Minutes of Directors' meetings (unsorted box 3)

Includes:

Old Rep (1953 - 1969) -
15 September 1953 - invitation to Jack Mayers to join the board, redecoration of theatre during summer recess;

10 November 1953 - appointment of Charles Landstone as additional director;

02 March 1954 - discussion of invitation to take part in the Berlin Festival in September/October 1954;

06 April 1954 - negotiations fallen through about proposed visit to Berlin;

04 May 1954 - review of staff salaries (with note of current salaries), Rep to contact Birmingham Post theatre critic T.C. Kemp at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to wish him well after his illness;

27 May 1954 - salaries reviewed and agreement reached on increases for some jobs (list included), appointment of typist;

05 October 1954 - Sir Barry Jackson and Miss Burman to meet Chairman and Secretary of the Playgoers' Society to discuss closer co-operation between the theatre and the society;

02 November 1954 - Confirmation that Rep would not reconsider its decision to decline membership of the Council of Repertory Theatres;

03 January 1955 - agreement that member of the theatre management should serve on the Playgoers' Society Committee;

27 April 1955 - agreement that Eric W. Vincent be elected Chairman;

16 May 1955 - substitution of new clause for original clause 3 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (required for conversion of the theatre to a charitable trust), suggestion of an appeal because of serious financial position of the theatre;

21 June 1955 - panatrope and sound system worn out and needing to be replaced (suggestion that contributions towards estimated cost of £500 be sought externally);

25 July 1955 - £180 had been raised for costs of replacement panatrope and it was hoped that the Sir Barry Jackson Trust would provide the rest, decided to continue with current sound system even though it was not satisfactory;

06 September 1955 - Miss Burman to prepare a report on increase in ticket prices;

04 October 1955 - agreement to increase tickets to 9d for stalls and to 6d for the balcony (to come into effect at start of Spring season), sub-committee formed to consider recurring financial problems;

22 November 1955 - financial sub-committee presented its report (it was resolved to have a more adventurous policy for planning the Spring programme, look at system of block bookings used by Covent Garden, get advice on increasing advertising revenue from programmes, ask architect S.N. Cooke about construction of a licensed bar), Rep agreed to present 'Julius Caesar' as part of the 1956 Birmingham Festival of Entertainment but would warn the council about the high costs involved;

20 December 1955 - appointment of a Public Relations Officer to be considered in more detail, S.N. Cooke advised that it was difficult to install a licensed bar that would give adequate facilities, invitation to the International Festival of Drama in Paris was to be declined because of financial problems (but would consider funding from outside sources);

24 January 1956 - reminder not to leak information to the press as embarrassment had been caused by details of Spring programme being given to one of the local papers (information to be given out simultaneously), Humphrey Stanbury to be taken on as Public Relations Officer on a temporary basis, theatre now able to attend International Festival of Drama in Paris after success of Lord Mayor's appeal;

28 February 1956 - printing of programme to be done by a different company subject to approval of style of programme;

09 April 1956 - provision of portable bar for use in intervals to be explored;

12 June 1956 - invitation to Festival Biennale of Venice accepted providing satisfactory financial terms could be arranged;

19 July 1956 - invitation to Festival Biennale of Venice turned down as had not been possible to make satisfactory financial arrangements, Miss Burman asked for additional help with workloads and Humphrey Stanbury was appointed to be assistant to John Henderson (so Henderson could offer her more assistance);

15 October 1956 - visit to Paris had resulted in a defecit;

27 May 1957 - profit reported on newly installed wine counter in the theatre;

25 July 1957 - Rep agreed to join Council of Repertory Theatres;

12 November 1957 - Douglas Seale to leave theatre as appointed Associate Director of The Old Vic Theatre (tributes paid to his seven years work at the theatre, Bernard Hepton appointed his successor as Director of Productions);

20 January 1959 - invitation to Edinburgh Festival to be accepted subject to terms, Humphrey Stanbury appointed General Manager at Nottingham Playhouse and to be replaced by Kenneth Parrott;

06 April 1959 - Miss Burman reported difficulty in getting artists of the highest calibre because of salary cap of £18 a week so it was agreed to raise this to £20 in special cases;

25 May 1959 - Miss Burman reported the very serious position of the theatre due to drastic fall off in attendances (position to be reviewed at next meeting);

24 June 1959 - agreed to convene special meeting to discuss financial position but in the meantime bank to be approached to get an overdraft and efforts to be made to speed up payment of council grant to the theatre;

23 July 1959 - bank has agreed to overdraft, cheque from council on its way, Arts Council has agreed additional grant to help;

06 November 1959 - letter to be sent to council asking for increase in grant, Mr Henderson and Miss Burman to work on a long term policy for the theatre;

31 December 1959 - Sir Barry Jackson not satisfied with information received about invitation for overseas tour to United States and Canada in 1961, Sir Barry reported that had invited Mr T. English to act in temporary capacity as Secretary to the Board until sucessor to Mr Vincent is found (Board welcomed the proposal), agreed that one or two younger men should be invited to join the Board;

09 February 1960 - adjustments to salaries suggested to bring them in line with rates of National Association of Theatrical and Kinematographical Employees;

15 March 1960 - members of Board and Council's General Purposes (Entertainments Sub) Committee met on 15 February to discuss future of The Rep (plan was to demolish present building eventually and build new theatre, and future welfare of theatre would be guaranteed by Council and Arts Council);

03 May 1960 - Council's General Purposes Committee approved setting up of Joint Conference with members of Rep, Council and Arts Council to consider future of the theatre;

02 September 1960 - Manager John Henderson has taken up position of Theatre Director at Dundee Repertory Company and been replaced by Humphrey Stanbury (the present box Office Manager);

04 November 1960 - re-formed Playgoers' Society to be known as The Birmingham Repertory Theatre New Playgoers' Society, Miss Burman to supply details of theatre's financial problems and needs for the future for planned Joint Conference meeting;

29 November 1960 - report on publicity recommendations discussed and some of its suggestions explored e.g. approaching BBC and ITV for television programmes on The Rep and photo exhibitions;

12 January 1961 - Board approved Joint Conference report;

24 April 1961 - Board expressed its sense of loss after death of Sir Barry Jackson on 03 April 1961 (and Board was informed by Miss Burman and Mr English of the great numbers of letters received expressing sympathy), Miss Burman appointed as Administrator;

17 May 1961 - Board expressed appreciation of the inspired quality of the Sir Barry Jackson Memorial Concert held on 14 May;

19 June 1961 - reported that City Council passed General Purposes Committee motion 'that should a new theatre be erected to rehouse the existing Birmingham Repertory Theatre in Station Street, such new building should be sited within the Civic Centre site';

31 July 1961 - Board accepted from the Actors' Benevolent Fund (residual legatees of the late Sir Barry Jackson's estate) certain articles of theatrical interest belonging to Sir Barry, Board agreed to abide by conditions laid down by the Actors' Benevolent Fund and to thank it for its generosity in allowing the theatre to possess the articles;

25 September 1961
- Sir Robert Aitken, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham to be invited onto the Board

- Tom English resigned as Honorary Secretary

- Tom English gifted the following to the theatre from the property left to him by Sir Barry Jackson:
(i) Entire library of theatrical books (with a few exceptions)
(ii) Four framed watercolours by Dame Laura Knight of the scenes from The Rep production of 'Henry VI' which will make a set of seven pictures along with the three saved from the 'Hambleton' sale
(iii) Framed watercolour by Laura Knight of the curtain call at 'The Barretts Of Wimpole Street' to complete a set of two pictures along with the one saved from the 'Hambleton' sale
(iv) Framed portrait of Jackson by Knight, currently on view at The Royal Academy and to be returned to The Rep at the close of the summer exhibition there
(v) Framed engraving of Keane as Richard III
(vi) Framed engraving of Garrick, Burton and Palmer in 'The Alchemist'
(vii) Three framed charcoal drawings by Knight of rehearsal and production scenes.
In the letter making the gift Mr English asked for permission for occasional access to the material and the Board also agreed to his request that if The Rep ceased to exist that the books mentioned above should go to the Shakespeare Memorial Library and the pictures to the Birmingham Art Gallery,

- Bernard Hepton resigned and will leave on 31 December 1961 to be replaced as Artistic Director by John Harrison,

- Paul Shelving unable to do any work because of illness (Board agreed that in future he should be paid a fee for productions and meanwhile paid £2 a week, and that further news on his progress and his financial circumstances would be obtained),

- reminder that the 50th anniversary would be in 1963 and that plans for celebrations to mark this occasion would be discussed soon;

10 November 1961 - Mr J.B. Mayers appointed as Honorary Secretary, agreed that Sir Barry's former room needed decorating and furnishing and it was hoped that the Trustees of the Sir Barry Jackson Trust would make a contribution towards this;

15 December 1961 - Sir Robert Aitken joined the Board, plan showing potential site for new theatre building was studied;

30 January 1962 - leave of absence for two weeks in March given to Humphrey Stanbury as invited to Pennsylvania to lecture on The Rep, short plays or excerpts could replace poetry readings for lunch time theatre performances, hold competition to find new playwriting talent, artists' names should be billed more prominently than they had been in the past;

01 May 1962 - success of lunch time theatre;

14 June 1962 - Chairman reported that he had suggested Graham Winteringham of the firm S.T. Walker and Partners as architect for the new theatre;

12 October 1962 - Graham Winteringham report approved by Board (had discussed limits of the site plus possible costs and dates), 50th anniversary of theatre (agreed that three Shakespearian plays not yet presented at The Rep should follow the Christmas production - 'King Henry VII', 'Troilus And Cressida' and 'Titus Andronicus');

30 November 1962 - arrangements for 50th anniversary reported, possibility of play being performed for 1964 Shakespeare Festival, change in colour and lay out of programme cover for the anniversary year;

11 January 1963 - BBC broadcasting on the Home Service recording of 'Getting Married' Rep production;

28 February 1963 - invitation to take 'The Country Wife' to the Antwerp and Zurich Festivals;

02 May 1963 - Board expressed sadness at death of Sir Albert Bradbeer, Parks Department asking if theatre was able to take part in Summer Play Festival in Cannon Hill Park in 1964 (declined because of Shakespeare Festival and possibility of tour in July);

12 September 1963 - Graham Winteringham hoping to have plans for new theatre ready by end of September;

12 November 1963 - suggestion that new theatre should be named 'The Barry Jackson Theatre';

29 November 1963 - Graham Winteringham hoping to show Directors a model of the new theatre, Nancy Burman giving notice that she will resign as Theatre Administrator at the end of March 1964, Board to explore future management of the theatre and interview John Harrison and Humphrey Stanbury;

30 December 1963 - Graham Winteringham explained plans for the new theatre, Board endorsed recommendation that John Harrison be made Artistic Director until the Summer of 1965 when and that Humphrey Stanbury becomes Manager;

27 January 1964 - Joint Conference to set up sub-committee to look into finances for the new theatre, resignation of Nancy Burman accepted, appointments of John Harrison as Director and Humphrey Satnbury as General Manager agreed;

28 April 1964 - press conference held at Council House about new theatre had gone well, to ask Council for permission to display model there with photos, John Harrison and Humphrey Stanbury instructed to draft illustrated booklet on new theatre and also a report with illustrations for use with Autumn programmes, Rep to contribute towards cost of Midland Theatre Group;

11 June 1964 - new style programme approved;

28 July 1964 - Mr Stanbury's office to handle the new programme instead of using an advertising contractor, death of former Board member Sir Wilfrid Martineau reported;

29 September 1964 - resignation of Board member Charles Landstone, Mr Stanbury to provide Mr Winteringham with an inventory of equipment that would be suitable for new building;

27 October 1964 - Oscar Hahn welcomed as new Board member;

29 December 1964 - Sir Barry Jackson Trustees supported suggestion that new theatre be named 'The Barry Jackson Theatre', new Board member Prof. Richard Hoggart forwarded suggestion by John Brown (Director of Birmingham University) that the valuable theatre archives of the theatre get classified for reference by the university's English Department (Board agreed that idea be investigated);

26 January 1965 - suggestion that the name 'Profile' be used for the new magazine programme was rejected in favour of 'Impact';

30 March 1965 - memorial exhibition to Sir Barry Jackson at the Victoria & Albert Museum opens on 18 May, progress on new style programme (now to be called 'Proscenium') reported;

01 June 1965 - report on possible formation of new theatre club presented with option preferred of developing a club on basis of current Friday lunchtime activites, overseas tour going well;

07 September 1965 - Mr Winteringham reported that tender for new building would be ready to go out in October, Mr Harrison's report on the repertory system discussed;

26 October 1965 - Mr Winteringham reported on new building (drawings and estimates complete, model and drawings of theatre shown to Board, current costs within target of £500,000;

13 December 1965 - special meeting of the Directors (not officially recorded) to discuss extension of Mr Harrison's contract (agreed to end his employment in the summer), agreed not to extend contract of Mr Stanbury who wanted to run his own theatre and would only stay if under a top Artistic Director;

07 February 1966 - discussions had been held with the Arts Council about Mr Harrison's successor;

31 March 1966 - designs for new theatre rejected by City's Planning Committee as it considered Portland stone better than the proposed concrete exterior, four famous theatrical figures recommended by Arts Council as possible successors to Mr Harrison had declined (suggested that Arts Council should approach Ronald Eyre);

28 April 1966 - new storage space required by move to a true repertory system, Ronald Eyre had been interviewed by Directors but had withdrawn after intially accepting the post, Board agreed on short list for people to be interviewed for the post (Robert Chetwyn, Peter Dews, Clive Perry, Toby Robertson, Clifford Williams);

24 May 1966 - Peter Dews offered post to succeed Mr Harrison;

28 June 1966 - Peter Dews formally introduced to the Board, criticism of 'poor' work of Birmingham Mail's drama critic;

20 September 1966 - delay with new building discussed, Mr Dews got permission to direct a television play for the BBC, also got permission to stop sounding a gong and playing the national anthem before each performance, auction of unwanted costumes, Board members Mr Hahn and Prof. Hoggart accepted invitations to become Governors of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, English Department of University of Birmingham approached to catalogue and put in order the unique collection of books that used to belong to Sir Barry Jackson that were now in Mr Dew's office;

25 October 1966 - agreed to update sound equipment after criticism from Mr Dews;

20 December 1966 - Visit of The Art's Council's Chief Accountant and his subsequent comments were discussed (agreed that full time Public Relations Officer be considered for the next financial year);

20 February 1967 - City Council had advertised its intention to build the new theatre at a cost of £640,000 and doubts were expressed about where the finances for the increased costs would come from, new sound equipment to be installed soon, Saturday morning public rehearsal of 'Richard II' was a success and would be repeated, Board approved suggested 'teach-in' on Saturday mornings for 'Richard II', agreed that Sir Barry Jackson's books be catalogued in the Shakespeare Institute, biography of Sir Barry suggested;

29 March 1967 - invitation for Mr Stanbury to repeat his lecture tour of universities and colleges in America was agreed;

04 May 1967 - [attached] report on suggestion for a theatre club discussed - as part of the Rep's contribution to the development of youth theatre in Birmingham;

29 June 1967 - summary on formation of Theatre 67 Club written by its President Michael Starke;

14 September 1967 - eight contractors invited to tender for the new theatre, exterior to be finished in concrete with special aggregate and total cost might reach £700,000, Board approved Mr Dew's pilot scheme for late night theatre;

14 September 1967 - Chairman reported on cost of dealing with the theatre library's books by Shakespeare Institute at University of Birmingham (Chairman to ask for financial assistance from a particular trust which would also help in housing the books in the new building);

24 October 1967 - success of Theatre 67 (first event attended by 500 youngsters and membership is almost 1,000), suggestions for first late night theatre productions put forward;

01 December 1967 - opening a wardrobe hire facility as Rep now has large stock of costumes;

23 January 1968 - options for reducing costs of building new theatre discussed as tenders higher than expected (suggestions included revised external finish and ommitting proposed flats for actors);

12 February 1968 - Mr Dews suggested that at the end of his current contract he continue on a part-time basis and that a full-time resident producer be appointed;

12 March 1968 - Mr Dews suggested management changes for the Autumn season and the Board will interview John Greenwood, Michael Simpson was recommended as Associate Artistic Producer (currently Drama Director of TV for schools for the BBC);

08 April 1968 - new theatre costs (Arts Council prepared to offer £50,00 to Sir Barry Jackson Trust), appointment of John Greenwood confirmed;

25 June 1968 - various ideas about the new theatre were discussed (including a suggested amalgamation of The Rep and the Alexander Theatres, Rep to move in to Hippodrome building as was being vacated by current owners ATV;

23 July 1968 - report on suitability of Hippodrome building presented (if this option was seen as unacceptable by council the new building planned for Broad Street would be recommended);

17 September 1968 - further developments concerning suggested conversion of the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre in Hurst Street, appointment of a Public Relations Officer;

10 October 1968 - new building developments (possibility of Rep moving into Hurst Street and planned Broad Street site being made available to ATV), actor Richard Chamberlain agreed to appear in 'Hamlet';

12 November 1968 - City's General Purposes Committee agreed that the ATV offer of the Hippodrome in Hurst Street be declined and that the new home of the Rep should be Broad Street;

05 December 1968 - City Council agreement to proceed with Broad Street scheme for new theatre (limiting city's financial contribution to £640,000);

11 February 1969 - Lord Mayor of Birmingham had cut first sod of new site and launched appeal to raise funds required for new building (to make up shortfall left after funds from city and Arts Council), name of new theatre 'The Barry Jackson Theatre' to be put forward to the city;

18 March 1969 - steady progress with new appeal (a third of funds required has been promised);

29 April 1969 - appeal now up to £40,000, Peter Dews suggested that Finlay James be designated 'consultant designer';

27 May 1969 - problems with foundations at new theatre site mean using contingency funds to strengthen ground;

30 September 1969 - provision in contract for equipment did not cover funds needed for up to date equipment, appeal progress (list of contributors attached, including former Rep actors such as Laurence Olivier and Dame Peggy Ashcroft;

28 October 1969 [handwritten note that minutes are missing] - report from Rep sub-committee formed to consider costs of technical equipment for new theatre, draft of letter to be released by Chairman noting laying of foundation stone by Miss Jennie Lee (Minister for the Arts) on 25 October 1969 and asking the public for contributions towards the fund-raising appeal;

25 November 1969 - Mr Winteringham produced list showing difference between costs of staging and engineering equipment as allowed for in the contract and the anticipated costs (equalling over £48,000), suggestions for saving costs included deferring equipment of the rehearsal theatre and the closed circuit television, City's General Purposes Committee had considered suggested name of new theatre and preferred 'Birmingham Repertory Theatre', Arts Council to increase its grant for the Rep in the next financial year to make sure that the current bulding does not run down, anticipated that current building would close in the Spring of 1971 and the new building would open in the Autumn of 1971.

New Rep (March 1970 - December 1974) -
06 March 1970 - cost, finishes, appeal, name of the new theatre;

07 April 1970 - finish in concrete (model shown by architect Graham Winteringham), the appeal, opening of theatre in September 1971;

02 June 1970 - opening ceremonies (Prince Charles to be approached), souvenir brochure and its possible contents, revised suggested seat prices;

28 July 1970 - the appeal, name of the new theatre, souvenir brochure printing costs;

13 October 1970 - overspend on theatre could not be covered by City Council, estimated running costs of new theatre, success of Rep appearance at Ravinia Festival;

10 November 1970 - the appeal, invitation from City Council to Princess Margaret for opening of new theatre (as wanted to invite Prince Charles for another purpose);

15 December 1970 - arrangements for party at final first night at the old theatre on 16 December;

19 January 1971 - proposal for performance of 'The Mighty Line' on last night in old theatre (recorded voices, narration and excerpts from past Rep plays presented by current and past members of the company), halting of recent performance because of a bomb scare.

09 March 1971 - Joint Conference meeting issues e.g. lease, estimates for future running costs and shortfall after taking into financial support from City Council and external funders such as the Arts Council;

11 May 1971 - Gulbenkian Foundation financial help for lighting and stage equipment and the Studio Theatre, agreement from Princess Margaret to open new theatre on 20 October, issues with lease (rent, censorship), death of Rep accountant Harold Adkins, move of workshop department to new theatre in May and plan for rest of staff in June;

08 June 1971 - catering at new theatre, start times for performances;

27 July 1971 - hand over of new building on 02 August, arrangements for official opening, the appeal (criticism by Tom English of proposed auction of Sir Barry Jackson's bookcase and decision that Rep director Mr S.T. Walker and Nancy Burman should decide what Jackson items should be sold, suggestion that Jackson's freedom of the city casket should be returned to the city for its museum, placement of some of his pictures in the new theatre foyer), agreement to hold next director's meeting at new theatre;

14 September 1971 - reduction in rent, removal of censorship clause in lease, arrangements for official opening, lease of old theatre, name for studio theatre;

12 October 1971 - visit to theatre by Prime Minister on 30 September, programme for Royal Gala night, first night party;

16 November 1971 - opening of new theatre, reading of letter from Princess Margaret's Private Secretary expressing great pleasure at her visit (was agreed to place this letter in the archives), move of Birmingham Theatre School back into Station Street, dinner and show scheme (meal before performance) to help promote new restaurant;

18 January 1972 - criticisms of catering at new building, hire of the theatre, closure of theatre between 15 July and 06 September;

22 February 1972 - congratulations to Peter Dews on being chosen 'Midland Man Of The Year', resignation of Dews (as could not commit full-time to Rep);

21 March 1972 - reluctance to accept name 'Old Rep' for the Station Street building as suggested by council, work on Studio theatre, Sir Barry Jackson's books and papers put in order by University of Birmingham for return to the new theatre to be housed, appointment of Michael Simpson as Acting Director;

02 May 1972 - lease on wardrobe hire premises expiring in September and availability of Oozells Street school building, meeting of administrators from four regional Reps (including Birmingham) to discuss mutual problems, farewell party for Peter Dews;

06 June 1972 - appointment of Michael Simpson, new theatre appeal fund;

04 July 1972 - problems with studio theatre floor and strengthening of main floor needed, Sunday concerts, purchase of van, autumn programme, appointment of Christopher Honer as Studio Director;

12 September 1972 - RIBA award for new building, Sir Barry Jackson Trust, folk concerts on Friday nights;

10 October 1972 - plan to unveil RIBA award plaque on 18 October above foundation stone, plan for documentary on Birmingham history, Playgoers Association secretary's report;

14 November 1972 - archives (Director Mr ST Walker hoped that the Sir Barry Jackson pictures etc, which were currently held at his home, could be put into the theatre archives. Theatre archives were held in the orchestra room and orchestra was using two large dressing rooms in the basement);

12 December 1972 - appointment of Hugh Durrant as resident designer, studio theatre sound-proofing;

13 February 1973 - response to Arts Council report on The Rep;

13 March 1973 - financial problems;

08 May 1973 - 60th anniversary celebrations for 07 June 1973 after show in studio theatre;

19 June 1973 - plans for three day folk festival 07 - 09 September;

17 July 1973 - change of caterers, asking Sir Barry Jackson Trust for funds to assist with the sorting and cataloguing of the theatre archives, invite to Hong Kong Festival;

25 September 1973 - new policy statement;

16 October 1973 - resignation of resident designer Hugh Durrant;

13 November 1973 - storage of books and archives (Sir Robert Aitken noted that Sir Barry Jackson's books were still at Birmingham University for cataloguing and temporary housing. Theatre had photos, prompt books, Laura Knight paintings. Board asked Sir Robert to look at possibility of housing this material in the theatre, especially as an archives room had been included in the design of the new building. Alternatively to off some of them to the City Library or the Theatre Museum in London);

15 January 1974 - design poster for 'Hobson's Choice' by Rep's graphic designer had won a Design Council Poster Award, possibility of Rep's Laura Knight paintings being displayed in a special exhibition at the City Museum & Art Gallery;

12 February 1974 - financial difficulties, hosting another folk festival, plan to propose David Edgar as a playwright to receive a bursary from a Thames Television funding scheme;

12 March 1974 - success of Hong Kong festival involvement;

09 April 1974 - resignation of Chairman Sir Robert Aitken and replacement by Councillor Mrs MA Brown;

14 May 1974 - sound-proofing of studio theatre, problems with wardrobe building at Oozells school site, discussion of paper by Michael Simpson on Rep strategy to put it 'back on the map';

18 June 1974 - Birmingham Market project (report for arts organisations in the city on benefits of sharing services e.g. marketing and public relations)

02 July 1974 - simplified ticket price system, halting of most Saturday matinees;

10 September 1974 - staff consultative committee;

09 December 1974 - financial problems (different options discussed including closure of theatre for periods of time, redundancies, raising ticket prices, amending programmes of productions.

Finding No.: Unsorted Box 3

Closed until assessed