The Marlow Players

Welcome to the Marlow Players AGM update page.

The last AGM was held 19th May 2009.

The Marlow Players

68th AGM 
 

Commenced 8.30pm

Apologies from Tony Konieczny, Sylvia Collingwood, Gloria hurst

Committee Members attending:

President: Jimmy Keane

Chairman: Tony Bew

Treasurer: Brian Couling

Hilary Cox

Maura Ross

Sara DiDonna

Minutes from last AGM was read by Brian Couling as acting secretary for the meeting. Minutes signed by Tony Bew as a correct record of the last AGM meeting.

 

President’s Report (Jimmy Keene) 

Not a full report this time due to my absence over the season [due to personal circumstances]. I thought the play The Constant Wife was extremely well done, but it did show its age. I could not find a replacement play [for the spring production], which was difficult to do at short notice. Murder in Play was well done.

We still need more people—it cramps you if as a director you don’t know if you can put on a play or not if you can’t fully cast. I trust we are still brow beating people—but it does mean some may be disappointed more often. It’s a constant effort.

I think the work on the studio will help including the exterior re-cladding. The idea of a mezzanine floor would help get stuff off the main floor.

Lets hope we go from strength to strength. Certainly the standard has been kept up.

 

Chairman’s Report (Tony Bew) 

Overview

Thanks to Jimmy and the rest of the committee particularly to Brian who has acted as temporary secretary, Thanks to all the players who have contributed towards 2 very remunerative productions.

Many thanks to Gloria, on her directorial debut, for a fine production. However, the second production very nearly wasn’t. 8 weeks from first rehearsal to first night, and a French production. Thanks to Jenny and Sara for recruiting Robin and Tim (Giles)

Happens every time If we want to carry on doing new plays interesting; stretching; we need to increase our talent base or we end up doing the same plays - for the usual suspects! Auditions would be nice! New blood that wants to stay permanently or occasionally. Spread the load

I propose to reorganise the committee by splitting the role of secretary in a way to be determined by the new committee. We need to be better organised so that people coming forward to help know what is required of them, where they fit in, who else is doing what. Whether or not on the committee, all members should be encouraged to help out and be appreciated for it.

Events

Details of the summer events will be drawn up by the new committee, but our first escapade will be the recording of “Earnest” for Marlow FM. Casting this Thursday. The Marlow Festival and Regatta

Thanks

Brian for his work on refurbishing the Studio. Sorry I couldn’t help out last week…

Gloria for being in loco costumes for her own and my production

Iris and Brian Plested for tickets, front of house, backstage help, transport and their continued support for all productions

Olive and Gloria for organising the French trip.

Graham Evans for organising backstage and building sets.. and exploding decanters

All set crew; Elena, Adele, Chris Richards – had to put up with me every Monday.

You

Treasurer’s Report (Brian Couling) 

We have now moved the AGM date so the accounts [presented] reflects more realistically the whole year picture, with little ‘overhang’ between years.

We have been very successful in our shows once again! And Murder in Play was, from a financial point of view, the most successful we have had for 2 years. So kudos to the cast and helpers. We also had a grant from the council again this year to help with the French trip.

We have spent about £5k on the walls of the studio and storage racking (to be erected next week), to keep it standing.  We used the reserves to bolster the studio, which should have anything form 10-15 years further life with no additional major works needed. Many thanks to the team of helpers who have put a lot of effort into sorting out the studio.

In addition we subsidized the Christmas party, the French coach trip and purchase of some fine costumes for future plays from another society.

The overall loss for the year amounts to £2,500 and we have plenty in reserves. So I’m not worried.

 

Election of Committee 

No election required for officers of the society.

Election took place for Committee members and the final results was:

President                 Jimmy Keene

Chairman                  Tony Bew

Secretary                Maura Ross

Treasurer                Brian Couling

Member    Hilary Cox

Member    Jennifer Major

Member    Graham Evans

Member    Sara DiDonna

Member    Elena Spisto

 

Anderson Awards 

Gloria, Jennifer and Brian,  were nominated.

Gloria won the vote for her sterling work on her first production as director and general all-round helper!

(we had all had a glass of red wine by this point!) 

 

MarlowFM

Graham Evans explained the current plans to record and broadcast a play and some possible library evenings. Time is very short due to the broadcast dates. Jimmy will direct ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ for recording.

 

Summer program

Marlow town regatta (13 June)

Hall Barn (June 19)

First Tuesday brewery trip (that have been going well the last few times in the year)

Riverside Players mid August, same place as last year (Heythope)

Directors evening would be nice

 

Plays

Ghost Train

Anthony & Cleopatra

Allo’Allo

 

AGM Closed at 22.29 (and we had some more wine) 

AGM Information