OVO’s run at Maltings Arts Theatre set to be extended
St Albans City and District Council is extending an agreement for OVO theatre company to manage the Maltings Arts Theatre for a further five years.
The theatre company has provided a mixed programme of drama, comedy, dance and film at the Maltings Arts Theatre since September 2011.
In 2014-15, OVO put on 73 performances at the theatre, including Puccini’s La Boheme and Playhouse Creatures by April de Angelis.
Staffed mainly by volunteers, OVO has made significant improvements to the reception area and invested its own resources in new audio visual and lighting.
The theatre company now offers opportunities for young people to get involved in the arts, by hosting drama and music classes. In addition, OVO hosts a youth theatre company and has developed links with local schools by putting on productions of plays and texts that pupils are studying.
The Council’s Cabinet will receive a report on the theatre company’s performance at its next meeting on Tuesday 21 July.
The report notes that the theatre company has performed well against the programming agreement with the Council that was established three years ago.
Cllr Annie Brewster, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure and Heritage for the Council, said: “OVO has made a great success of providing an entertaining and varied programme of drama, comedy, dance and film at the Maltings Arts Theatre. Extending the agreement provides the community theatre company with a long-term base where it can develop and go from strength to strength. Please support OVO and make a date to go and see a performance at the Maltings Arts Theatre. Forthcoming productions include Tom Firth’s comedy Neville Island and I, Elizabeth, a production from theatre company Dyad.”
OVO has built up strong partnerships with local community organisations which use the venue on a regular basis for meetings and events.
The longer term agreement will provide the theatre company with the security to raise funds to make further improvements to the venue.
Adam Nichols, Founder and Artistic Director of OVO, commented: “Through its partnership with OVO to run the Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans City and District Council has blazed a trail in showing how local facilities can be run efficiently and effectively by community organisations. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed breathing new life into this venerable arts venue and we’re very excited about continuing to provide people living in St Albans with innovative, imaginative and inspiring performances on their doorstep.”
The public can attend the meeting at 7pm on Tuesday July 21 at the District Council’s offices at the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, St Albans. The webcast of the 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 also available.
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 online