OVO's running of Maltings Arts Theatre a success
An agreement for OVO theatre company to manage Maltings Arts Theatre has kept live performances at the City centre venue. It has also delivered more than £100,000 in annual savings for St Albans City and District Council.
The theatre company has provided a mixed programme of drama, comedy, dance and film at the Maltings Arts Theatre since September 2011. OVO is a volunteer run theatre company with four part-time roles.
In 2010-11, the last full year before OVO took over the programming, the Council’s net expenditure on running the theatre was £175,000.
The community theatre company has since established a programming mix that attracts audiences from across Hertfordshire reducing its need for support with overhead costs. It has improved the reception area and invested its own resources in upgrading the venue’s equipment and facilities.
At a meeting on Tuesday 21 July, Cabinet received a report showing that the Council’s net yearly expenditure on the building’s costs fell to £35,000 in 2014-15. It is expected that the Council’s annual net yearly expenditure will fall even further over the next two years.
As a result, the Council has agreed to extend the current arrangement with OVO for a further five years. This will provide the theatre company with the security to raise funds to make further improvements.
The Council will continue to meet some overheads for the theatre building.
Cllr Annie Brewster, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure and Heritage for the Council, said: “OVO has shown that it can manage Maltings Arts Theatre effectively, attracting audiences from St Albans and further afield for its many productions. It has placed a particular emphasis on attracting young people to the theatre and hosts drama and music classes and a youth theatre company. For these reasons, the Council has agreed to extend OVO’s programming agreement and licence to occupy the Maltings Arts Theatre. I urge anyone who hasn’t yet seen a production at the Maltings Arts Theatre to do so.”
Last year, OVO put on more than 100 performances at the theatre, including Puccini’s La Boheme and Playhouse Creatures by April de Angelis. Future productions include Tom Firth’s comedy Neville Island and I, Elizabeth, a production from theatre company Dyad.”
Adam Nichols, Founder and Artistic Director of OVO, commented: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue our successful partnership with St Albans City and District Council for another five years and look forward to giving the local community access to more innovative, imaginative and inspiring arts events.”
The meeting was webcast. The webcast of the Tuesday 21 July 2015 Cabinet meeting has now been archived. Should you wish to view it please contact Elizabeth Heath on 01727 819519 or email: Elizabeth.Heath@stalbans.gov.uk
The agenda and papers for the meeting are available on the Council's website.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Annie Brewster, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure and Heritage for the Council
Tel: 01438 832255
Email: cllr.a.brewster@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson,
Senior Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
Details of the Maltings Arts Theatre’s programme are available on the website.