CHAPS theatre tour 2006

Overview

The Chaps Theatre Tour was a success and achieved its key aims and objectives. This was phase two of the project which managed to excel both artistically and in the organisational development of the company. Part-Time and full time posts are becoming more stable with increased funding and new financial systems have been put into place. The tour generated wide spread media and gained positive reviews both regionally and internationally. New work ‘Habitual Welders' by Jan de Schynkel was commissioned by Ascendance Rep together with reworks of Tom Roden and Gary Clarke's dance pieces. All pieces were received well by audiences, 40% were new to dance and all venues said they would programme Ascendance Rep in the future. The company were of a high caliber and worked well together. Dancers valued the experience of working with artists of international standing and felt that they had developed creativity and technically. The education programme targeted all male groups, although only 43% were male which was below the target. The education strategy is currently being reviewed and will study new ways of targeting this group. Company profile has grown again as a result of the tour and Ascendance Rep is being recognised nationwide as an exciting repertory company. Key partnerships have been made with Middle scale theatre s who are interested in programming the work in 2008.

Strengths	Weaknesses
• Three dance pieces were created or reworked specifically for the theatre stage completing the second stage of the CHAPS tour. • Positive audience feedback was encouraging and confirmed that there is a demand for the work to be seen in larger scale theatres. • The artistic team, dancers and management enjoyed the tour and a positive experience was had by all involved. Dancers all expressed an interest in performing with Ascendance Rep in the future. • The company received positive regional, national and international press coverage. Reviews indicated that the work was of a particularly high quality and noted the artistic development of the company over the past few years. • New audiences were attracted through the introduction of dance within art gallery settings. 622 audience members were generated throughout the tour, and 95% of those who completed feedback forms enjoyed the show. • Partnerships have been strengthened with local councils, dance agencies, and venues. • The recruitment of dancers was held over 2 day period which allowed sufficient time to recruit the most suitable dancers for the project.	• Home office and storage space increasingly became inadequate for the level of work required. • Male groups proved more difficult than anticipated to get involved in education residencies • Technical set up time was limited in some venues due to restrictions in time tabling in particular in school venues.
Opportunities	Threats
• New funding opportunities as currently in the 2nd year as a charitable company. • Development of repertoire to middle scale theatres in 2008. • Development of links with partner organisations. • High quality film documentation and promotional pack to send to promoters. • Office space is being sought for September 2007.	• Limited core funding. • Company is growing rapidly but with no guarantees of funding for future projects. .• Dancers may get work in other companies as Ascendance Rep cannot contract dancers for the next season until funding has been secured.