AGM Special
So, last night we held this years AGM. Thank you to those of you who attended and for the engagement and questions raised. The reports from officers can be found on the AGM Webpage as usual.
At the meeting we elected your new Executive Committee, including new appointments for Artistic Director and Studio Production Manager. So your new committee is…
- Elliott Bunker – Chairman
- Vivien Kerr – Secretary
- Mark Weatherbed – Treasurer
- Keith Swainston – Artistic Director
- Chris Lane – Theatre Manager
- Claudia O’Connell – Main House Production Manager
- Alison Hancock – Studio Production Manager
- Nicki Pope – Exec Member
- Rory Reynolds – Exec Member
- Amy Walker – Exec Member
A very warm welcome to Keith and Alison to their posts and the committee, and to all the committee members for continuing to take such an active role in the society.
Chairman Review of the Year
Please take the time to read through Elliott’s review of the year – it’s relevant to all members.
Chairman’s Review
The Bancroft Players & Queen Mother Theatre (2024–25 Season)
Presented by Elliott Bunker, Chairman
Good evening everyone,
It’s genuinely heartening to see so many of you here at the AGM tonight – thank you for coming out and showing your commitment to our society and this theatre.
Let me begin by celebrating what has been, once again, a fantastic season. Our productions have challenged, delighted and surprised audiences – particularly in the studio, but throughout we’ve seen bold creative choices and powerful execution. And the best part? We’re not done yet. With two shows still to come, this season has plenty more to offer.
We’ve also received a nod from NODA this year with a nomination for Best Pantomime – a tremendous achievement, especially considering we only joined NODA this time last year. With more of our productions being reviewed, I’m hopeful that we’ll see even greater recognition come January. There’s already early interest in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Blackadder Goes Forth, which is fantastic news.
I won’t tread too much on the thanks that I know will be shared by Claudia, Nicki and Matt later this evening, but I do want to say this: the work this year – across every department, every production, and every role – has been phenomenal. It’s been a genuine privilege to watch it unfold.
While I am on the production though, I’m also pleased to share that our sponsorship with Raymond James in Hitchin is continuing for a second year. Susie and Faye, who own Raymond James, are also active members of our society – you’ll often see them behind the bar on show nights. Thanks again to Nicki for forging that connection and helping ensure it continues.
In other news and after many years of hard work and persistence, we’ve finally completed the creation of our CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). A huge thank you to Mark, who has led this process with determination and care. We can now begin the important work of transferring our societies and assets into the CIO, reducing liability and making the most of the benefits that structure provides.
Looking ahead, I’m equally excited about what’s coming next. The new season, curated by Nicki, Matt and Claudia, is rich with variety and promise. It offers real creative opportunities for our actors, technical teams, designers and audiences alike. There’s plenty to get stuck into – and real potential to connect with new audiences as well. I look forward to seeing those shows come to life.
But alongside the celebrations, I think it’s only right that we acknowledge something else: behind the curtain. It’s been a tough year.
Personally – and I’ll be honest with you – this has been my theatrical annus horribilis. I’ve had to deal with issues that go well beyond the stage. Situations that have affected how we work together, how we communicate, and how we treat one another. Before I go on, I would like to thank the members of the committee who were also involved – going above and beyond. Thank you.
We are a community – a creative one, a passionate one – and communities, by their very nature, will not always agree. That’s fine. Disagreement is not the problem. It’s how we handle disagreement that defines us.
Unfortunately, some of the behaviours witnessed, experienced and endured this year have crossed the line. It’s no longer acceptable to shrug off difficult conduct as part of ‘theatrical temperament’. It’s not okay. And I want to be crystal clear – with the full support of the committee – that such behaviour will be called out. Where necessary, we will ask individuals to leave the society.
We’ve already lost valued members – people who’ve stepped back, or walked away – and that cannot continue. It isn’t sustainable. It isn’t right. It isn’t who we want to be.
That’s why, over the coming weeks and months, you’ll see us actively re-emphasising our Code of Conduct. Not just as a policy, but as a set of values – ones that protect, support and respect every person in this building.
This brings me to something else that’s vitally important.
Being a member of The Bancroft Players is not the same as joining a drama club that turns up twice a week to rehearse a show. When you become a member here, you become part of a society that owns and runs a working theatre. That’s a privilege – and a responsibility.
This message is a well-trodden path, but we can’t keep relying on the same small group of people to carry the weight.
You will hear a bit more on this later in my membership update, but as your Chairman I’m inviting – no, urging – everyone to reflect on how they contribute. If you’ve never worked a bar shift, never stewarded – now’s the time. And if you’re not sure where to start, come and speak to me or any member of the committee tonight. We’ll help you find a way to get involved that works for you.
And for those of you connected to members who are drifting or distant – please, reach out to them. This is your community. Help us rebuild it together.
Let’s now move on to something inspiring – and forward-thinking.
Earlier this year, I wrote to the chairs of several local drama groups – The Hitchin Thespians, The Settlement Players, The Arcadians, SPADS, and The Lytton Players – with a simple idea: what if we stopped seeing ourselves as isolated societies, and started working together?
That idea has taken shape as the North Herts Drama Network – and I’m delighted to say that every society responded with enthusiasm. We held our first meeting a couple of weeks ago here at the QMT, and the honesty and energy was inspiring.
So what is it?
It’s a collaborative network focused on: Joint marketing and promotion, Audience development, Volunteer and member support, Resource sharing, and Professional development.
It’s about raising all our flags together – making the theatre scene across North Herts stronger, more sustainable, and more exciting. Our next meeting, focused on marketing, is scheduled for July. And we’ll keep you posted as the network continues to grow.
If you’d like to know more or want to get involved – come and chat to me. This is just the beginning.
Following the conversation with the other societies, I reflected on how so very fortunate we are that we own and control everything within the society, we have if not the cheapest, one of the cheapest membership fees, the largest membership, the largest mailing list. And despite all our internal challenges, I think we have a job to do to remind ourselves of the asset that we have here in our people and our theatre. And that we shouldn’t take any of it for granted.
And now – our 80th year. If I’m honest, at times this year, it felt like we wouldn’t have the headspace to properly celebrate it. But several events this year just reinforced something important: milestones like this aren’t about buildings or dates. They’re about people.
That’s why our 80th year will be focused on honouring the people who got us here.
The celebrations will begin formally in July – marking the anniversary of the formation of the Hitchin Drama Group, which later became The Bancroft Players. We’ll then host a relaxed, informal BBQ-style members’ party on 13th September – a chance to come together, share stories, and simply enjoy being part of this community. Claudia is leading on the plans, and we’ll be sending out further details soon.
I’ve also asked Rory and Chris to update Keith Crook’s wonderful written history of the society. They’re expanding it, modernising it, and making it easier to access. It’ll be made available digitally and in print, and we’ll also be exploring a more permanent way to honour the key figures who helped build this society and this theatre. Let’s make sure we never forget the people who got us here – and those still shaping our future.
And with that, I’d like to take a moment to remember two beloved members we lost this year: Keith Crook and Rosemary Bianchi. Their contributions were enormous, and their absence is deeply felt. We will ensure their memory lives on, both in our hearts and in this building.
A brief word now on honorary membership. We are not awarding one this year, but we are looking into proposing a new, more inclusive process. Going forward, we’d like you, the membership, to be able to nominate individuals whose contributions deserve recognition.
These nominations will be reviewed by the committee, and if there are several candidates, we may put it to a vote. It might not always result in honorary membership – but we’ll find ways to meaningfully celebrate exceptional service and impact.
And so, to close.
To the committee – Firstly to a couple of Emma’s. For work and personal reasons Emma O’Connell stepped away from her role on the EC and as Bar Manager (although has remained as the Licensee) and Emma Northcott stepped back even further from her EC role and as Front of House Co-Ordination Manager…all the way to Devon. I’d like to thank both for their hard work and hope to welcome Emma O’Connell back when her time allows.
I’d like to thank Amy Walker who was co-opted to the Committee in place of Emma. And Jackie Ried who manages the front of house rotas from her poolside in Spain (well for part of the year anyway!)
Now to Miss Pope – it may have only been a year, but I’m grateful for Nicki’s involvement in leading the creation of a great next season and for facing head-on challenges with the production diary. Thank you.
Finally, onto Matt, who as you know is stepping down at Studio Manager at this AGM. Plus passing on the Publicity Manager responsibilities onto someone else…Matt has done a great job and overseen several creative and successful seasons of plays in the Studio. I’d like to thank him for driving forward the programme of challenging and thought-provoking productions and for his hard work on the committee. Thank you.
I know Nicki and Matt will talk more about their reasons for leaving, much of which is echoed by my own reflections on this year.
Thank you to all the other committee members too, Vivien, Mark, Chris, Rory, and Claudia for their perseverance and commitment in a very challenging year.
Our strength lies in our people – past, present, and future. If we move forward together, with creativity, collaboration, and kindness, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
Here’s to a better, bolder, brighter 80th year.
Thank you.
Hitchin Creative Day – 28th June
Also please do not forget to sign-up to be part of Hitchin Creative Day next Saturday (28 June) – we have a stand in the town centre and will be there from 10am to 3pm handing out new What’s On leaflets, fliers for Twelfth Night and generally bigging up the theatre!
Head to RotaCentral now!