; Ruffled Umbrella, Katrina Cowie; Unity Players, Stephen

Curtis; Bath Drama, Cyril Davies; Silver Ring Choir of Bath, Charley Dunlap;

Listomania Bath, Carenza Elhery; Rondo Theatre Company, Andrew Ellison; Mission

Theatre, Luke John Emmett; Theatre Bath, Lindsay Endean; Bath Spa University,

Alison Farina; Butterfly Psyche, Andrew Fletcher; Arts Philanthropist, Mrs. B Ford;

Bath Minerva Choir, Ann Garner; Mission Theatre, George Gent; Next Stage Theatre

Company, Jane Goodwin; Unity Players, David Gosling; Next Stage Theatre

Company, Sally Hardwick; Next Stage Theatre Company, Jazz Hazelwood; Second

Face Theatre Company, Theatre Bath, Steve Henwood; Bath Fringe Ltd, Charlotte

Howard; Bath Drama, Brian Howe; Next Stage Theatre Company, Belinda Kidd;

Bath Festivals, Sarah Larmour; Core Theatre, Nick Lee; Bath Gilbert and Sullivan

Society, Jason Lemoir; Numerous Local Companies, Derek LePage; Bath Drama,

Jon Lloyd Lewis; Bath Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Peter Lloyd Williams; Chronicle

Classical Music Reviewer, Moray MacDonald; Bath Drama, Peter Martin; Bath

Choral Society, Emma McDermott; Press Officer - The Theatre Royal, Ian McGlynn;

Rondo Theatre, Iorwerth Mitchell; Bath Drama, Gill Morrell; Bath Drama,

Shakespeare Live, Matt Nation; Rondo Theatre Company, Darian Nelson; Playing

Up Theatre Company, Anna O’Callaghan; Marketing Manager - The Theatre Royal,

Paul Olding; Bath Drama, Rondo Theatre Company, Alison Paine; Next Stage

Theatre Company, Julie Peacock; Peacock PR, Lindy Platt; Bath Gilbert and Sullivan

Society, Harriet Pocock; Rondo Theatre Company, Martin Pople; Bath Cultural


Page 4 of 30

Forum, Felix Renicks; We Love Bath, Jem Roberts; The Unrelated Family, Darren

Rogers; Bath College, Bladud Magazine, Scott Rogers; Zenith Youth Theatre, Mike

Roy; Bath Drama, The Mission Theatre, Peter Salt; Arts Development Officer –

BANES, Graeme Savage; NODA, Merriman, Keynsham Youth Theatre, Petra

Schofield; Freelance Director & Reviewer, Mandy Shaw; Chandos Singers, Daniel

Shearn; Core Theatre, Terry Shirley-Quirk; Bath Philharmonic, Isabel Snowdon;

Ruffled Umbrella, Barbara Suri; Publicity Officer – Bath Minerva Choir, Ken Tatem;

The Bathford Players, Louise Wallace; Bath Drama,Rondo Theatre Company,

Joanna Wiesner MBE; Secretary Bath Minerva Choir & Admin Director South West

Festival Chorus, Marion Wood; Next Stage Theatre Company, Wendy Matthews;

Bath Fringe Ltd, Paul Aubin, Paul & Mrs Brokensha, Val Caren, Lizzie Davies, Dave

Dunn, Kay Francksen, Sally Galsworthy, Caroline & Graham Gromm, Dawn Hooper,

Phillip Horton, Andy Lloyd Williams, James McCormac, Chris & Gill Rudd, Dennis

Simons, Ian Simpson, Mary Simpson, Phillip Paine,

Anne & Trevor Rothwell; Erica Jones; Jan Crane; Simon Marcus, Enlightened; Anne

Roberts, Second Face Theatre Company; Alex Oliviere-Davies, Second Face

Theatre Company & Bath Drama; Mark Bishop, Big State Theatre Company; Tim

Harris; Richard Ingham, Amazing Street Cred Band;


Page 5 of 30

This report has been made from the notes taken at the meeting on the night and by

referencing the audio recording which was made. Some of the questions appear in 5

their entirety, some have been edited down so that just the key points remain. For

that reason the report is quite long and therefore a few key points have been listed

below.

NOTE: These are just a few points – More info is contained in the transcripts.

10

Why Only Reviews For The Theatre Royal?

Theatre Royal compared to Bath Rugby. Has the biggest footfall therefore

gets more coverage.

Why Are The Reviews Being Stopped In Print? 15

Lack of reviewers.

Cost – Chronicle a small business

Lack of space available in paper

What Has Been Done To Source More Reviewers? 20

Appeals made – this point was contested quite strongly

How Can User Reviews Be Checked For Impartiality?

Again this point was debated heavily. Agreed by all that reviewers need to be

vetted. 25

Why So Much Sport Coverage & So Little Arts Coverage?

Sports groups submit their own content and reports

Chronicle obliged to print what is sent in.

30

How Will Elderly Readers Be Able To Access Reviews Online?

Concern was raised over potential alienation of older readers who may not be

as computer literate as their contemporaries

35


Page 6 of 30

The Meeting Report

Meeting Opened by Luke John Emmett at 17:45hrs, during which he outlined

the purpose and aims of the meeting.

Who Theatre Bath are and what they do.

Health and Safety notice, including fire exits and assembly point. 40

Mobile phone notice.

Disclaimer; the views and opinions expressed at the meeting are that of the

individual and do not represent Theatre Bath as an organisation.

Emails provided are for the use of Theatre Bath only, and solely for the

contents of this meeting. 45

An audio recording of the meeting will be made. No objections were put

forward.

Overview of the situation so far:

The Chronicle sent e-mails to theatre representatives in the community

stating their decision. 50

Theatre Bath contacts Lynne Fernquest.

Official statement made by The Chronicle.

Lynne Fernquest, Editor of The Chronicle, suggests meeting between

herself and Luke John Emmett. Subsequently, members ask to be

involved in said meeting. 55

Theatre Bath contacts Lynne to suggest revised meeting plan.

Meeting organised for 08/10/2012.

Lynne Fernquest will talk without interruptions from the floor; open discussion

will commence afterwards.


Page 7 of 30

Lynne Fernquest Addresses The Meeting 60

Bath has a very passionate theatre community, which is to its credit.

Lynne was drafted to help set up The Bath Chronicle Pride Awards three

months ago. This will become an annual event to celebrate outstanding

people within the community; from doctors and teachers to volunteers and 65

carers. The awards wish to celebrate what is good about the community and

people around us.

The Bath Chronicle strives to report local matters in a sensible and non

sensationalistic way to keep readers up-to-date. Taking a more reasoned and

measured approach, checking facts and being intelligent enough to resist 70

knee-jerk reactions.

The Chronicle strives to be at the heart of the community, and reflect the area

it reports on.

In recent years, traditional media has been bypassed by social media like

Facebook and Twitter, forcing The Chronicle to think very seriously about 75

where it stands, both now and in the future.

The Chronicle was the first daily newspaper in the UK to convert to a weekly

publication in 2007 because it was smallest daily newspaper in UK.

The cost of producing The Chronicle is incredibly high, and their market was

beginning to disappear; it lost half of its readership over twenty years. 80

Newspapers, daily or weekly, will only survive if people read them and

advertisers advertise in them.

The Chronicle is owned by the 4th largest newspaper chain in the UK;

Northcliffe media. This makes people think that The Chronicle is rich and

untouchable. The Chronicle is a small business and has to pay its own way 85

and make a profit; it is not subsidised by Northcliffe or any other large

organisation. If people stop shopping at Sainsburys, Greenpark, the shop

would close, despite the fact it is owned by large organisation. The Chronicle

is the same.

As a weekly newspaper, The Chronicle cannot rest on its laurels, and it 90

continues to face many challenges.

24 hour news channels and radio means that the public have more sources to

get their news.


Page 8 of 30

The internet is having a greater effect on society – if not for you immediately

then your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The internet is used 95

for socialising, working, and keeping up-to-date.

The Bath Chronicle has two different audiences.

The print audience, 58,000 readers weekly, and

The online audience; up to 140,000 unique visitors monthly.

After switching from daily to weekly, the editorial team had to look in detail at 100

print product and what would be best displayed online.

It is difficult to preview and review every arts performance because of the tiny

editorial team at The Chronicle’s disposal; it has also become increasingly

difficult to find reviewers.

Often, the show has finished before the review is printed – therefore it made 105

more sense to put previews in the paper and reviews online.

Reviews posted by Christopher Hansford on the website this year have been

read more than 9,000 times; this figure could rise considerably if this service

was publicised appropriately.

The Chronicle’s intention was not to upset the theatre community when it 110

made its decision, only to use the paper pages in the best way possible.

Previews will continue to encourage readers to buy tickets for events, making

performances a success.


Page 9 of 30

Meeting is opened up to Question & Answer session with LF, PW & CH

Martin Pople; Director, Bath Cultural Forum:

Why are you only going to review shows in the Theatre Royal Main House 115

with the exclusion of other professional & amateur work, which is equally of

interest? And if you have less column space, why cut only the arts and not

other areas like sport – would suggest there is a better balance to be made?

Lynne Fernquest: 120

The sports information comes to The Chronicle, they don’t cover it

themselves. The clubs organise the information to be sent in. The Chronicle

has a small editorial team and cannot get to everything. Two challenges to

Chronicle – one the limited space in print. Two, the number of people they

have to report for them. Need to strike a balance between what they can go 125

out and do and what can be included in the newspaper.

The discussion continued as follows:

Martin Pople: 130

Many people at the meeting would be willing to act as reviewers for The

Chronicle. If it’s reviews you need, the arts community can provide just as

much information as the sports clubs.


That’s such an interest point because Chris that hasn’t been your experience

really has it? In terms of getting people to review things for us.

Christopher Hansford:

It’s been very difficult to find reviewers within the community. People start with 140

enthusiasm but are not available on given days, and then only want to review

certain things. When the review policy was changed, there were three very

strong reviewers, one for music and two for drama, but no one else has come

forward, despite asking various drama groups for volunteers.

145


Page 10 of 30

Petra Schofield; Freelance Director & Reviewer:

Petra reviewed for The Chronicle in June and was taken on as a freelance

reviewer. When she came back to Chris he said The Chronicle could not take

on any more reviewers due to funds. All of her details are with Northcliffe

media, and she had put herself forward several times but never been offered 150

the chance to review again.

Lynne Fernquest:

The Chronicle is a small business and cannot afford to pay reviewers.

155


Petra Schofield:

The Chronicle is asking for people to be interested in reviewing for them; she

is, and is not paid by any other company for which she reviews. She was paid 160

for the review she submitted in June but she has since made it clear that she

would be interested in reviewing for The Chronicle free of charge. She has not

been aware of The Chronicle asking for reviewers. What worries her is The

Chronicle, who pride themselves on their editorial, would accept reviews from

anyone; this means opening yourselves to badly written pieces submitted by 165

cast members, giving an inaccurate reflection of the show.


Petra’s review was submitted a few days before the decision was taken to

stop reviewing, Christopher had not got around to getting back to her, so she 170

was never asked to do another one despite the fact that she was available. It

might have been a different story had they heard about her six months before.

At the time, reviewers were being paid £20 per review and reviews were not

being accepted unless The Chronicle paid for them.

175

Petra Schofield:

She was under the impression that now reviews are not being printed, the

online reviews would be accepted from anyone who wanted to write one.


Page 11 of 30

Christopher Hansford: 180

The reviews that are submitted will go through CH so a relationship could be

established with the people writing them, ensuring only legitimate reviews

were published online.


Only certain things can be monitored online; but The Chronicle tries their best

to ensure that things which can be monitored are well managed.

Alison Farina; Butterfly Psyche:

How would you approach credibility when it came to the online reviews? How 190

would you know about the person reviewing, and how would you monitor

them?


The reviewer would need to get in touch with CH, by phone or e-mail, and 195

outline what they plan to review. Once a conversation has been had it

becomes obvious that the person will give a proper review.

The discussion continues as follows:

200

Alison Farina:

The person on the phone could give a false name. How could you tell if this

was the case?

Christopher Hansford: 205

It is impossible to tell who is genuine and who is not.

Martin Pople; Bath Cultural Forum:

Who posts the reviews online?

210


All reviews go through CH who reads them through.


Page 12 of 30

Martin Pople:

Does that mean you act as an editor, editing in the same way as you would a 215

print review?


Not in exactly the same way, no. The piece would be read through to make sure

it was legal, had all of the information, and that the spelling was correct. 220

However, space wouldn’t be a problem so it could run as a longer piece.

Ann Garner; Artistic Director Of Next Stage & The Mission Theatre:

Why is the Theatre Royal continuing to be reviewed while the other events are

not? 225

Lynne Fernquest:

For the same reason Bath Rugby gets more coverage than other sports teams; it

is the larger organisation with the greater foot-fall. The Chronicle must be careful

not to turn off readers. 230


Ann Garner:

The changes that have been made make it look like a two-tier system. The 235

productions at the Theatre Royal have been reviewed for the most part; usually

they’ve been opened in London. There are already many reviews online. Theatre

Royal is a receiving house, productions are only there for a week and not local

people performing at the Theatre Royal. There are a number of other theatres in

Bath who perform a range of different performing arts. Ann has no objections to 240

no reviews at all in the paper, just lots of previews and every review online or

maintaining the status quo, but it is not right to review only the Theatre Royal and

no one else.

Crowd respond by clapping. 245


Page 13 of 30

Lynne Fernquest:

The Chronicle cannot review everyone, so a decision must be made about what

they’re able to cover with the resources available to them. Like the rugby makes 250

sense for them to cover the largest foot-fall.

Andrew Ellison; Mission Theatre:

You mentioned that you’re a business and that you need readers and advertisers.

However, a large number of people who visit the Theatre Royal are outside of 255

your readership; they travel to see the shows. They do not see the Bath

Chronicle or buy it. The people who come to watch amateur shows in and around

Bath care about the city and The Chronicle – and buy it. There are more sales to

be had from everybody who appears in a theatre review at a local theatre; the

entire cast, their family, their friends. You will get more sales if you attend to 260

reviewing productions that are happening in the amateur sphere. Within the

community, within the community you are serving.

Lynne Fernquest:

The Chronicle cannot possibly attend everything that’s happening. If reviews are 265

supplied by the theatre community, as many as possible will be printed in the

newspaper, but reviews that are out of date will be put online.

Emma McDermott; Press Officer – Theatre Royal:

A number of shows do open at the Theatre Royal and have never been seen 270

anywhere else before. If Chronicle are reviewing some of these shows it will be

the first time those reviews have appeared. The Theatre Royal has its own

production company, Theatre Royal Bath Productions, and their productions

appear every season at the Theatre Royal. As many as 8,000 people come to the

Theatre Royal every week; from our Box Office system we know that the majority 275

of those people are from Bath and the surrounding area, approx a thirty mile

radius. The majority of them are local. The Chronicle is as important to us, as it is

to everyone else, which is why we advertise in the Chronicle as well. The

changes are affecting us too; the Chronicle no longer review shows in the Ustinov

Studio or the Egg. The Ustinov is producing productions which are only shown in 280


Page 14 of 30

Bath and we are getting four or five star reviews of those. But the Chronicle is not

able to print a review of those productions so it is effecting us too.

Paul Wiltshire

The system that was being used before was not fair because The Chronicle could 285

not get to every production. In danger of replacing one controversial reviewing

system with another. How many people would be willing to review shows here?

SHOW OF HANDS – BETWEEN 15 & 20. It makes sense to form a community,

peer reviewing team and for one group to review another’s productions. There

could be some obvious pitfalls with that though. 290

The discussion continues as follows:

Ann Garner:

Would those reviews be printed? 295

Paul Wiltshire:

The Chronicle would print as many as possible, but the printing is restrained by

the timing of the production. If the production is finished before The Chronicle

comes to press then it’s more likely to be posted online. 300

Lynne Fernquest:

There is also limited space in print, while those limits do not apply online.

Unknown Voice: 305

You could always get rid of some of the 17 pages of sports.

Lynne Fernquest:

There are 17 pages of arts as well.

310

Voice:

No, only 5.


Page 15 of 30

Ian McGlynn; Rondo Theatre, Larkhall: 315

Reviews are not just used for current publicity; they are needed for funding. Over

the last year, 34 shows have come through the Rondo that has been their first

run anywhere; 14 of those have had their world premier at the Rondo. Reviews of

those shows help the company’s reputation. Will help readers of the Chronicle to

have an appreciation of what the Rondo does. Some figures for amateur 320

companies that have worked with the Rondo over the last year, 22 shows have

been performed at the Rondo; that equates to approximately 90 performances,

7,500 people coming through the doors and 250 active participants of the shows.

Those are the people who read and buy The Chronicle. As someone who runs a

venue I would be incredibly sceptical of the idea of community reviewers. You 325

could not guarantee impartiality if community members reviewed shows; to think

that you can is naive. As a local newspaper you have a responsibility to provide a

disinterested, professional service to the people of this city.

Applause from the crowd. 330


20 years ago there were a small number of amateur and professional companies,

so it was easy to maintain a balance in terms of reviews. However recently, there

has been a large increase in the number of theatres and theatre companies. The 335

Chronicle had a small number of reviewers and it was the people who shouted

the loudest who had their productions reviewed; other companies were forgotten.


340

Ian McGlynn

There is a vast increase of demand in a certain sector, so what The Chronicle is

saying is that because they can’t fulfil all of the demand, they will not fulfil any. It

is like saying there are lots of people who want to buy yoghurt next week, we

cannot supply them all so we won’t supply any. That’s not business. That’s just 345

giving up.


Page 16 of 30

Lynne Fernquest:

The Chronicle carried out some research looking at, over the last year, what it 350

would cost organisations to advertise in The Chronicle. It would cost

organisations like the Rondo, who are being covered free of charge, nearly

£8,000 to advertise. The Chronicle is not asking for organisations to pay for the

service, but it costs The Chronicle a lot to publicise events. We want to carry on

publicising the events. But we are a tiny team and we cannot possibly be 355

everywhere in the city to cover these events. I have figures for all the other

theatre groups as well. But it’s just to give you an idea of what we are doing and

what we want to continue doing.

Ian McGlynn: 360

Do you have figures for cinemas and the food distribution chains that you cover?

No response.

Martin Pople: 365

Does this policy apply to other art forms or is it just theatre?

Paul Wiltshire:

The policy The Chronicle is pursuing will apply to all art forms.

370


Other music events like the Bath International Music Festival will not be reviewed

in the paper; but they will be online.

Martin Pople: 375

So it’s just the Theatre Royal. That’s the only cultural event within the city you are

going to include in the newspaper?

Lynne, Paul & Christopher: NO (lots of disagreement).

380


Page 17 of 30


No. We are going to cover as many different events as you let us have details for.

385

Martin Pople:

No. Reviews. Reviews! This meeting is about reviews. Are you going to review

music events?


No. We cannot get to all the events.

Martin Pople:

Are you going to review music events?

395

Lynne Fernquest:

How can we when we can’t get to all of them.

Unknown Voice:

I don’t think you’ve got your pulse on the feeling of this city at all. We’ve got major 400

interest in arts generally. You’re a local paper and you just don’t understand what

this city is about.

Darian Nelson; Head of Drama Hayesfield School & Playing Up Theatre

Company: 405

A lot of the students I teach work in music and theatre. Ian pointed out the

supermarket analogy, it is nonsense I’m sorry. If you don’t like Sainsbury’s you

shop online at Asda. If they allowed us to have an Asda in the city I would shop

there rather than online. Mentioned two things in your speech Lynne, local and

heart of everything. There are over eighty people that have come out on a 410

Monday night. Are you going to cut us out? That’s not the heart of everything is

it? Put your hand up if you have bought a paper in the last four weeks.

MAJORITY OF ROOM RAISE HAND.

Put your hand up if you have bought more than one copy because there was a

review in it. 415

ALMOST EQUAL AMOUNT RAISE THEIR HANDS.


Page 18 of 30

There’s some sales figures for you.

Applause.

Rather than become confrontational, we all want to work together. As a teacher,

tickets for the Theatre Royal main house are booked in advance, so reviews have to 420

be read beforehand. I am taking 15 students along to the show because of a review I

read. People will go to see performances in the Main House because of the name,

not because of a review. In this room are a massive amount of people who read you

paper, who represent old people, young people, amateur and professional. This

venue for example, I’ve read your reviews of this place Christopher. You’ve have 425

helped other people go “yeah, let’s go there”. Touring companies look at venues and

then look at the reviews before considering touring there. We do not want a battle,

we either want the status quo put back or we want a compromise. You need vetted

reviewers; we don’t care if the review comes out the week after the show, or if it

comes out online. I don’t think you’ve been honest about this! There are many 430

professional, independent reviewers who are prepared to review for The Chronicle

without pay. The theatre companies provide the tickets so that they get something in

the press. It benefits us. It benefits you.

Applause. 435

Gill Morrell; Bath Drama & Shakespeare Live:

If people from the theatre community review other shows, we’re likely to end up

with reports. What we see for the sports fixtures is a report. Is The Chronicle

looking for a report or a review? We cannot have reviews done by people from 440

within the same theatre company; many people also belong to more than one

company which will cause problems.

Joanna Wiesner MBE; Bath Minerva Choir & South West Festival Chorus.

There are hundreds of people involved in music events. Represent Bath Minerva 445

Choir which has 150 members and also South West Festival Chorus which has

about 400 members. Every singer wants to see themselves reviewed; most have

friends and relatives coming to watch performances – they also want to see

reviews. A lot of our audience members are not computer literate, and to assume

that everyone is happy to look online is very optimistic. You have a duty to 450


Page 19 of 30

support performers in Bath and their audiences in Bath; these are the people who

have supported your paper all their lives. Give a little back.

Applause.

Peter Martin; Bath Choral: 455

If we want independent reviews. How much money would it cost to pay for

reviews covering everything?

Lynne Fernquest:

That’s not something we could afford to do. 460

Peter Martin:

If the money were made available to you, would you pay for them? We want

independent reviews and the barrier for doing this is probably a few thousand

pounds. There may be ways of addressing this. At the end of it you have some 465

money to pay independent reviewers.

Lynne Fernquest:

As long as they are available, yes.

470

Matt Nation; Rondo Theatre Company:

How have you gone about trying to find independent reviewers? There are lots of

social media outlets that can be used to contact people. There are lots of people

who write well but have no interest to perform on-stage. Why not advertise on

The Chronicle website which as you say is viewed by thousands of people. It 475

wouldn’t take much to put a banner on there advertising for reviewers. “How

would you like free tickets for theatre events across the city?” They send the

details and you get hold of them. Get them to do a test one for free. If it’s no good

then you don’t use it or them again, but if it is good you have a reviewer. The

Rondo Theatre is manned on performance nights – front of house and the bar – 480

by unpaid volunteers. The perk is that they get to watch the show for free. This

could work for reviewers in exactly the same way.


Page 20 of 30

Paul Wiltshire: 485

I think we could do with getting some clarity. There are some interesting views,

and lots of food for thought at the meeting. The Chronicle needs to look further

afield than the people in the room for reviewers, but if there’s a willingness to help

them find reviewers who could be vetted then there may be a way forward. Part

of Christopher’s problem is they have to be reliable and go where they say they 490

will go and turn up and write what we want them to write. If you can help us find

those people, and I appreciate we have to do a lot more ourselves to find them.

Then we might be in business. However, The Chronicle may be part of a big

group but it is a small business with tight margins. We’re not some faceless

media that has massive pockets. We are a small organisation and we have this 495

problem of supply and demand. You’re absolutely right, we need to be business

like about it. If people here are prepared to work with us and help us find

reviewers then it is something that we can give some thought. There is a financial

impact to it but the main stumbling block to us operating the system that we

previously thought was fair is that there was a lot of events, and we could only 500

cover a very small percentage of those, and the way that we chose them wasn’t

ideal. Christopher was spending a lot of time trying to find people to review all

these different plays and musicals and productions etc. So if we can find a way of

tapping into a resource of more people then I think we might make some

progress. and the previous system wasn’t fair. 505

Alison Farina:

Sounds very much like the model that they use at Venue magazine. They still go

out and still do reviews. Steve Wright who is the arts editor has a collection of

people who go out and do reviews. They go out, get free tickets, have a nice 510

night out. They don’t get paid any more to do it. But there is a whole group of

people and some are based in Bath who are very good reviewers and want to do

this. Also on Twitter, that is the perfect place to start putting this info out. There

are loads of people out there who are literate and are interested in the arts. That

would be the first place to start. 515


Page 21 of 30

Andrew Fletcher, Numerous Arts Organisations

Just to encourage this idea. It has been done already by the Bath Chronicle,

when David Gledhill was editor, they had a team of local correspondents. Who 520

were trained and vetted. You have Bath Spa University up the road – you

probably have students doing journalism.

Paul Wiltshire:

You’re absolutely right. I remember the days of correspondents and they started

with thousands of names of people who said “yes we’ll do something for you”. 525

There was a hardcore of about ten, even in the early days who wrote regularly.

We need those people to be reliable and consistent and to have some longevity

about it. It was a system that kind-of-worked but needed a lot of investment of

our time.

Harriet Pocock, Rondo Theatre Company 530

There’s two universities who both run courses in creative writing. The students

are broke, so don’t have much money to see shows. They also need practical

experience. A degree is not enough now. You need to be able to show your

reviews. There is probably a large proportion of those students who would be

willing to get that experience and a free night out. 535

Secondly, I also work in a care home. You are not just shutting us out but you are

shutting out a whole generation of elderly people who do not have skills on a

computer and whose only link to the theatre, now is those reviews. Lots of my

residents cannot get to the theatre any more and they absolutely value being able

to read and stay in touch with what is happening. It’s not just about us, it’s about 540

a generation who has supported you and brought your magazine for as long as

they’ve been living in Bath and now they can’t read any reviews.


Firstly, it’s a newspaper not a magazine. We have a system of work experience,

and we are usually booked up with somebody – very often from Bath Spa 545

University who are on the writing courses. I thought when they first started

arriving, there would be an answer to my prayers and it wasn’t. One or two of


Page 22 of 30

them did express and interest and did do reviews. But then it didn’t work out for

various reasons. It isn’t that we haven’t looked. Maybe with modern technology I

haven’t looked as well as I could have done. We have in the past advertised for 550

people in the What’s On Section.

Harriet Pocock:

And the other point. The elderly?


I don’t know... 555

Lynne Fernquest:

That’s a very interesting point. We’re no saying that we would only carry

information online. Certainly we don’t want to exclude anyone from the

newspaper. Of course we don’t’. The difficulty is we can’t do everything. We’re

looking for a way to move forwards and do the best we possibly can. 560

Gill Morrell:

So because you get lots of sports articles sent to you you’re happy to print lots of

pages of sport. So if there was a system that was evolved that meant there was a

group of reviewers. You would be prepared to have more pages of printed

reviews on a regular basis? 565

Lynne Fernquest:

I think with sport... Sport is a different subject. There aren’t lots and lots of pages

of sport. A lot of children and a lot of adults take part in sport. In the same way a

lot of...

General Noise and talking. 570

Peter Lloyd Williams:

Older people not having access online. People who can’t read it in the paper.

Concerned about the Mid-Somerset Festival & Bath Young Musician of the Year.

Young people able to access it easy but what about elderly relatives.


Page 23 of 30

Paul Wiltshire: 575

Even if we had stuck to the original policy we were considering, which I think

we’re evolving some new thoughts on. But even if we stuck to that – it would not

effect our coverage of the Mid-Somerset Festival and would not effect our

coverage of young musician of the year.

Unknown Voice: 580

Thanked the Chronicle team for responding and attending the meeting. Made the

point that Bath Rugby results tend to be in the National Papers and are less

important late in the Chronicle – whereas the previews are interesting.

Belinda Kidd, Bath Festivals:

We issue over 200,000 tickets a year. We directly sell about 90,000 tickets. That 585

roughly translates as about 70 or 80 thousand people. So it’s a large number of

people who are in Bath and are interested in the arts. We sell for 120 different

organisations around Bath. It is just an indication of the sector in and around

Bath. We as festivals really value the preview coverage. That really helps us sell

tickets. We run a young reviewers scheme from ages 5 to 18. With support of 590

festivals staff – this could perhaps be mirrored with adults. There is a culture now

of reviewing online.

Alison Paine, Next Stage:

I think it’s an extraordinary commercial decision for a local paper to make in a

city like Bath which is a major cultural city. There is still some confusion as to 595

whether it is because there isn’t enough reviewers. Whether it was to do with the

circulation figures for print and online. Whether it was to do with the size of your

team or whether it was to do with money.

Lynne Fernquest:

It’s a combination of the whole lot. 600


Page 24 of 30

Alison Paine:

I am absolutely certain that the print circulation will drop dramatically. If you

cease providing the local arts coverage, that you have been providing. 605

Lynne Fernquest:

It isn’t the arts coverage. It’s the reviews. We haven’t stopped the coverage.

Alison Paine:

I think this meeting shows that it’s a pity you didn’t consult on this before the

decision was made. I think what you need is a policy, and a plan and some kind 610

of intention to get the resources that you need. I think if you had presented the

community with the problem we may have been able to come up with a solution.

David Gosling, Next Stage:

You answered the narrow question, without looking at how you might best

support, with the help of the community, the arts in Bath. 615

Darren Rogers, Bath College & Bladud Magazine:

We have a monthly page in the Chronicle called Bladud Magazine. We need

theatre reviewers. We are interested in promoting youth theatre. We urge anyone

who is interested in youth theatre to get in touch with ourselves or Paul. We will

help promote youth theatre. That is one part of the solution to your problem. 620

Charley Dunlap, Listomania Bath:

Our website contains listings and reviews. We are possibly the second biggest

website after the Chronicle. The solution may not be with the Chronicle. If they

leave a vacuum it will be filled. We list everything and we review everything. We

have a growing review staff. So maybe that is the future. We’re just a website. 625

Sally, The Mission Theatre:

Have you looked in areas outside Bath for reviewers or have you limited the

search just to Bath?


Page 25 of 30


Of course we accept reviewers from outside of Bath.

Paul Wiltshire:

I think we are all agreed, that there are perhaps options that we can explore to

find more people. Don’t forget though that our unique selling point is Bath. We

don’t cover other areas. 635

Jane Goodwin, Bath Unity Players:

17 years ago the College Theatre closed. We started the Bath Community

Theatre Project to try and get a new venue in Bath. Sadly it didn’t work. But the

Chronicle were absolutely amazing. Not a day went by without there being

something in the paper about the need of an arts centre in Bath. That proves it 640

was such a community newspaper. I don’t think we should lose sight of the fact

that the Chronicle should be our newspaper. Therefore it should be reporting on

the things that we want to hear. Not we, as drama people but as people of Bath. I

think they want to see reviews in print, online as well. It must stay a community

newspaper otherwise you’ll lose it completely. 645

Lynne Fernquest:

That’s a really good point. But the only way we will stay is if people read the

newspaper and advertise in the newspaper.

Paul Wiltshire:

Really grateful that you’ve said such wonderful things about what we’ve done in 650

the past. I hope that people here don’t regard the Chronicle like a church, or a

Post Office or a pub. Something which is nice. They love it to exist and they like

to dictate what goes into it but they don’t actually buy it. So they don’t have any

business relationship with it whatever. I was gratified when we did a show of

hands how many of you appear to be regular readers of the Chronicle. What 655

actually sticks in our throat is, this is what we want you to be doing but we’re not

actually going to buy your paper. The only way we can solve this is through team


Page 26 of 30

work. If we all work together. If we can meet somewhere half way then we’ve got

something to talk about.

Julie Peacock, Peacock PR: 660

I just wanted to say thank you. I think it is a really good thing that you have turned

up tonight. It hasn’t been easy. I have agreed with most of the things most of the

people have said. The important thing is that we find a solution. It seems to me

that you’re willing to do that and willing to re-think in some ways. It’s up to us.

Thank you for not just going ahead with you plans and consulting the people of 665

the community. People like us.

Derek LePage, Chairman, Bath Drama:

I am worried that reducing the coverage, in anyway, is the thin end of the wedge.

I still believe that Sam Holliday was bought in to do away with the daily paper and

create a weekly one. I am now worried that you are here to do away with the 670

printed paper and put it all online. How long do you think the printed paper will

last?

Lynne Fernquest:

I have no idea! But to say I’ve been brought in to close down the product I work

on, well that doesn’t seem like a very good career move to me. 675

Paul Wiltshire:

I think you quite understandably criticize some of our business decisions. But that

would be the most ludicrous business decision ever. I think we’ve got quite

enough to worry about without worrying about that.

Scott Rogers, Zenith Youth Theatre: 680

The Chronicle has a responsibility for recording the social history of Bath. Having

just created a new website to celebrate 50 years of Zenith, it’s absolutely

incredible. There has been a review for every show. Which is an incredible

historical reference of what Bath is all about. We’re all a part of that cultural

history. And for me it’s part of the Chronicle’s job to record that cultural history. 685

And to make sure that it is there in a place most people will go to. Websites will


Page 27 of 30

come and the Chronicle has bee around for 250 years. I think that is also an

important responsibility from your point of view as well.

Ann Garner:

Wondered whether Christopher thought there was any mileage in a working party 690

coming out of this meeting. We still don’t quite understand what it will take even if

we find the reviewers and funding and you can provide the pages.


The three of us need to go back, having listened to everything that everybody

has said, and see what we can do within the confines of what Lynne has 695

decided.

Lynne Fernquest:

And what we can quantify for you Ann.


Maybe that is the way. To get a small group together. When Lynne has said what 700

she can do. What she can provide. What we can provide as a paper. To come

back with some key people to see how it might move forward. I sense that what

we were doing before roughly met with everyone else’s approval.

General Sounds Of Agreement.

It didn’t look like that when you saw all the arts events that were taking place. I 705

was always worried that we weren’t reflecting a cross section of everything.

Ann Garner:

I don’t think there would have been this reaction if you had said no reviews. I

want to read the reviews of the Theatre Royal. But I also want to read the reviews

of everywhere else as well. 710

Paul Wiltshire:

I think one of the most useful things to come out of this, Luke, when you email out

your minutes. Is that if everyone can come back to us with “I want to be a


Page 28 of 30

reviewer”, or “I know this person who would love to be a reviewer”. It’s stuff that

we need to do as well. This would give us a better idea of people who would be 715

committed to the cause. There might be room for little chats but what we can’t do

is run the Chronicle by committee. But there might be a chance to come back to a

few people with some of our thoughts.

Alan Casse, Former Chronicle Reviewer

When I started we got trained to review. Important to learn how to do it the 720

Chronicle way.

Paul Wiltshire:

I think we need you Luke, to send out emails to everyone here and find out who’s

out there and what they are willing to do. If we can satisfy ourselves that there

are people out there we can begin thinking about making different decisions. Until 725

we have that information and we’ve done out other bits of research I don’t think

we can commit to much more really.

Luke John Emmett, Theatre Bath:

Can we get a promise, in front of everybody here that you will actively look into it

and this is not going to be forgotten about. 730

Paul Wiltshire:

We’re not going to stand here and pretend to you. That would be suicide. The

difference between the national press and local. If we do something wrong, I will

bump into you in street and have to look you in the eye. We will of course look

into it. 735

Luke John Emmett, Theatre Bath:

Is everyone here happy that this is the way we move this forwards?

Sally Galsworthy:

No! Actually I would like to propose we have a vote. Let’s go back to where we

started. Let’s see what people think. You just want to review the Theatre Royal. 740

We want everything reviewed. Let’s have a vote on that. A show of hands.


Page 29 of 30

Luke John Emmett:

So what are we voting on?

Iorwerth Mitchell, Bath Drama:

Now I don’t think that would really be fair. There are the best part of 100 people 745

here and we all want the same or similar things. There are 3 people at the front.

There is no point having a vote when you know what the outcome is going to be.

They’ve come here. They’ve talked to us. They’ve relented a little bit. They’ve

quite happily agreed to think it over. They’ve listened to what we’ve had to say. I

think we need to call it an evening. 750

Andrew Ellison, Mission Theatre:

I would like to thank you. I do feel there has been some movement. For which

I’m very grateful. You haven’t come here with closed minds. I understand Paul’s

need to know what resources are out here to help you. I think we also need to

understand what resources you need. So if those two bits of information can 755

cross over. We would all be in a position to better understand each others issues

and maybe find a resolution that satisfies everyone.

Luke John Emmett:

Is everyone happy with that?

General Indication of Yes. 760

Good. Well I’d like to thank the Chronicle Team for turning up and all of you for

coming. Thank you.

The meeting was closed by Luke John Emmett at 19.45hrs.

765


Page 30 of 30

This report, (which should be seen as a first draft), has been

put together by Jazz Hazelwood and edited by Luke John

Emmett of Theatre Bath.

Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure that they reflect

an accurate representation of the meeting, mistakes may have

occured. Please contact us with corrections or suggestions.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/theatrebath

www.twitter.com/theatrebath

Documents

Theatre Bath Meeting With The Bath Chronicle Draft Report