Updated: 14 January 2012

Michael Rayns Chairman, Loft Theatre Company

Being elected

The turnout at the AGM was very encouraging – probably as much to do with the fact that there was an election for the chair, for the first time in many, many years, as it was to do with the return to a more traditional timing on the Monday after the last show of the calendar year.

In personal terms, I welcomed the election challenge. To go on being re-elected because no one else fancies the job (I can understand!) is not the same as being elected by a good margin after a ballot of members, which is empowering and legitimising. I would like to thank all those who voted for me as well as those who turned up to vote for Richard. I can promise everyone that I will always pursue policies and take decisions, after consultation with colleagues, which promote the best interests of the membership and the health and strength of the company. In fact, in many ways to do one of those things is also, unavoidably, to do the other.

Opening the bar

The Friday opening of the bar will, I am sure, be welcomed by most if not all of you. I did not have the easiest of times persuading Nettie to undertake to do it but was pleased eventually to get her support.

The fact that we need Nettie on board to do it is a direct consequence of the fact that she is sub-contracted to run the bar and is therefore responsible to the board for the cash balances and the stock. That means that we need her to be there in order to have a central point of accounting reference. She wants to be there for the same reason. To put it more crudely – only one controlling hand can be on the loot and the liquor. If that is not the case, and there subsequently emerges a problem with either cash or stock, then no one is in any sort of position to establish the facts.

As many of you will recall we have had serious bar accounting problems on two occasions in the past 20 years and there is no absolutely no way I want there to be a third.

Having said all that, I am very pleased that the bar will be open on Fridays. I intend that I and senior trustees will make a point of being there on a sort of loose rota and I hope that, if you have something to say or discuss with any of us, you will come down and get on with it. Please note that buying me a drink makes my ears work better...

External affairs

There has been no further development on the Spencer Yard front but I was not expecting there to be this quickly. There is a great deal of background churning to go on and I will always keep you as fully informed as I am able, given the occasional need to restrict information that is commercially sensitive.

I have no idea whether the scheme currently under consideration will go forward but, as I said in these pages and at the AGM, there is no doubt in my mind that events are moving us in one direction.

Contact me

If you would like to discuss anything I have said here, or just want to chat – or complain – about any other aspect of the theatre that concerns you, please get in touch. I am always happy to talk.

Contact me by phone on 07763 974264, or via email to chairman@loft-theatre.co.uk.

Michael Rayns
Chairman

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