ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18

Chairman’s Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018Mayflower Theatre

02 03

Mayflower Theatre has had a highly successful 90th Birthday year with some important developments and initiatives, which ensure that we consolidate our position as a key cultural institution in the south.

We presented 389 performances and were delighted to welcome a total attendance of 514,277 which represented an average capacity of 77.8%. Our most highly attended shows included Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Craig Revel Horwood and The Chuckle Brothers, Miss Saigon, The Band and Sister Act.

We continue to take our advocacy role seriously as part of the vibrant cultural scene in Hampshire. Our Engage work goes from strength to strength with nearly 25,000 people taking part in our community initiatives, whether as part of our Open Voices Choir, aimed at retired residents, or in the numerous public performances of our Youth Theatre. Our writing project So:Write with our local associate company Artful Scribe was oversubscribed. Our Chief Executive is a Director of Culture Southampton and is also Chairman of the Mayflower 400 steering group which is curating the commemorations that will take place in Southampton in 2020 to mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of The Mayflower.

The Board has embraced the new Charity Governance Code published in July 2017 to help ensure high standards of governance. The seven areas covered by the code are: organisational purpose, leadership, integrity, decision making, risk and control, board effectiveness, diversity and openness and accountability. These were the focus of a Board away day in the autumn.

We were very proud that our organisation was ranked 52nd in The Sunday Times Best Not for Profit Organisations to work for – the only theatre to feature in the top 100 and this

is a testament to the dedication of our wonderful staff. We continue our commitment to their personal development with a series of internal initiatives which offer opportunities for our teams to work together and understand the key role they all play in the success of their theatre.

None of the above would be possible without the dedication and hard work of our Chief Executive, Michael Ockwell, whose enthusiasm and love of the Mayflower Theatre creates the perfect platform for his Executive Team and all staff to contribute so much to the success of the Theatre.

TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF

514,27777.8% AVERAGE

CAPACITY

52ndin The Sunday Times Best Not-for-Profit Organisations to work for

We thank our loyal sponsors and partners Paris Smith, Beechdean, Carlsberg, The London Hotel, Angela Holidays, Rees Group, Geo Speciality Chemicals, Brymor Construction, Peter Cooper and TNG for their continuing support.

Finally, I pay tribute to my fellow directors and our company secretary, for their contributions at meetings and support of me and the Theatre. This ensures excellent governance and a positive approach – across the whole company – to all aspects of the business.

Malcolm Le Bas Chairman

24,906PEOPLE TAKING PART IN OUR

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Shane Richie No. 52

Chief Executive’s Artistic Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018Mayflower Theatre

04 05

We were delighted with the programme of events we were able to offer this year – we continue to develop our artistic vision to ensure that there is a diversity of art forms which appear on our stage.

It is essential that we continue to meet our strategic aim of presenting the very best opera, ballet, new musicals, drama, family friendly shows and one night concerts.

Having committed to developing our dance programme we presented a triple bill from Rambert which featured their seminal work Ghost Dances. We also continued our commitment to international dance with a visit from Acosta Danza, Carlos Acosta’s new dance company, plus a world premiere of The Little Mermaid by Northern Ballet.

We established our Associate Companies Scheme which will see us strengthen our relationships with Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet and ZooNation: The Kate Prince Dance Company.

BRB gave us a mesmerising performance of The Sleeping Beauty, ENB a wonderful Nutcracker and Sir Matthew Bourne made his annual visit with his brilliant production of Cinderella.

Our association with Welsh National Opera saw two seasons featuring La boheme and Madam Butterfly in the autumn and a stunning Die Fledermaus in the spring.

We also presented our first opera matinee performance with the aim to offer wider access to opera.

WORLD PREMIEREBY NORTHERN BALLET

SEASONS FROM THE WELSH NATIONAL OPERA

OPERA MATINEE PERFORMANCE

WITH THE AIM TO OFFER WIDER

ACCESS TO OPERA

WE ALSO CONTINUED OURDANCE WITH A VISIT FROM

COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL CARLOS ACOSTA’S ACOSTA DANZATRIPLE BILL

FROM RAMBERT

1st2Sir Matthew Bourne & Michael Ockwell

ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018Chief Executive’s Artistic Report continued…

06 07

We presented a variety of new touring shows with The Addams Family, The Play that Goes Wrong, Beautiful, Cilla the Musical, The Band and Fat Friends bringing a wide and diverse audience to our theatre.

Our focus on developing family audiences was supported by visits from We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Justin’s Party, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Dinosaur World, Awful Auntie and The Snowman. I am grateful to the Producers who continue to make Mayflower Theatre their first choice to tour their shows and also all the artists who grace our stage.

Michael Ockwell, Chief Executive

Chris Hadfield & Michael Ockwell

OUR FOCUS IS ON

DEVELOPING

7NEWTOURING SHOWS

YOUNGERAUDIENCES

2017/18 PANTOMIMEATTENDANCE OF

68,393OVERPERFORMANCES

39

Shows 2017/18

ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018Mayflower Theatre

08 09

NORTHERN BALLET’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET NUTCRACKER, BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET THE SLEEPING BEAUTY MATTHEW BOURNE’S CINDERELLA • AN EVENING WITH BOYCOTT & AGGERS, AN EVENING WITH EARL CARPENTER, BILLY OCEAN, JIMMY CARR: THE BEST OF, WESSEX HEARTBEAT VARIETY SHOW, RUSSELL BRAND: RE-BIRTH, STEWART LEE: CONTENT PROVIDER, THE SOLID SILVER 60S SHOW, THAT’LL BE THE DAY, JON RICHARDSON: OLD MAN, SAMANTHA BARKS LIVE IN CONCERT, SIMPLE MINDS, SINGALONGA SOUND OF MUSIC, AL MURRAY: LET’S GO BACKWARDS TOGETHER, RICKY GERVAIS: HUMANITY, KEVIN & KAREN DANCE, JANE MCDONALD: MAKING MEMORIES, JOE MCELDERRY – GLORIA, MICHAEL MCINTYRE, CRAIG DAVID, JOEL DOMMETT – LIVE, CLAIRE MARTIN & THE BBC BIG BAND THE BREAST COMEDY NIGHT EVER!, THE HOLLIES, SIXTIES GOLD, COLLABRO, JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA MIKE OSMAN: TRUMPED, KATHERINE JENKINS, ANTON & ERIN: FROM BROADWAY TO HOLLYWOOD, SHAWN KLUSH - ELVIS WORLD TOUR BRENDAN COLE – ALL NIGHT LONG, AN EVENING WITH CHRIS HADFIELD, JOHN BISHOP – WINGING IT • COMPANY WAYNE MCGREGOR – FAR, SIDI LARBI CHERKAOUI - MILONGA, RAMBERT: GHOST DANCES & OTHER WORKS, ACOSTA DANZA, STOMP, TANGO MODERNO • JANE EYRE THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG • WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, JUSTIN’S PARTY, BEN & HOLLY’S LITTLE KINGDOM, DINOSAUR WORLD MISTER MAKER AND THE SHAPES LIVE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA, THE SNOWMAN THE WEDDING SINGER, WONDERLAND, FUNNY GIRL, SISTER ACT, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, GREASE, GUYS & DOLLS, DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS, FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING STORY, CILLA THE MUSICAL, ALL OR NOTHING, THE BAND, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, CRAZY FOR YOU, SUNSET BOULEVARD, HAIRSPRAY, FAT FRIENDS THE MUSICAL, MISS SAIGON • WELSH NATIONAL OPERA • BREAKIN’ CONVENTION, DERREN BROWN: UNDERGROUND, SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW • SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

With grateful thanks to the performers who appear on our stage

Jodie Prenger Fat Friends

Community Engagement

24,906 people were reached by Engage activity this year.

296people in our Open Voices singing sessions

10 11

CommunityOver the year we have engaged with 24,906 people through our community and education outreach programme Engage. We continue to offer opportunities in the key areas of our Summer Youth Projects, Mayflower Musical Youth Theatre (MMYT), Workshops, Performances, Projects and Show Events.

We have established our work in writing development both through our Young Writers groups and through our Writer in Residence. We have also developed regular work for older people through our Open Voices singing group and our Reminiscence mornings.

Mayflower Musical Youth TheatreMayflower Musical Youth Theatre met regularly with 3 groups ranging in age from 10 – 18 years and a separate production group of mixed ages. Each group had a community performance which included a Christmas play performed to an ex–serviceman’s club in Havant with 22 young people involved. We also collaborated with Mayflower Young Writers who created pieces based on the life of passengers and crew on-board Titanic. These pieces were performed at The Sea City Museum in Southampton.

Bursary SchemeOur Higher Education Bursary supported 11 young people this year with awards totalling £20,500. Through our links with leading drama schools we also held our first drama school fair with representatives attending from Bristol Old Vic, Central School of Speech & Drama, Italia Conti, Mountview and The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts.

Public Tours33 private and public tours of the theatre have taken place attended by a total of 596 customers. In addition we held a further 28 tours connected to our education groups with 398 young people taking part.

“ I wanted to thank you for the workshop last week. The kids had a fantastic time and were absolutely buzzing on their way home.” Teacher, Theatre Day

“ First, let me congratulate you on another amazing show, loved it, even writing about it gives me goose bumps. You are a great team and you make it fun for children so thank you.” Parent, Musical Youth Theatre

Public & Educational Workshops and EventsWe held 19 public and community workshops over the year with a total attendance of 381. Our Writer in Residence, Dinos Aristidou spent time in all departments of the theatre as well as offering ‘Gifts of Writing’ to patrons at 15 performances and events reaching a total of 503 people. Our Mayflower Young Writers groups met regularly at the theatre on Saturday mornings for a programme of workshops, talks and visits to see shows including writing for our Youth Theatre in response to the Titanic Exhibition at Sea City Museum.

We were delighted to welcome Breakin’ Convention and held a programme of Hip Hop dance events bringing new audiences to the theatre. A total of 1,554 people took part in a wide range of workshops and outreach activity. We offered a wide range of educational workshops with 2,258 young people taking part from schools and colleges. For the first time we co-facilitated work with Richard Taunton Sixth Form College on their BTEC course. In addition we offered our first schools concert in conjunction with Welsh National Opera with 1,400 young people in attendance, the most successful schools concert they have held nationally.

We worked with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company to offer 25 students from Solent University and University of Winchester the opportunity to create a curtain raiser performance for Cinderella. This was performed just before the main show to an audience of 1,486. With financial support from the Rotary Club of Southampton we offered 15 sessions of our new Open Voices singing group with a total attendance of 296.

With support from Autism Arts Funding we developed our Serendipity Group for adults on the autism spectrum to include monthly workshop activities, opportunities to see shows and attend a tour of our theatre. As well as our wider accessible performances we offered Touch Tours on two shows - Sister Act and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 13 people attended in total and then watched the Audio Described Performances.

We undertook a large partnership project with the National Citizenship Service delivering 19 workshops about the theatre and our work as a charity to 519 young people aged 17, they also experienced drama sessions. We provided 14 show events including pre-show talks, post-show question and answer sessions and open rehearsals with a total of 1,253 audience members attending.

33 PRIVATE & PUBLIC TOURS

3GROUPS OF 10-18 YEAR OLDS

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WITH

2,258 YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING PART

Summer Youth Project ParticipantsKatie, Charlie & Madina

12 13

HeritageOur My Story Project culminated in a celebration event including young people, community partners who had participated in the filming or submitted stories, our volunteers and our local associate company City Eye Community Film Company. Following the success of the project we have continued our commitment to Heritage by appointing a Heritage Project Manager.

Over the year we coordinated 51 volunteering sessions with 11 volunteers working hard to arrange all programmes, posters and photos chronologically and begin working on press cuttings. In total we have benefitted from 460 hours of volunteer time over the year.

We also delivered heritage talks in the community and hosted 3 reminiscence mornings aimed at those with dementia and their carers, with 66 people attending.

Since its launch in June the online Archive had 1,483 visits.

Summer Youth ProjectsOur Summer Youth Project, Guys & Dolls, took place during the summer from July 29th – August 12th.

185 young people took part in the production taking on a range of roles, we also again welcomed hair and makeup students from Solent Untiversity to work on the team.

Three performances took place with a total of 3,513 audience members.

We held our second Summer Youth Dance Project linked creatively with our Summer Youth Project titled The Guys & The Dolls. 22 young people participated and an original performance piece was created working with our Associate Artist Zoie Golding and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Summer Youth Project Feedback

We always take great pride in the feedback we receive from our many Engage participants, here is just a selection below:

“ Without a doubt, my daughter has got more self-belief and the cast in the lead roles were a true inspiration to her. And lovely to hear her say that they are lovely people too!” Parent

“ My daughter said everyone was lovely and the team were great fun. She said she felt happy to ask her team leader anything which is amazing and shows what a great job all the staff involved did. Giving the children confidence and building trust so quickly was wonderful… and made her excited to come every day.” Parent

“ The summer youth project is an amazing achievement. The quality of the show is always first class, but it is the atmosphere of the experience that is so important. How you can put on such a show with 180 children in just 2 weeks is utterly beyond me. It has been a totally joyful experience for my daughter 3 years running and I thank all the amazingly passionate and happy staff for that.” Parent

“ You are all so giving and loving, energetic, gifted and talented. You are all a pleasure to get to know and have in our lives” Parent

“ I thought the show was fantastic! Such a great idea & they all looked superb up there. We were very entertained and proud. Thank you so much for making this such a great experience.” Parent, Summer Youth Dance Project

“ This project was absolutely amazing and I enjoyed every bit of it – it’s a great place to make new friends and do what I love doing – singing, dancing and acting. Thank you!” Participant

“ Definitely will be auditioning for future projects. Mayflower Theatre SYP is the highlight of my year” Participant

460hrsOF VOLUNTEER TIME OVER THE YEAR

THREE PERFORMANCES

3,513AUDIENCE MEMBERS

Community Engagement continued…

1,483visits since we launched our Heritage Archive.

“ My daughter’s words: “The best thing I have been involved with all my life”. I could tell by watching her reaction to the whole 2 weeks – so engrossed, happy and very excited.” Parent, Summer Youth Project

Summer Youth Project ParticipantsMia, Ajay & Oliver

Attendance by Genre 2017/18 Income & Expenditure 2017/18

ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018Mayflower Theatre

14 15

Pantomime 68,393 Young Children Under 5 29,130 Opera 15,064 Musicals 253,054

55,111 Comedy/Concerts

15,776 Variety

22,624 Dance

19,438 Drama

35,687 Ballet

Mayflower Theatre is the best theatre anywhere on the south coast. Great acoustics wherever you are seated. Mayflower Theatre is by far the most beautiful theatre I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. It’s gorgeous and the whole cast of Miss Saigon were amazing.

Oh my, Miss Saigon was amazing. It was my third time seeing the show and the helicopter was incredible. The press night performance of The Band was one of the best nights of working at Mayflower Theatre the atmosphere was electric.

I love the Mayflower Theatre, always have, it is one of the best outside of London. Went to see the Addams Family. Such a great show and great cast. Came out singing all the songs. Staff are very friendly and I cannot wait until my next visit.

Miss Saigon was stunning. We were on the very back row but I was totally engaged by the whole show. What a brilliant cast and incredible scenery and effects. I have seen it before in the West End and this was just as good if not better. Beautifully sung and acted.

52,691Facebook likesas of 1 April 2018

21,819Twitter followers

as of 1 April 2018

2,707Instagram followers

as of 1 April 2018

£20m

£15m

£10m

£5m

£0mBox office Income

£15,2

51,10

6

£1,9

85,9

15

£2,4

05,2

66

£884,2

84

£5,3

88,4

43

Production Costs

Other Trading Income

Trading Costs

Other Income

Overheads

Total Income £19,642,287(Including investment income and gains)

Our total Surplus for the year was £1,605,133

The theatre retained an average 26.3% of ticket sales

The Mayflower Theatre Trust is a charity which receives no direct funding from public bodies.

514,277TOTAL ATTENDANCE

6%

3%

13%

11%

3%

4%

4%7%

49%

£11,7

64,4

27

Mayflower Theatre Team 2017/18

ANNUAL REPORT 2017–2018Mayflower Theatre

16 17

Employee of the Year 2017 HHHHH

Russ Charlton, Facilities Assistant

Nicole AnelliJeanette AnelliJulia AntramNagina AnwarGemma AvantAlina BajorunaiteClaire BakerAngie BarksCharlotte BarnesNicki BarnettBekki BartlettGrace BartlettSteve BeldingTom BellVicky BellDario BentoOrlando BentoHannah BinningtonHannah BolamJames BoydRebecca BoyleKerry BradyKaren BrettConnie BrightonBeth BrownKarla BurlinghamTom CallaghanSarah CaplenGeorgia CarrGareth CarrMarie CastlemanViv ChalliceChris ChambersJamie ChannellKerryann ChantRussell CharltonMaria ChircaAli ChurtonAdam ClarkeRob Clayton

Catherine ColemanAnn CollinsMatt CornellTim CoultasFenella CourageJames Court-MartinSteve CoveSylvianne CraneAiden CrouchOliver CrumpDavid CrumplerNikki CummingsIan CunninghamLee CurantSam DanielHuw DaviesDebbie DaviesNeil DaykinInes Del HoyoEd DriverRebecca FarrantTasha FinchHolly FletcherBeth FolanRachel FoxMegan FramptonAmy FramptonJack FreemanJackie FreemanMichelle GathKaren GazeChris GerrardSiontai GordonMelanie GraceMay GraftonSarah GriffithsMichelle GunnerNeil GwynneStephen HallEmma Hamilton

Ali HamiltonRobin HancoxMike HannSharon HannahJohn HarperDan HarrisAlison HarrisonDom HartSimon HartScott Harvey-RossPaul HatchettRuth HillMatt HobbinsMike HollandDan HolmesDoug HolmesSarah HookDaniel HornsbySarah HoustonMarek HudakGemma HughesGeorgie HughesScott HughesKevin HughesNatasha IngallBen JacquesStewart JamesLuke JamesMandy JamesWayne JarrettSteve JarrettDamian JayasingheValeria Jimenez ArguelloChris JohnsonJames JohnsonCatherine JonesTracy JoynesDarrel KaziAndy KentBen Kiff

Neil KingstonGary LambertTom LambertKim LangeKate LawrenceJess LeeDusty LeeHarry LeeCassie LeonPaul LeslieAmelia LockeySarah LomasSian LoweSophie LuscombeAlex MacArthurAlex Marques Pinto SousaHannah MasonRachael MassinghamIan McInallyClare Middleweek KellyMargarita MifsudKris MihaliczkoAlex MilledgeBecky MillsCharlie MitchellRichard MorganDaryl Morgan RadfordClaire MorrissKatie MuncerJackie MundenCharlotte NelsonMike NewboldJordan NewmanPat NorrishJasmine NortonMichael OckwellAshleigh OnabajoJan OnoufriouScott Ordish

Roy OsborneKaren OvansHolly OvertonSue PakeJudith PalmerBarry ParkerSandra ParkinsonLaura Parra CidKerry PayneSam PearsonJan PeirsonWilliam PickeringNaomi PickettMatthew PikeSophie Pitman-KisbeeGrace PledgerKatie PowerFrankie PuchadesMark RaggettGeraldine RamsayRuth RankinMike RedmondJessica RicePauline RichardsJohn RidgeonCharlotte RobertsJackie SayerSara ScottJack Sencherey-EvansMehreen ShahJoel ShepherdVikki SimmonsRebecca SimpsonSharon SkeatsKirsten SkinnerKaren SmallEmily SmithDon SmithBen SmithKate Snow

Alex SousaCathy SouthwayHayley SpindlerRachel StanikkJulie StarkeyJustyna StronskaSabrina SumraMagda SurmaAli SuttonRobert SzevinCharlotte TannerPaul ThompsonChris TibbleAnne TonerJen TonksSandy TownSteve TurnerJosh UtteridgeBarend VenterAaron VirdeeChristine WardKasia WatersJohn WaterworthJulia WeaverCharmaine WestBarry WhiteLeon WhiteRachel WhitewoodJill WhitewoodMike WhitewoodBob WhitingJustin WilliamsonRosie WillsKelly WinsorCarla WinterPatryk WirenskiOllie WiserMartyn WoodwardLydia Wooldridge-FinchChristopher Worley

Mr C E LewisDirector

Mr M H Le BasChairman

Mrs P I ClaisseVice Chairman

Mr R PrimmerDirector

Mr J M Hannides Director

Mrs L J NobleDirector

Mr S Pantling Director

Mrs C JonesCompany Secretary

Mrs I A S GatwardPresident

Mr N Vaughan Director

Mr M D OckwellChief Executive

Mr M D SmithDirector

MEMBERS: Denis Bunday, David Chisnall, Philip Daniells, Stephen Daniells, Alison Farrell, James GatwardIsobel Gatward, Mike Gordon, Gordon Murray-Fisher, Bob Niddrie, Tim Prentki, Mrs Christine Taylor

DirectorsHMembersHThe Team

Mayflower 90 launch

Finance

Engage

Ovation

Box Office

Front of House

Marketing

Technical

Now and Looking Forward…

Mayflower Theatre

18 19

Best CompanyIn February the theatre was named as the 52nd best company to work for in this year’s Sunday Times list of the 100 best not-for-profit organisations. It is also the only theatre in the UK to be named in this prestigious list.

The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies is the annual ranking of the cream of Britain’s engaged and motivated workforces. The lists are widely acknowledged as the most extensive research into employee engagement carried out in this country. The annual survey attracted 798 entries from companies around the UK.

Two Major ProjectsWe are delighted that the two major capital works projects have been completed following a thirteen week closure period. The newly refurbished auditorium was opened to the public on Wednesday 26 September 2018 in a Gala Night of entertainment to an invited audience.

The theatre has been completely repainted with a new red and gold colour scheme. All of the seats in the stalls and circle have been removed and replaced with 1,659 brand-new, wider seats and the balcony seats have been reupholstered.

New environmentally-friendly LED lighting has been installed, the orchestra pit has been moved beneath the stage and accessibility has been improved, with better facilities for people with disabilities.

In addition to the theatre’s commitment to enhance the customer experience, an extension to the west side of the theatre has been built. This will improve connectivity around the theatre and provide much needed extra space including a new archive room.

The theatre is grateful to the public, trusts and foundations who have helped in the fundraising for this project.

This has been a once in a generation level of investment with £7.5 million being spent on the projects.

This really has been regeneration for the next generation.

THE ANNUAL SURVEY ATTRACTED

798ENTRIES FROM COMPANIES

AROUND THE UK

We undertook 2 major capital works projects totalling

£7.5million

Take That regeneration for the next generation

No. 52

Mayflower Theatre, Empire LaneSouthampton SO15 1AP02380 711800admin@mayflower.org.ukwww.mayflower.org.uk

Mayflower Theatre Trust Reg. No. 2026445Reg. Charity No. 294745Mayflower Enterprises Ltd. Reg. Company No. 3193293Mayflower Productions (Southampton) Ltd. Reg. Company No. 9557913

During this year Mayflower Theatre was kindly sponsored by:

And partnered with: