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"Brian and Anne, best wishes for a long and happy retirement, from all your friends at the Leeds Civic Theatre." After 12 years at the helm, Brian Goddard, Chief Executive of the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, has announced that he will retire on 30 April 2005. The process of appointing his successor will commence shortly and the post will be advertised in the relevant national press in the Autumn to ensure a successful hand-over on 1 May 2005 After teaching drama for 10 years Brian Goddard, moved from the Education world to full time professional theatre. From 1976 to 1980, he enjoyed a wide range of positions including Tour/Company Manager, Stage Manager, House Manager etc., as well as appearing in various roles in three pantomimes, two summer seasons and numerous touring productions.In 1980 he was appointed as the General Manager of Leeds Civic Theatre. During his five years in Leeds attendances rose steadily, necessitating a refurbishment and an increase in the seating capacity in 1984. In 1985 Brian moved to Darlington when he was appointed Director of Darlington Civic Theatre. Within two years Darlington Civic Theatre had become famous for the highest average attendance of any theatre in the country - for three years from 1986 to 1989 the average attendance was an amazing 98%. This success brought about a major refurbishment and the increase of 300 seats during 1990, and when the theatre re-opened the record attendances continued even though the theatre had 300 additional seats!! On moving to the post of Chief Executive of the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in 1993, Brian introduced a threefold policy of attracting high profile productions to Wolverhampton, reducing the theatre’s summer dark period and developing the Grand’s very popular panto season. With the introduction of a robust marketing strategy, attendances at the Grand Theatre increased dramatically from 198,000 per annum to around 320,000 per annum, with the last financial year showing a record 332,000. Brian’s tenure saw a host of memorable productions playing at the Grand. Notable dramas have included The Rivals (1994), An Inspector Calls (1999) and Art (2001), while musicals such as Singin’ In The Rain (1995), Dr Dolittle (2001) and Cats (2003) enjoyed huge success. The 1990’s also saw the return of both grand opera and full-scale ballet to the Grand Theatre on a regular basis. The period also saw the establishment of two trademarks of the Grand’s annual programme; an eight-week repertory season every July and August and the annual Night at the Music Hall show. Proving both the demand for and popularity of variety, A Night at the Music Hall has featured a huge number of performers over the years including Cannon & Ball, Frankie Vaughan, Danny Williams, Ray Alan and Barbara Windsor among others. The annual Summer Rep Season has expanded from a four week experiment in the early Nineties to a full eight weeks and is now one of the most popular fixtures on the theatre’s calendar. Enhanced by a major £9 million refurbishment in 1998, the Grand Theatre continues to be one of the best attended theatres in the UK, playing host to all the major touring productions as well as one of the UK’s most successful pantomime seasons. Wolverhampton Grand’s panto season has now become the longest in the country, having expanded from a 5-week run in 1993 to this year’s 9 and a half weeks. There will be 107 performances of this year’s production of Cinderella starring Gary Wilmot, more than any other panto in the UK. "I have enjoyed a wonderful career in theatre" said Brian today. "I think it’s true to say that my happiest years have been spent at the Wolverhampton Grand. I shall miss it." In addition to being voted Theatre Manager of the Year in 1997, Brian was President of the IEAM (Institute of Entertainment and Arts Management) in 1999/2000 and Company Secretary for the Touring Consortium from 1996 to 2003. In 2002 under Brian’s leadership, the Grand won a coveted Barclays/TMA Award for the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre. Brian and his wife Anne (formerly singer Anne Duval) plan to move permanently to their home in Brittany, France, in June 2005. (copied from http://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/spotlight_on.htm) |
