Agenda item

Report of the Director of Arts.

(N.B. To be considered with the non-public appendices at item 14).

The Board received a report of the Director of Arts and Head of Theatre setting out the work of the department over the past year and plans for future years.

The Chairman prefaced discussion by congratulating the Head of Theatre on an exceptional year.

During discussion, the following points were made:

·      The Head of Theatre clarified that rentals were not included within the figures provided in relation to subsidy. The Board engaged in substantial discussion concerning the nature and utilisation of subsidy and the fundamental importance of using public funds as efficaciously as possible, with the Director of Arts reassuring Members that the Centre was very careful in using it as effectively as possible. It was noted that the team worked hard to ensure that subsidy was used to create output that that meshed seamlessly within the whole theatre programme, and used it not only to produce content but also to nurture new and emerging creative talents.

·      With reference to the introduction of new works and encouraging new talent, the Head of Theatre advised that this was primarily delivered through selecting European or global texts which were unfamiliar to British audiences and presenting them in a way that resonated with theatre-goers. There was also a significant volume of activity linked to the Centre’s creative learning work which was germinating new and exciting talents, and the Barbican also constantly engaged with a wide range of smaller theatres to ensure connectivity and continuous learning. The Director of Arts also made reference to a wide range of work being undertaken off-site, including with the Dagenham Broadway Theatre.

·      In response to queries around potential future competition, given the “Olympicopolis” development and the impending establishment of new theatres, the Head of Theatre agreed that it would be important to maintain the Barbican’s fresh and varied offering. This would allow the Centre nor only to retain its leading status but to also tap in to the potential growth in theatre audiences that the increased theatre provision in London might stimulate.

·      The Managing Director took the opportunity to emphasise that the success of the theatre offering was to a large extent dependent on having the right team in place, who had their “finger on the pulse” and were able not just to anticipate trends and successful shows, but also to deliver the right choices and apply subsidy in the most effective way possible. He summed up by congratulating the team on their excellent work to date.

RECEIVED.