FUNTINGTON PLAYERS

Draft minutes of the meeting of the Management Committee held at 37 Broyle Road, Chichester on Monday 17th July 2017 in the garden.

Present:

Sue Wilkins (Chair) Tony Clark Heather Birchenough Paul Pridmore

Scilla Jutton-Holland Tiffin Jones Carole Wright Leafy Scott

Jenny Dean (for the first part)

Action points in bold italics. Newsletter items marked N.

APOLOGIES

There were apologies for absence from Barbara MacWhirter and Jan Copsey.

MINUTES

The minutes were accepted as accurate.

MATTERS ARISING

·  Paul still needs the Paris disc.

·  Scilla was thanked for presenting People. It was suggested that it could be done as a production at some time.

·  Hilary and Scilla were thanked for producing Caucasian Chalk Circle.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The audit has been completed. We have received £78 from Ticket Source for introducing other groups to them. Subscriptions need to be mentioned in the Newsletter as only about 40% have been received. (N)

AUTUMN PRODUCTION: Star Quality

Tony’s costume manager, Pat Thompsett, is not clear yet if she will be able to carry out this work for FPs. It will be set in the 50s and the men will be in slacks, sports jackets and perhaps a cravat. The ladies will be in a frock though the two maids will be in black with white aprons, Marion will be in something inappropriate and Lorraine will be in slacks when rehearsing and she needs something glamorous as well. Stage management will be in black.

Props will be relatively straightforward to obtain and the set will be a box with possibly some extensions. Furniture will need to be borrowed, including a low chair and a theatre dressing table will need to be constructed. All the smoking will be cut out and the portrait is in the process of being constructed.

CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE

Sue said that she would like to honour Maggie to show our thanks to her for hosting our open air rehearsed readings over the years. It was proposed that theatre tokens for £90 should be bought and that Leafy would urge her to attend the AGM when they could be presented.

Hilary was reported as saying that she felt that giving a number of actors tasks helped keep them engaged and that this worked well for CCC. She also said that the time spent looking at characters and their motivation in the play was a useful exercise. She felt that we should have exerted a little more pressure to get those with small parts to learn their lines.

SPRING PRODUCTION 2018 and Murder/Mystery

Leafy would still like to do Black Comedy in spite of some misgivings from the committee. She emailed a taster of the play she is writing to go with Black Comedy as a double bill. Her play is part of 5 linked plays which she would like to hear at a play reading. It was agreed to read her offering on Friday 18th August and defer a decision until after that.

The venue for the Murder/Mystery is sorted but the hall may be used for the last rehearsal. A flyer was presented to advertise the event as others not in the Rotary Club are invited.

AGM

Heather went through her Powerpoint presentation of the results of the questionnaire. Paul will provide a projector. She will make a display to illustrate the points too. Minutes of the last AGM will go out with the Newsletter. (N) A few more will be made available. Sue will produce the agenda and copies of it. After the business will be champagne and crisps. After the break the presentation will be given by Heather and the Music Hall event will also be discussed.

OPEN DAY/WORKSHOP AT BOLTON TWILL

As Barbara was absent this was not discussed.

FUTURE PLAYREADS/STUDIOS

Jenny outlined her ideas for a Studio in October based on improvisation for a Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and a Saturday evening. She would like to do a number of warm up activities including hot-seating and tableaux as well as individual, pairs and group work. The general theme is The Games People Play and it will be linked to The Seven Ages of Man. She will use Pieter Bruegel’s Children’s Games as a starting point.

Janet has said that she will run a playread in September apparently so Scilla was asked to contact her about it as Barbara was not able to attend.

Sue Shattock’s play was circulated to the committee with a view to reading it and this will be done later in the autumn. The environment of the play is similar to that of Star Quality so it is unlikely that it will be presented as a full-scale production. Scilla was asked to communicate this to her.

WEBSITE UPDATE

The photos for Paris need to be uploaded. Tiffin will get the disc to Paul.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

There are none at present.

TECHNICAL MATTERS

An exhibition will be held at the hall in August showing its history. Tony suggested that we also show the history of FPs with photos and programmes from the past. This might give rise to interest in our Open Day. Tony will mention this at the AGM.

SOCIAL EVENTS AND NEWSLETTER ITEMS

  • Scilla will host an evening of music and readings on the theme of summer and holidays on Friday 21st July. (N)
  • The AGM will be held on Tuesday 25th July. (N)
  • Playread of Leafy’s play Friday 18th August (N)
  • Jan and Alan invite FPs to a summer barbecue at their home on Sunday 27th August. (N)
  • Leafy will direct a Murder/Mystery for the Rotary Club on 19th September (N)
  • Bolton Twill/Open Day 7th October (N)
  • Studio on The Games People Play Friday 20-Sat 21 October. (N)
  • Tuesday 21st – Saturday 25th November- Autumn Production of Star Quality (N)

·  Saturday 6th January 2017 Old Time Music Hall and Supper (N)

AOB

·  Paul reminded us of his Men’s Sheds initiative.

·  Pat G has a contact who may be able to give a training session on theatrical makeup.

DATES OF THE NEXT MEETINGS

Monday 14th August, Monday 11th September and Monday 16th October.