Kingston Rose Theatre boss aims to balance books
3:06pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Where I Live By David Lindsell
Robert O'Dowd, new chief executive, said a small deficit was OK
The new chief executive of the Rose said the theatre was moving away from relying on ticket sales from one big hit to balance its books.
Two years ago the Kingston theatre made its first profit, thanks to night after night of sell-outs of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, starring Dame Judi Dench and directed by Sir Peter Hall.
But it recorded a loss in the 2010/11 financial year, after struggling to capture and bottle the star power of the veteran Hollywood actress.
Robert O’Dowd, the theatre’s new chief executive, said: “There’s only one Judi Dench in the world.”
Commenting on the deficit and this year’s financial performance so far, he said: “Our objective is to break even which we are still on track to do.
“In the swings and roundabouts of the theatre, a small deficit is OK.”
Mr O’Dowd said the aim for the next few years was to build up reserves to the sort of level they had in 2009/10, when Dame Judi appeared.
But he said: “The whole year is important too. We need to get to a position as we have done this year, where the theatre is break even without a big show.”
He said the fact that The Snow Queen, not a star vehicle, had become the Rose’s second biggest show, was a good example.
But he said tickets were selling “very well” for Lady from the Sea, starring Joely Richardson, a film and TV star who last appeared on the silver screen alongside Bond actor Daniel Craig in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
The theatre also enjoyed increased charitable donations after someone was tasked to work closely with a range of foundations and trusts.
He also said trustees such as Chris Blackhurst, who became editor of the Independent last year, had stepped down for sensible reasons.
