BLT AGM 2025

Minutes of the 18th Annual General Meeting

Date: 14th July 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m.

Attendance

Directors

• Bruce Wallace (Chair)
• Richard Gissing
• Pauline Armour
• Rebecca Davies
• Alison Shomade
• Simon Tyrell-Lewis
• Colleen Batson
• Sophie Gissing
• Jess Jenner
• (Note: All Directors are also Guarantor Members)

Guarantor Members

• Catherine Ross
• Pauline Pead
• Keith Jeremiah
• Nikki Packham
• Colin Martin
• Stella Martin
• Pat Jones
• Tony Jenner
• Caroline Jenner
• Howard Binysh
• Trish Wallace

Members of BLT

• Peter Martin, Rosamund Martin, Peter Yolland, Rosemary Pratt, Douglas Pratt, Phil Duncan, Karl Brown, David Darling, Jane Menzies, Moy McGowan, Alex Macdonald, John Symes, Sila Kiss, Anthony Campbell-Butler, Anna Seabrook, Tom Meechan, and Deborah Pike.

Secretary

• Richard Cornwell

The Secretary welcomed all attendees to the Meeting and noted that it would follow the Agenda circulated to members.

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies had been received from: Zoe Tapper, Alison Green, Christine Jeremiah, Mary McKinnon, Julie Binysh, Michael Darbon, Denise MacMahon, Paul Ackroyd.

2. Approval of Minutes to AGM held on 15th July 2024

Approval was moved by Howard Binysh and seconded by Colin Martin. The motion was carried.

3. Matters arising from the Minutes

Item 7cii. The lift bell had been installed.

4. Resignations from the Board

The meeting noted the resignations of Bruce Wallace, Pauline Armour, Rebecca Davies, Sophie Gissing and Jess Jenner as each being at the end of their 3 year appointments as a Director.

5. Appointments to the Board

The meeting approved the Board’s recommendation to the re-appointments of Bruce Wallace, Pauline Armour, Rebecca Davies, Sophie Gissing and Jess Jenner each as a Director. Approval was moved by Keith Jeremiah and seconded by Howard Binysh. The motion was carried.

6. Chairman’s Report

Introduction and New Format

Bruce read his report as follows:

“Good evening, everyone. As you may have noticed from your invitations, we’re trying something new for this year’s AGM. There are two parts to tonight’s meeting: this formal session, followed by an informal gathering in the Bar. There, we hope all members, supporters and volunteers will feel free to chat with trustees, ask questions, and share ideas about our theatre. Because BLT belongs to all of us. And we want to keep listening, learning — and evolving — together.

A Year to Remember: Fundraising and Grants

This has been an extraordinary year for BLT. Our supporter fundraising campaign – managed brilliantly by Rebecca and supported by several of our Volunteers didn’t just meet its target — it smashed it. We raised £91,000 against our original goal of £85,000. That’s a huge achievement and we’re deeply grateful to everyone who donated, organised, ran, or attended events.

In addition, we secured two significant grants: £10,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund and £15,000 from the Foyle Foundation. Together with a significant contribution from BLT’s reserves, these funds have allowed us to begin Phase 3 of our redevelopment project — a vital step toward our vision of outstanding theatre for everyone.

This work is focused on improving accessibility. You will probably have noticed a few changes around the building already! In fact, tonight marks a small milestone: you are the last people ever to have a drink in the current Bar. It will re-generate – like Dr Who – in its new home (the old office) in time for our September show. Main building works are due to begin in early August and finish by the end of October. We’ll keep everyone updated via our social media channels as things progress.

By the Numbers: Attendance and Membership

Our audiences continue to grow. In the 12 months to December: 10,476 people attended shows — an 8% increase on the previous year. Average capacity rose to 82.7% (from 75.6%)…so far this year, it’s jumped again to a staggering 91%. This is clearly a testament to the consistently high-standard of our shows. However, it is also due to our excellent show marketing team who’s inventive use of our social media channels has rightly been praised by our audiences and, indeed, rather enviously, by other theatres! Audiences were split approximately 50/50 between members and non-members and £122,000 was generated in ticket income. Membership numbers are also rising steadily; from 551 in July 2022 to 738 in July 2025. This upward trend reflects growing support, visibility, and quality of what we offer — both on and off stage.

Recognition & Awards

This year, we made our mark again in the Kent Drama Association Festival. Our productions Labour of Love and the Youth Group’s Radium Girls took home five winners awards and five runner-up prizes between them. Notably, our Youth Group won the ‘Best Youth Production in Kent’ prize for the third consecutive year — a testament to their talent and the tireless work of Pauline Armour and Jess Jenner. We’re enormously proud of them all. And we were also thrilled to be named Best Arts, Culture and Theatre Venue in London in the prestigious 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards — especially rewarding since this was entirely based on public votes. Even The Sun newspaper gave us a moment of national exposure with its outraged reaction to our apparently woke production of Nicholas Nickleby. As I stood on a rather high platform at the end of the show, rope in hand about to hang myself, it certainly didn’t feel that way! But, no such thing as a bad press…………

Community Outreach

We continue to develop our community outreach programme. Over the last 12 months we: ran three drama workshops for local primary schools, hosted two ‘relaxed’ performances for neurodivergent audiences, and partnered with the local library for a series of play-reading events. Looking ahead, we’re exploring a week-long Community Festival – probably in July 2026. The aim is to host a vibrant, inclusive celebration of local creativity, firmly placing BLT at the heart of our neighbourhood. A project team has been formed under Pauline’s leadership to scope this idea and make recommendations to the Board.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to making our theatre a more diverse and inclusive place. Over the year: we’ve updated our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, we’ve actively sought to cast more diversely, and we’re working to ensure our programme reflects the diverse community we serve.

Volunteers: The Heart of BLT

We’ve put significant focus into how we attract, welcome, support, and communicate with our volunteers. In March, we held our first Volunteer Welcome Event, with over 30 new and current volunteers attending. A second followed in May — and the next is tomorrow night. We’ve welcomed Tricia Ford and Sila Kiss to lead internal volunteer communications. We’ve produced a comprehensive Volunteers Handbook. We now have a whole range of Volunteer WhatsApp Groups to encourage easy and in the moment communication. Our volunteers are BLT’s lifeblood — and this work will remain a key focus for the year ahead and beyond.

Vision, Mission, Values — and Strategy

Our Vision: explains why we exist. We’ve had our vision: outstanding theatre for everyone for several years. Last year, we built on that by agreeing and refining our Mission and Values, which should guide how we operate every day.

Our Mission: explains what will do to fulfil our Vision. To present an eclectic and ambitious programme of high-quality productions, while also serving as an accessible cultural hub for local groups and residents — a space for everyone.

Our Values: Are how we do it. They are that, together, we Welcome, Inspire, and Create. Collectively, our Vision, Mission, and Values are a clear statement of who we are, what we believe in, and why BLT matters.

On that foundation, we’ve developed six strategic objectives – our roadmap for 2025/26. These are detailed in the brochure available tonight, but in brief, they are:

1. Ensure long-term financial sustainability.
2. Complete Phase 3 of our redevelopment.
3. Enhance the volunteer experience.
4. Expand our community outreach and engagement.
5. Champion diversity and inclusion in everything we do.
6. Deliver a consistently high-quality and diverse programme of productions.

Closing Remarks

And Finally… As I mentioned, when the formal part of tonight’s meeting ends, please do join us in the Bar to talk informally — share your thoughts, ask questions and help shape our future. Thank you for being part of BLT. Thank you for your continued support – thanks to you, BLT continues to thrive. I’ll now hand over to Richard for the financial report.”

With Bruce’s report completed he asked for any questions and none were raised. Approval of the report was moved by Nikki Packham and seconded by Pat Jones. Approval was carried.

7. Finance Report & Accounts for the period ending 31st December 2024

Financial Overview and Trading Surplus

Richard G gave his report as follows: “My report refers to the final accounts for the financial year ending 31/12/2024, which have been circulated to the meeting. Starting with the Profit & Loss account, we achieved a surplus on normal trading activities (i.e. putting on plays) of approximately £15.5K this year. Whilst any surplus is good, it’s disappointing that this is only just over half of last year’s figure, a drop of approximately £13.5K. Overall income was up by around 5% (£8K), so this is all down to rising costs, which overall were some £21.5K (approximately 17.5%) higher than in the previous year. Due to the significant fund-raising efforts during 2024, however, our final surplus on all activities was a significant £92K to put towards the costs of the upcoming building works to create a new, fully accessible main entrance to the theatre with a ‘proper’ lift.

Income Analysis: Tickets, Bar, and Subscriptions

Looking at income, revenue from ticket sales was up a healthy £16.5K (16.5%) on the previous year, reflecting both higher audience numbers and a rise in the number of non-member tickets sold. This is especially welcome, given that the 2023 figures were already a massive increase on previous years (see last year’s Finance Report for details if you’re interested). Despite increased audience numbers, the profits from bar and refreshment sales were significantly down on the previous year, a drop of £6.5K (20%) from the 2023 figure. This is partly down to a change in the way that bar profits are accounted for, and partly down to the rising costs of bar stocks reducing profitability. After some changes to the bar prices for 2025 I am hopeful that the bar profits will be higher again this year. Subscription income from members was also down by around 18%, falling from £16K in 2023 to £13K in 2024. This is disappointing, as last year’s figure showed a return to 2019’s pre-Covid figure and I had hoped that we would at least maintain that level going forward. Overall, our trading income rose by a modest 5% (£8K) on the previous year, from £150.5K in 2023 to £158.6K in 2024.

Expenditure and Future Outlook

Moving on to the expenditure side, production costs were some £2.5K (8%) higher than for the previous year, rising from approximately £29.5K in 2023 to £32K in 2024. Given the ever-rising costs of set building materials, costume and other hire fees, licence fees, etc. this is a satisfactory figure, indicating that we are continuing to keep our production costs under control. Several other costs have increased significantly from the 2023 figures, including certain extraordinary costs such as building maintenance work, increased insurance premiums and a further £7K (50%) increase in our heat and light costs (on top of the £7K increase from 2022 to 2023). As previously mentioned, our overall costs were some £21.5K (17.5%) higher than in the previous year. As can be seen, whilst we still made a reasonable surplus in the 2024 financial year, our costs are now increasing at a greater rate than our income and if this trend continues in 2025, we will almost certainly make only a very small surplus or even a small loss. We will keep this under review and the Trustees will need to consider how best to mitigate the situation should the trend continue.

Balance Sheet

Looking at the balance sheet you will see that, due in no small part to the amazing fundraising efforts last year, together with the accumulated surpluses from our trading activities, the theatre is in a healthy financial position with significant reserves to put towards the building works previously mentioned.”

With Richard’s report completed he asked for any questions. There being no more questions, approval of the report was moved by Howard Binysh and seconded by Colin Martin. Approval was carried.

8. To appoint the Auditor for the ensuing year

The meeting approved the appointment of Derek Dobson & Co to be auditors for the next year and authorised the Directors to fix their remuneration. Approval was moved by Colleen Batson and seconded by Nikki Packham. The motion was carried.

9. Any other business

• a. Matinees – Main show: It was asked whether the second Saturday performance could be a matinee instead of a main show? After much discussion, it was agreed that this would be discussed at the next Board meeting and reported back.
• b. Matinees – Bar Show: It was asked whether there could be one matinee over a weekend for a bar show? Discussion by members was made but, like item 9a. above, this would be discussed at the next Board meeting.
• c. Parking: Could BLT enquire with local businesses the availability of parking spaces for use by volunteers during daytime hours? After a short discussion, Pauline Armour offered to survey/research availability and report back to Board.
• d. Air Conditioning: With phase 3 in mind, will there be a new AirCon system in the bar area? It was said that this would be looked into when monies are available.
• e. Kitchen Equipment: Could there be a new fridge in the kitchen? It was said that this would be looked at by the Board.
• f. Community Night: Could Monday night of Main Show be given over as a Community night? It was said that this had merit and would be looked at by the Board.
• g. Ticket Prices: To generate more income, could ticket prices be increased, say, in line with inflation rises as some theatres do? It was said that this was being looked at by the Board.
• h. Bar Prices: On the same subject as item 9g, could bar prices be increased? It was said that this matter would also be looked at by the Board.
• i. Casting Decisions: Could a deadline be set to ensure directors inform his/her casting decisions? Pauline Armour said that this matter would be explained by her to directors for future shows.
• j. Volunteer Storage: Could a lockable storage area be given over for volunteers’ tools? It was said that this would be looked into and reported back.

10. Next AGM meeting

The next AGM meeting will be on Monday, 13th July 2026. The meeting closed at 8.45pm.

Responses to questions raised at the AGM

With reference to the minutes of the AGM meeting held on 14 July 2025, the Trustees hereby give their replies to the following specific questions raised at the meeting as:

Item 9. Any other business.

• a. Matinees – main show: The Board agreed that there will not be a matinee on the 2nd Saturday of main house shows.
• b. Matinees – bar show: The Board agreed that a bar show matinee will be added to the schedule for the Saturday. The Sunday night bar show will start at 7.00pm to facilitate Get-Out.
• c. Local availability of parking spaces near to theatre: A Board member will liaise with the Methodist church/Parking company regarding the possibility of offering a ‘community rate’ for specified individuals.
• d. New air-conditioning for bar area: A new system will be installed later this year (2025) / early 2026.
• e. New fridge in kitchen: Not required but the SMEG fridge in men’s dressing room will be installed to replace existing one.
• f. Monday main house night given over as a Community night: Worth consideration, Board to review cost ramifications before making a decision.
• g&h. Ticket/bar price increases: Prices to be reviewed with a view to alterations being effective from 2026.
• i. Audition outcome notifications: Clarification will be provided regarding opportunities to audition at different times with show directors reminded of the need for prompt notification. The objective is to see anyone who can’t attend the advertised audition in advance so decision can be made and notified as soon as possible.
• j. Storage area for volunteers tools: Possible sites etc to be reviewed once current construction works are completed.