Annual Report 2015 - 2016

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’BUS’ (Young Actors Project)Credit - Sylvia Selzer

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Action Transport TheatreAt Action Transport Theatre we don’t believe children are the future. We know they are the now, the present. Their individual ideas and imaginations are relevant today and inspire and inform everything we do. We work with children and young people as creative collaborators, to make professional and aspirational theatre which we share locally, regionally, nationally and internationally from our home in Ellesmere Port…

ProfessionalWe create new work at Whitby Hall, our theatre base in Ellesmere Port as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. We develop new productions with arts and non-arts partners and support early-career theatre makers through our artist development initiatives. We export plays, processes, skills and ideas through our sector sharing events to ensure that the voices and creativity of young people contribute to the richness and diversity of our theatre landscape.

Participation We have established unique processes of making new theatre by putting young people at the heart of all our work. Our annual participation programme includes Young Actors, Young Writers and innovative schools and outreach projects. In 2015-16 we also worked with Curious Minds (Bridge Organisation) as ‘Creative Writing Champions’ working across schools and museums.

Place We are the only specialist new work and dedicated young people’s theatre company in Cheshire. Our local community informs our programme activity here at Whitby Hall including our hugely popular Family Film Club, Open Days and performances from nationally and internationally renowned theatre companies taking place right in the heart of Ellesmere Port.

Ellesmere Port has some of the highest levels of social and economic disadvantage in England (IMD 2015). Local schools report that there is a ‘critical

need’ to develop aspiration levels in children and young people whose families are often on low incomes or who are long term unemployed. ATT provides accessible, transformative arts experiences through our annual participation programme, through schools projects and by working in partnership with other organisations.

We reached over

14,000 Audiences

across the country

We worked with over

120 schools across

our programme

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‘Princess and the Pea, Co production/Unity TheatreCredit Brian Roberts

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The Year In brief...

2015 - 2016 has been an exciting 12 months for Action Transport Theatre

STATIk hit the road for its second national tour in May 2015. We reached 1177 audiences in 16 venues across the UK. Find out more about the tour on Page 7.

Subtly subversive and visually arresting, this show is a deftly choreographed reminder of how universally enjoyable and effective good physical theatre can be

The Stage

Our pioneering LGBT show for 5+ Happily Ever After embarked on the first part of it’s schools tour across Cheshire West in September and October 2015 and travelled across Cheshire and Greater Manchester in March and April 2016 reaching 3840 school children and sparking a national news debate.

Action Transport Theatre is on the front line when tackling difficult issues for children and it is no surprise that they are currently the only theatre company doing so. Contemporary theatre with always an important

message to tell, children’s theatre has never been so excitingLiverpool Sound & Vision

This Summer saw us take on our most ambitious Young Actors project yet, as we performed a new show on a (moving) bus travelling around Ellesmere Port. All seven performances were a sell out, as the young people took audiences on a tour of the town stopping at local sites including the Waterways Museum, the train station and the greyhound stadium.

Taking risks that are rare in professional theatre let alone youth theatre Peer Reviewer

And finally, we wrapped up the year very ha-pea as we once again embarked on our annual Christmas co-production with Unity Theatre, Liverpool delighting over 7,800 audiences with our retelling of The Princess and the Pea.

A sublimely subtle addition to the fairytale recipe…a show that might be a re-run of a wrinkly old tale but, with invention and ingenuity throughout, feels gloriously fresh from the pod.

Northern Soul

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STATIkCredit - Johnathan Clover

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In 2012, Action Transport Theatre asked hundreds of school children some of life’s biggest questions, inspired by responses that varied from serious to straight out silly, STATIk was born.

Using these real recordings of primary school children in it’s soundtrack, STATIk is a testament to the wit and wisdom of children.

STATIk began life as Action Transport Theatre’s highly successful pilot tour in Autumn 2012 as From the Mouths of Babes, made in partnership with Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, the Essar Oil Chester Literature Festival and The Brindley.

The production was performed at rural touring venues, theatres, Gobbledeebook Children’s Literature Festival and schools to delighted audiences of all ages.

In May – July 2015 STATIk hit the road for it’s second national tour, reaching 1177 audiences in 16 venues across the UK including London’s Polka Theatre and The Spark Arts Festival.

With a unique visual style and a soundtrack inspired by children’s answers to life’s big questions, STATIk reminds us of the wisdom of children and what happens when one person can’t, or won’t fit in. Making the most of this universal style, we hope to tour the show again, this time internationally, from 2018.

It is always hugely heartwarming to see a children’s theatre piece of this standard. ATT have created an original and intelligent piece of theatre and have once again proven themselves as leaders in their

fieldThe Reviews Hub

Besides offering plenty to laugh about and to think about, the production holds one or two beautiful moments—watch out for the radio set which becomes a giggling baby, and a moving finale filled

with a sense of hope and joyBritish Theatre Guide

Comedy clowning and rebellious radios….

STATIk

We received multiple

4 and 5 star reviews,

totting up to 82 stars in total!

8.Happily Ever AfterCredit -Johnathan Clover

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Inspired by the book ‘King and King’ by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland, Happily Ever After is a beautiful, funny and delightful twist on the traditional fairytale developed in partnership with The Proud Trust in a pioneering primary schools project that began in October 2014.

A schools project was delivered in 8 primary schools in Cheshire in Oct 2014 with wrap around, peer-led workshop activity delivered by local LGBT young people and supported by The Proud Trust and Cheshire West and Chester Equality and Diversity Fund.

With further support from AGMA, Arts Council England, Cheshire Crime Beat and the Cheshire Crime Commissioner, The Proud Trust & ATT have developed the show into a full-length performance that toured across Cheshire and Greater Manchester with the same wrap-around educational activities in schools. At a special sector event in September 2015, theatre industry professionals, educators and diversity teams met at the Unity Theatre to watch the show and discuss the issues around the play. We were pleased and excited to welcome co-author of ‘King and King’ Linda De Haan and her family to the event too.

So far the project has reached 45 schools (including the 2014 tour), 4282 school pupils and audiences in 5 venues (Whitby Hall, Z-arts, Unity, People’s History Museum and St Helens Library.) Happily Ever After will be continuing on a national tour to theatre spaces in Spring 2017.

A delightful fairytale with a twist!

Happily Ever After

My compliments, to all of you,I am proud. Looks great! Hope you will be playing it again! (And again....) Makes me smile. Hope I’ll get the chance to be in the audience

Linda de Haan, Author and Illustrator of King and King

Just to say what a fantastic idea I think it was to let the children watch a play as diverse as ‘Happily Ever After’ I have never heard of such an initiative being brought into the classroom but I think it is a fantastic way to encourage children to be open minded and accepting of everybody, regardless of sexual orientation

Parent of school pupil

What an absolute priviledge to sit and watch such a wonderful and innovative piece of theatre. I was spellbound and quite emotional! A really excellent way of tackling this issue with primary aged pupils

Headteacher, Cheshire

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’BUS’ (Young Actors Project)Credit - Sylvia Selzer

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We first met Danny in 2014 when he joined the ATT Actioneers (Young Programmers and Producers). He later joined the ATT Young Actors, performing in two productions and ATT Young Writers, working on two international writing exchanges.

At age 18, Danny was not in education, employment or training and he applied for an apprentice position with ATT (supported by the Curious Mind’s Trailblaze programme). For 12 weeks Danny had a range of experiences working across technical theatre, administration and touring.

Previously, for Danny, it’s been a challenge to identify the right career path;

I have had many aspirations for my career; fire- fighter, military, photography, even care, but none of them lasted long. Theatre is the one that stuck.

Danny McElhinney

With support and guidance from ATT, Danny has had the chance to pursue a career that suits him. He is regularly employed by ATT, operating touring shows solo in Whitby Hall Studio Theatre and supporting our Venue & Technical Manager, Matt.

It has been very rewarding to help Danny find his direction. As his technical knowledge grows his confidence grows with it, it was a pleasure to give him a personal recommendation to the Production Arts course at West Cheshire College

where he is doing very well. Matt Bennett, Venue & Technical Manager

Developing Young writers…....Danny is a graduate of our young writers programme; a group of around 25 young

writers who meet regularly to write stories, poems, plays, monologues - anything! Each year we take a new collectively written play by a new group into primary schools performed by drama students at West Cheshire College. In April 2015, this was ‘Dustbin Day’ a play based on a short story written by Meghan Davies (age 14)

We also work with international partners; Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) and Young People’s Theatre Canada (YPTC) to connect young writers across 3 continents.

Our Technical Theatre ApprenticeMeet Danny… ...

We supported

26 emerging artists

with space, support

and showcasing opportunities

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Set in the beautiful, Green Flag-awarded Whitby Park, locally-listed Whitby Hall has been described as the historic heart of Whitby Park and a ‘hidden gem’. Our vision is that from 2018 work will begin which will transform this locally-listed Victorian building into an inspiring, fit-for- purpose cultural hub for children, young people, schools and families.

Whitby Hall is owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council and together with our partner organisations we welcome up to 10,000 people through our doors annually. A new café has been piloted in 2015 alongside cultural provision, which includes a family film club, music, drama, photography and yoga.

Major capital development will transform our tired and run-down building into an arts venue for the future. Our new building will allow us to expand our programme of activities and raise local aspirations, creating a sense of pride in the locality whilst strengthening the position of Whitby Hall as a national receiving venue.

Taking the borough’s plans for 2016-2020 which includes ‘supporting communities to THRIVE’ and that ‘children and young people are supported to get the best start in life’ the development of Whitby Hall will help strategically to;

Transform perceptions of the Town – through a unique arts space, gallery and café, promoting Ellesmere Port as an attractive area for both new and existing residents

Help develop the skills and prospects of children and local young people through the offer of high quality arts activities which are transformative and which broadens horizons

Support links between arts, education and industry by bridging business with creativity and learning, working with local industries, schools and West Cheshire College

Whitby Hall - The Future

we welcomed

over 9800 people

into our home at

Whitby Hall this year

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Parklands Power (Schools Project)Credit - Johnathan Clover

1%

47%

10%

42%

ACE Funding Local Authority funding Earned Income

Donations

ACE Funding Local Authority funding Earned Income

Donations

1%

57%

12%

30%

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Financial report

2014/15 2015/16

ATT has reduced it’s reliance on ACE funding from 61% to 57% in 2014/15 and to 47% of income in 2015/16 (a 10% reduction in last 12 months).

We increased our earned income to £63K in 2014/15 (in addition to local authority funding and sponsorship from ESSAR Oil). Our earned income was £98,219 in 2015/16, an increase of £35,000.

ATT secured commissioning income of £34,800 in 2014/15 and secured over £40,000, a 20% increase in the last 12 months. We secured individual donations to 1% of our overall income.

Since 2013 ATT have increased reserves from £16,997 to £30,772. We have secured a further £3,000 to reserves in 2015/16 taking us to 85% of our target.

ATT have increased our annual turnover from £210K in 2014/15 to over £246K in 2015/16 – an increase in growth of almost 20%.

Nina HajiyianniArtistic Director/CEO

Karen Parry General Manager

Jessica Egan Project Manager

Kevin Dyer Associate Writer

Charlotte Mountford Communications Manager

Matt Bennett Venue & Technical Manager

Victoria SymesChair

Jeremy Grice

Jordi Morell

John Afzal

John Napier

Celia Makin-Bell

Anne Sherman

Amy Bonsall

Jen Harris 2015/16 PartnersBig Imaginations, Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, Thought Plane, Australian Theatre for Young People, Cheshire Dance, Curious Minds, The Proud Trust, Oxford University, Unity Theatre, The Ashton Group, National Citizenship Service, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, West Cheshire College, Edsential, 1st Enable, Lyndsey Stewart Yoga, Mad Alice Theatre Company, Young People’s Theatre, Canada, Ignite Teaching Schools Alliance, Dave Knight Photography, Helms of Eastham, St Helen’s Library, Nantwich Museum, Mottram St Andrews Primary School, Waterways Museum, Westminster Primary School, Cambridge Road Primary School, Meadow Primary School, Oaks Primary School, St Bernard’s Primary School, Parklands Primary school, Hinderton Primary school, Dorin Park Special School, Dee Banks Primary School, Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, St Saviours Primary School, Elton Primary School, Essar Oil Uk and Vauxhall Ellesmere Port, Youth Fed, Dominic Berry, Stage Fright.

Photos courtesy of Johnathan Clover, Brian Roberts and Sylvia Selzer.

Whitby Hall,Stanney Lane,Ellesmere Port,Cheshire, CH65 9AE

Tel: 0151 357 2120

Fax: 0151 356 4057

Email: info@actiontransporttheatre.org

Website: www.actiontransporttheatre.org

Staff Board Contact