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FAQ
How is your company funded?
Historically the company has been supported by a combination
of Arts Council funding, local government and local
authority grants and business sponsorship. However, in the
current economic climate it has become necessary to ensure
that we do not rely too heavily on any one source of
funding. It is therefore a constant battle to identify new
income streams, grants and donations which will support the
company’s work. We receive box office income from our
touring productions but the amount of income is limited by
of the types of venues we play: although many of our rural
venues play to capacity, there is limited seating available.
Prices need to remain accessible: you can’t charge
£30 for a ticket to sit on a plastic chair in a village
hall! Where we receive funding from trusts, local
authorities and other sources, the money goes towards
project costs alone: we do not receive anything towards our
core running costs such as building maintenance and repair,
wages, vehicles, heating and lighting. However, funding
bodies usually allow us to submit a modest amount towards
the administration of each project and this helps towards
general organisational costs.
How many performances do you give in
a year?
In an average year, around 90 performances in schools and
community venues.
How do you market productions?
Chalkfoot works with a rural promoter, or
‘champion’ in each community, and this person then
liaises with other volunteers to distribute publicity and
sell tickets. Chalkfoot takes responsibility for an overall
media campaign, writing press releases and sending out
photographs. Press releases are also sent to village
contacts for the parish magazine.
Which promotional tools are most
commonly used, and why?
Z-fold leaflets (to accommodate all the individual dates we
play!) and posters at A4 and A3 sizes. We use smaller
posters so they will fit in village shop windows, on
telegraph poles, etc.
How long prior to a production
opening does promotion take place/start?
We normally aim to get print to venues at least six weeks
before the performance date.
How is the marketing budget set?
Budgets are agreed prior to making a funding application,
based on previous costs and allowing for inflation and any
special requirements.
What are the common problems (if any)
encountered when promoting a show?
Slow response from local press, lack of
volunteers/funding/resources. Clashes with other local
events. Organisers who 'sit' on their publicity material
instead of sending it out!
How do you draw up a budget for a
theatre production?
You must calculate such items as cast wages, directors'
wages, script writer's fee and royalties, Composer's fee,
designer's fee, lighting designer's fee, stage manager's
wages, travel and subsistence, rehearsal room cost, building
of set/making or hiring of costumes, transport of set and
costumes, publicity and printing, marketing officer,
administration costs (including staff time and telephone,
postage, stationery, etc), insurance, consumables/running
costs, venue hire (if applicable) and contingency. This
expenditure can then be offset against any income, including
grants and anticipated box office receipts.
How do you audition and cast actors?
We use fax and internet casting services, who distribute
casting breakdowns to agents. Agents will then send us their
recommendations, together with the actors’ CVs and
photographs. When we read the CVs, we pay attention to any
special attributes or skills we might need, draw up a short
list of people to see, then telephone the agents to offer
their clients an audition in London or Margate. We normally
hold two rounds of auditions, shortlisting the final
candidates down to two or three for each role.
I'm an actor - how can I work with
you?
You will need to have undertaken a full drama school
training, studied drama at university or had some experience
of professional theatre work before we can invite you to
audition. We regret that we can't keep actors' details on
file (unless we have worked with them before) and we do not
have the resources to hold general auditions.
You will need to have undertaken a full drama school
training or have had some experience of professional theatre
work before we can invite you to audition.
Can you read my
script?
Unfortunately due to time and staffing constraints it's not
possible to read unsolicited scripts. Generally we find
writers either through the theatre grapevine or by
contacting literary agents.
How do you work within education?
Chalkfoot concentrates on working with students in Primary
and Secondary schools - usually in Kent only. We work with
schools in a variety of ways - either going into the school
to work with students directly, taking a professional
performance into the school or taking students out to work
in other venues with professional actors and directors.
We are always open to new ideas and approaches and are
happy to discuss commissions for a wide variety of schools'
work, including curriculum based
theatre-in-education/theatre-in-health-education programmes
and creative learning projects, taking place in the south
east or further afield.
Do you ever undertake training work
for teachers or business personnel?
Our Outreach Director, Claudia Leaf, is an experienced
facilitator/trainer who has worked for Creative Partnerships
(now Future Creative), Music for Change, East Sussex Arts
Partnership, Kent County Council and the Care Services
Improvement Partnership. She can offer a range of innovative
training opportunities.
How do you work with people with
disabilities?
Our base in Margate was part funded by the National Lottery
and has excellent facilities, particularly for wheelchair
users. Since the building opened in April 1999 we have held
a number of workshops for people with learning disabilities
funded by the Regional Arts Lottery Programme and Thanet
District Council.
When we tour rural areas we publish details of each
venue’s accessibility, including induction loops,
disabled toilets and any access parking. People with
disabilities can therefore choose the best venue for them to
attend.
How do you approach cultural
diversity?
We have an Equal Opportunities policy which is carefully
observed and regularly updated. We try to be proactive about
diversity issues, and are constantly exploring ways in which
we can reflect the diverse communities of 21st century
Britain in our work.
Management
structure
As the touring and outreach arm of Channel Theatre Trust
Ltd., Chalkfoot is governed by a Board of Directors who
employ an Artistic Director and an Outreach Director. These
staff members are responsible for the employment of all
freelance staff, including a Finance Officer, stage
managers, designers and all performers.
How did the company first begin?
Chalkfoot replaced Channel Theatre Company, an organisation
formed in 1980 to bring professional theatre to venues in
the south east. Chalkfoot was launched on 4th March, 2003 to
deliver a more innovative and ambitious artistic
programme.
What style of work does the company
aim to produce?
Innovative, fresh and highly professional productions of new
plays, devised work or new approaches to classic texts,
often collaborating with composers or choreographers.
How do you monitor your work?
We monitor the work in person, on a regular basis, and issue
feedback forms to event organisers and teachers. We have a
panel of peers who review our work and give us detailed
feedback on productions. We also take careful note of the
comments of other arts professionals and press
reviewers..
Where are you based?
The company is based in Margate, East Kent and occupies
premises purchased and refurbished by the National Lottery
and the EU.
Central Studios provides spaces for offices, rehearsal
rooms, technical workshops and set and costume storage
areas, nearly all of which can be hired for use by the local
community or by visiting arts companies.
The space is also used by Chalkfoot for its own
programmes of work, in addition to rehearsing productions
the building is used for a range of activities from
schools’ workshops to dance and music sessions for
people with learning disabilities
East Kent is an area of high economic deprivation and
Central Ward in Margate (where Central Studios is based) is
one of the most acutely affected wards in East Kent. Since
the building opened in April 1999 it has attracted a number
of high profile visitors and is regularly used as a meeting
place for regional and local organisations.
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