Post by Joe K on Oct 3, 2014 21:51:25 GMT
Gotta love this one, after all the times I've been knocked, and even given the push, for 'negativity'. Not so much fun when the boot's on the other foot, is it?
Strange, no mention at all of the Chavda brothers, or Saqib Rasul
This isn't the whole article. For some reason it stops short. When I have time I'll type in the last few paragraphs.
TROUBLE IN THE GODS!
Friday, 03 October 2014
Trustees of operatic and dramatic society allege they have been sacked
EXCLUSIVE By John Hawkins
The sacking or resignation of several officials of the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society has plunged the organisation into a kitchen sink drama of its own in its centenary year.
Leading lights including city town crier Alan Myatt have departed from the 'GODS' in a row over the cost of recent lavish productions.
All four trustees of the society have either resigned or been dismissed during this year and one of them wrote to the Charity Commission asking it to investigate. Three new trustees have recently been appointed.
The Review has spoken this week to several former GODS officials who say the reason for the upheaval is that the society has moved from low cost am-dram productions to glitzy professional shows which have made signficant losses.
They say this has co-incided with the appointment of professional actor, director and theatrical producer Jerry Lane as vice chairman. Mr Lane is a well known female impersonator who has rated his proudest achievement as creating, writing and directing 'Hello Danny' with Danny La Rue, in which he played the young Danny.
The GODS' most recent show was the spectacular production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Gloucester Cathedral in March. It is claimed that despite big audiences and tickets priced at up to £50 each it made a loss but a man claiming to be a spokesman for the society has denied that. He did, however, admit that this year's panto, Cinderella, starring Jerry Lane, made heavy losses.
Alan Myatt, who has worked with the GODS for 33 years, said: "I have been sacked, along with other trustees and the society's accountant, because we were unable to continue to support shows that are making substantial losses. But I still remain a member of the GODS and continue to support the arts within our city."
He said he was glad that four times GODS chairman and chief executiive Roger Payne, who recruited him to the society, is not alive to see what has happened recently to the organisation he led during four decades.
"If it was not for Roger Payne and the old GODS I would not be doing what I am doing today,"said Alan.
"I am gutted about what has happened when I think of the many years I have given to the GODS.
"Thank God my old friends have passed on as what is happening now at the GODS is a tragedy not unlike a Shakespearian plot."
Another dismissed trustee, Paul Donovan, said: "It's terrible what is happening at the GODS. There were four of us trustees. Two resigned in January because they were unhappy with what was happening when the panto lost money. Then Alan and I made an unpopular decision not to allow the show Sweeney Todd to go ahead this summer on cost grounds and the board dismissed us."
In a letter to the Charity Commission, Mr Donovan claimed: "The cash funds of the society have been depleted by over £60,000 since the previous financial year end - a result of two productions which were put on by the society to mark its centenary.
"They were both large budget shows for the society. Budgets were submitted to us as trustees in accordance with our internal control procedures and both were predicted to make a profit."
He alleged both the panto and Jesus Christ Superstar ended up in the red.
"The next production due to take place was Sweeney Todd in July 2014 (at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre). The trustees and the society's accountant had serious concerns about this production going ahead for a variety of reasons,” he said.
"The budget showed that it would probably make a loss of between £20,000 and £30,000. We took the decision to cancel this show to minimise any further financial loss.
"As a result of this decision the remaining trustees have received letter of dismissal from the committee. "
Mr Donovan said he has been told by the Charity Commission, however, that the GODS has acted within its constitution in dismissing the trustees and there is no action the commission can take.
Well known theatre critic Paul Vale, a former member of the GODS, has written to the sacked trustees saying that what has happened is 'extremely
Strange, no mention at all of the Chavda brothers, or Saqib Rasul
This isn't the whole article. For some reason it stops short. When I have time I'll type in the last few paragraphs.
TROUBLE IN THE GODS!
Friday, 03 October 2014
Trustees of operatic and dramatic society allege they have been sacked
EXCLUSIVE By John Hawkins
The sacking or resignation of several officials of the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society has plunged the organisation into a kitchen sink drama of its own in its centenary year.
Leading lights including city town crier Alan Myatt have departed from the 'GODS' in a row over the cost of recent lavish productions.
All four trustees of the society have either resigned or been dismissed during this year and one of them wrote to the Charity Commission asking it to investigate. Three new trustees have recently been appointed.
The Review has spoken this week to several former GODS officials who say the reason for the upheaval is that the society has moved from low cost am-dram productions to glitzy professional shows which have made signficant losses.
They say this has co-incided with the appointment of professional actor, director and theatrical producer Jerry Lane as vice chairman. Mr Lane is a well known female impersonator who has rated his proudest achievement as creating, writing and directing 'Hello Danny' with Danny La Rue, in which he played the young Danny.
The GODS' most recent show was the spectacular production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Gloucester Cathedral in March. It is claimed that despite big audiences and tickets priced at up to £50 each it made a loss but a man claiming to be a spokesman for the society has denied that. He did, however, admit that this year's panto, Cinderella, starring Jerry Lane, made heavy losses.
Alan Myatt, who has worked with the GODS for 33 years, said: "I have been sacked, along with other trustees and the society's accountant, because we were unable to continue to support shows that are making substantial losses. But I still remain a member of the GODS and continue to support the arts within our city."
He said he was glad that four times GODS chairman and chief executiive Roger Payne, who recruited him to the society, is not alive to see what has happened recently to the organisation he led during four decades.
"If it was not for Roger Payne and the old GODS I would not be doing what I am doing today,"said Alan.
"I am gutted about what has happened when I think of the many years I have given to the GODS.
"Thank God my old friends have passed on as what is happening now at the GODS is a tragedy not unlike a Shakespearian plot."
Another dismissed trustee, Paul Donovan, said: "It's terrible what is happening at the GODS. There were four of us trustees. Two resigned in January because they were unhappy with what was happening when the panto lost money. Then Alan and I made an unpopular decision not to allow the show Sweeney Todd to go ahead this summer on cost grounds and the board dismissed us."
In a letter to the Charity Commission, Mr Donovan claimed: "The cash funds of the society have been depleted by over £60,000 since the previous financial year end - a result of two productions which were put on by the society to mark its centenary.
"They were both large budget shows for the society. Budgets were submitted to us as trustees in accordance with our internal control procedures and both were predicted to make a profit."
He alleged both the panto and Jesus Christ Superstar ended up in the red.
"The next production due to take place was Sweeney Todd in July 2014 (at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre). The trustees and the society's accountant had serious concerns about this production going ahead for a variety of reasons,” he said.
"The budget showed that it would probably make a loss of between £20,000 and £30,000. We took the decision to cancel this show to minimise any further financial loss.
"As a result of this decision the remaining trustees have received letter of dismissal from the committee. "
Mr Donovan said he has been told by the Charity Commission, however, that the GODS has acted within its constitution in dismissing the trustees and there is no action the commission can take.
Well known theatre critic Paul Vale, a former member of the GODS, has written to the sacked trustees saying that what has happened is 'extremely
