Time To Move On

I have not been a member of the Gloucester Operatic & Dramatic Society for 20 years but for 12 formative years it was a prominent aspect of my life. It provided me with a likeminded social group and lifelong friends. It has not been practical for me to remain a member, having left the city for good in 1996. I liked to think I was still a keen supporter of the GODS and occasionally caught their shows over the years.

The society had suffered some ups and downs over the years, including the loss of the theatre so many of us worked hard to make a success. Being homeless was a new experience for most members of the GODS but one that they faced head-on, mounting shows at other venues around Gloucester and the centenary of the Society should have been a huge cause for celebration.

 When I saw the line-up of productions for the 2013-14 season, I felt that they were possibly punching above their weight. Jerry Lane had decided to 'join forces' adding his own producing company to the advertising material and overspending on his production of Cinderella, including professional fees in excess of £5,000, plus Costume expenses of nearly £7,000 and a Sound expenses of over £10,000. The show lost in excess of £36,000. The major musical - Jesus Christ Superstar - incorporated professional fees in excess of £15,000, with the production losing nearly £20,000. This included a fee to Lane of £5000 plus expenses.

The GODS is an amateur company but somehow the idea of paying members to take part in shows was being approved by The Board. You might argue that JCS requires professional leads to sing its complex rock score. I would argue - do a different show - one that members can sing! Cut your suit according to your cloth.

With these two shows, the society has lost in excess of £56,000 on two productions.

Further losses in excess of £20,000 were incurred on productions which didn't even happen.

Understandably , efforts were put in place to halt the haemorrhaging of money from the Societies coffers, resulting in the ignominious dismissal of both Trustees and the longstanding Accountant by The Board. It also became apparent that the new Chairman of the Board David Hart, was the person putting in all these bills for cancelled sound equipment.

The rest of the story is not a pretty one, resulting in the calling the most important AGM in the history of the GODS.

It was apparent that out of a disheartening 56 paid-up members of this once thriving society, only 15 attended - and these included the Life and Honorary Members. Of the 'new' board members, the Chairman couldn't attend and of course, Lane was nowhere to be seen to answer any of the many questions arising from the floor regarding the overspending. The three new Trustees also failed to attend and the meeting was being run by a new Board, albeit consisting of members of the old Board that had allowed this problems to escalate.

The first useful part to this meeting was the dismissal of the absent  Hart as Chairman. Quite why this new board had not already implemented this was not made clear - a further example of how the current  operating system is no longer viable.

Julian Chapman, has very rightly brought into question the current practices of the society and has called an EGM to vote on amendments to the constitution with the idea of establishing a GODS bursary, kept in order by a selection of trustees. Its aim is to support young people wishing to further their careers in the performing arts. This would include allowing funds from the bursary for properly budgeted amateur productions for young people.

Whilst I understand and applaud Julian's initiative over these important changes , I do not actually agree with them. As it stands, the GODS - as both Julian and I knew it -  is no longer fit for purpose. The much reduced membership appears mostly apathetic as to what happens to the money and who is 'hired' and 'fired'. This was proved most eloquently by the number of people who bothered to turn up. There are not enough qualified or committed members willing to devote time and necessary energy to the maintenance of an amateur society.

As the constitution stands, if the Society is dissolved, the resulting money should be distributed between like-minded registered charities in the area. I feel that there is no reason to oppose this and I would like to see the money go to other drama groups in the area, who cater to all ages and not just young people. The GODS always encouraged young performers but it was an inclusive group - not a youth group.

Of course whatever I think, it will be up to the majority of members - or at least the ones who can be bothered to attend - to decide what happens. Julian's idea might be a sound one, but it is NOT the only option. Either way, I should hope that NONE of the Board, who allowed these gross acts of negligence to take place, be allowed anywhere near the management of any GODS Memorial Bursary.