Member's Meeting Minutes - 8th March 2015

 

Opening

The regular meeting of the Foot in the Door Theatre was called to order at 19:45 on 8th March 2015 in The Slug and Lettuce Winchester by Katie Raw.

 

Present:

Eleanor Brooks, Katie Raw, Josh Pellegrini, Jennifer Long, Nick Edgeworth, Emily Cutler, Claire Kerry, David Jobson, Ryan Beer, Holly Truslove, Gina Thorley, Tom Bijok, Kimberley James, Pete Jennison, Dee Mairs, Wesley Buckeridge.

 

Apologies:

Emily Coxhead, Thomas Byrne, Rob Greaves, David Parker, Sophie Terrell, Rory Blincow.

 

Approval of Agenda

The agenda was unanimously approved by each member of the Foot in the Door Committee prior to the meeting. Foot in the Door Committee Members are:

Katie Raw

Eleanor Brooks

Emily Cutler

Gina Thorley

Peter Jennison 

 

Introduction to Foot in the Door Theatre

Katie introduced Foot in the Door by expressing her gratitude to members for being a part of the theatre company. We are blessed to have new members and new friends within the company. She then announced the shows undertaken by the company within the past year, which are:

 

• Faustus – it was something different to work previously undertaken within Foot in the Door Theatre, which was lovely.  

• Taming Tour –   the touring company went out and explored new venues and places, and gained new audiences by doing this.  

• Tempest – this show received a good audience in St Albans. We were also able to hire the majority of the costumes, which was something that has never been done within Foot in the Door.

• Mansfield – at the time of meeting, this youtube channel had 1817 subscribers, and 48909 views from 92 countries.  This project is led by Kimberley James and is receiving positive reviews.

 

Foot in the Door Committee

The Company has been trying to build the role of the Committee within the company, as well as the role of the members within it. Katie introduced the Committee members and their roles within Foot in the Door Theatre.

 

• Katie Raw – Company Director

• Eleanor Brooks – Administration and Community Liason Officer

• Emily Cutler – Movement and Choreography Officer

• Gina Thorley – Social Media and Welfare Officer

• Peter Jennison – Financial Officer

 

Changes to Protocol

There are going to be some slight changes in the way in which shows are conducted within this year. These are:

 

• There will now be an appointed committee member to each show. Their role will differ from show to show, but the committee member will be there as a casual outsider if performers have any issues cannot be resolved within the creative team of the show they are performing in.

  • Dee Mairs asked whether there was a role for equal opportunities. Gina and Katie stated that there is a Welfare officer who will oversee casts within FITD, but a role has not been delegated under the title of equal opportunities.

• There is an updated code of conduct with new changes, this will be handed out at the start of each upcoming show.

  • We can always push to be more together and improve our organisation.

  • We did run into some issues last year, so the contract emphasises commitment. Whilst we understand it’s difficult sometimes, members need to be more forthcoming with prior commitments so we can effectively put together rotas / schedules. We want to fit in around you, but can’t do that if we don’t know what you’re doing.

• Foot in the Door would like to make sure things are filmed well / filmed a couple of times to make sure we get decent footage.

  • We will get cameras set up so that we can have decent footage throughout productions which we can use for funding applications etc. 

 

Finance

The Money raised from FITD shows has gone into the company to improve the quality of future productions. Katie reassured members that money has not just been sat in the bank account, and gave an outline as to where profits have gone within the company:

 

• Foot in the Door made approximately £2000 last year.

• We were able to use more costumes. It has been the first year we have hired a decent number of costumes for one show.

• Insurance / Performance fees – costs have gone up because of the growth of the company, so we have used profits to cover this.

• Purchasing of lights, which adds better quality for any filming Foot in the Door undertake.

• Purchasing of a portable speaker, which is used for outside shows, without any need to borrow speaker equipment.

• Purchased a camcorder and tripod. We have been able to film things with proper equipment.

• Foot in the Door performed 4 shows last year, which did cost money and included the costs of hiring costumes and props

 

New business

Foot in the Door are currently planning to use Mansfield Park for a Kickstarter project and any other public funding applications the company will apply for, as we are now in a place where the company can consider applying for public funding.

 

Katie Raw also announced the upcoming shows for this coming year and other projects which are being considered for the future. There are opportunities for members to take part in a variety of roles. The shows are:

 

East O the Sun and West O the Moon

• Full development required.

• Story of a girl who marries a prince disguised as a polar bear, and goes on a journey to return him to a prince. – similar to Beauty and the Beast.

• Really creative opportunity

• Develop more arts

•  Looking for team:

  • Writing team of 2/3 people – mainly 2

• Cast of 5/6 people

• Development team – puppets / set / music / props/costume. Would like set to be large scale – and able to be taken on tour.

• Director and stage manager

• Lighting and sound.

• Original Music

• Puppetry – building puppets, would love to have a polar bear puppet.

• Ideas at the moment – if anyone is interested please come and speak to Katie Raw

• Katie is aiming to have the team organised by June.

• Start rehearsals late this year, take on tour next year. Possibly a fringe show – Salisbury, Bath, Brighton etc. It is something that could be taken to these shows. 

• Big project – Older childrens show.

• We may apply for Kickstarter with this project, due to its scale.

 

Spring Show? 

• Not doing Tempest Tour, but are hopefully filming bits to use as references for funding applications. Our estimated intake for this year is now down approximately £1000 because of this. This leaves a gap between now and August – if there is a SMALL LOW BUDGET show that people want to propose, would be open to discussing it but:

  • It must fit with FITD ethos

  • It must be a small scale project.

  • An example Katie gave for this could be the Sonnets.

  • If there is any interest please contact Katie Raw as soon as possible.

  • The venue can be booked by Foot in the Door but everything needs to be on a low budget.

  • If we have a spring show, it increases the likelihood of a winter show. 

 

Summer show – As You Like it

• The cost of taking part in this production is £25 (same as last year but now includes food and travel).

• Foot in the Door would like to do a summer show but understands that people work etc.

• Katie Raw asked if members present at meeting were interested in a summer show, and most people were keen to do so.

• Katie emphasised the need for commitment – people need to make team aware so that committee can support members as much as they can.

• Gina brought up that if people were worried about not doing a show and auditioning because of work they need to speak up to committee, so that we can do what we can to help and members can still be involved in productions.

• Wesley asked if people can just do evening rehearsals – which is possible depending on the role, but with the production itself this can be accommodated due to the variety of roles available.

• As you like it is not as well known, but has an excellent story. Duke banished into forest by brother and he takes dukedom, sisters who also get banished, all take places outside apart from beginning. The Roles available for this production are:

•  

Male Roles

Duke Senior – Banished Duke, lives in the Forest of Arden with his ‘merry men’. A sort of Robin Hood Figure. Father to Rosalind. Brother to Frederick. Uncle to Celia

Duke Frederick – New Duke who usurped his brother. Father to Celia. Uncle to Rosalind

Touchstone – A Jester who goes into the forest with Celia and Rosalind. Falls in love with Audrey.

Charles the Wrestler – A wrestler who is bested by Orlando. Friends with Oliver.

Corin – An old country shepherd. Bit dim, but kind. Hosts Rosalind, Touchstone and Celia. Friend of Silvius.

Hymen (or Vicar) – Performs the 4 weddings at the end of the play.

Oliver de Boys – Eldest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. Brother to Orlando, but has an ongoing feud with him. Falls in love with Celia

Orlando de Boys – Youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. Not given his allowance by his brother. Oliver tries to kill him a few times, and so he flees into the forest, but ultimately he saves Oliver’s life. Loves Rosalind, and courts her, even when he thinks she’s a man.

Jaques – A Melancholy Lord. The opposite of Touchstone. A philosopher and friend to Duke Senior – delivers the famous ‘All the world’s a stage’ speech.

Silvius – A young Shepherd who is head over heels in love with Phebe. Friend of Corin.

 

Female Roles

Rosalind – Main female role. A commentary on femininity vs masculinity. Very witty, and outspoken. Daughter to Duke Senior, Niece to Duke Frederick. Is banished from court, and dresses as a man (Ganymede) to protect herself. Courts Orlando dressed as a man.

Celia – Younger cousin of Rosalind. Very loyal to her cousin, and follows her into Banishment. Very witty. Dry Humoured. More experienced in the art of courtship. More feminine. Dresses as a poor shepherdess (Aliena) and pretend to be the sister of Ganymede. Falls in love with Oliver.

Phebe – Pretty young shepherdess. The object of Silvius’s affections. She doesn’t love him though, and instead pursues Ganymede, who she doesn’t realise is a woman. She uses Silvius to deliver love-notes to Ganymede, but eventually agrees to marry Silvius when Rosalind reveals herself.

Audrey – a Goat herder / Shepherdess. Very funny character. The female clown, a partner to Touchstone, who she wants to marry. Very common.

 

M/F Roles

Le Beau OR La Belle – A Lord in Court. Friend to Rosalind / Celia / Toucstone.

Adam – Servant to Oliver, then Orlando.

Amiens – Musician in the forest. Predominantly a singing role, musician preferred. Has around 5/6 songs and a few lines, mainly banter with the forest lords.

Sir Oliver Martext – Doddery vicar called on to wed Audrey and Touchstone, but is deemed too rubbish to perform the ceremony.

 

• Rehearsal dates are 2nd August to 12th  August in Winchester. 

• 12th – 15th August in St Albans – 2 performances on the Saturday.

• 16th August, we are aiming to perform in Hampshire, but this is yet to be confirmed. 

• Foot in the Door are looking for a team for this show, if you are interested in doing this, please do not hesitate to contact Katie as soon as possible:

  • Katie hasn’t decided whether to direct

  • Potential director/Assistant director

  • Choreographer/Assistant Choreographer

  • Stage Manager

  • Set Designer

  • Music Assistant (to be or work primarily with Amiens)

 

Winter Show

• This can take place, but it depends on how much profit is made in the other productions this year.

• There is a possibility of touring a previous production, The Snow Queen. It has been reworked and Foot in the Door would reaudition. It would be a small tour in local theatres performing around November/December.

• There is also the possibility of Macbeth. Foot in the Door have considered this for a very long time but if there is not enough funds from previous performances this will not be able to happen.

• Foot in the Door will confirm details of this later in the year.

 

Any other issues/questions

• Jennifer Long asked about outside companies for props and set/costumes – any particular preference

• . Katie’s response was that there was no preference but we have good rapport with companies so far. Main links are Barn Theatre, Abbey Theatre, Trestle Theatre, Chesil Theatre, Hampshire County Wardrobe

• Tom Bijok asked if there were any particular books to refer to for East O the Sun.  Katie has said to use the version by PJ Lynch. There are other versions but this has seemed to be the most appropriate.

 

Adjournment

Katie Raw gave a closing statement to the meeting.

 

We’re having fun, and it’s been great reaching bigger audiences, and exploring what we can do. We can only continue doing what we do with your continued involvement. We’ve always said the moment the company stops being fun, we’ll stop, but at least for the moment we seem to be doing well. Don’t feel you have to keep committing if you can’t, we understand that you have lives! It’s been hard work this year, but we’ve had tremendous feedback, and people enjoy what we do. Thanks for all your hard work so far, here’s to the next few shows!

 

Meeting was adjourned at 20:38 by Katie Raw.

Minutes submitted by:     Eleanor Brooks (Administration)

Approved by:                     Katie Raw (Company Director)