Monday
I’m working from home to start the week, and today’s big task is to prepare Board papers. The trick is to be informative without overwhelming with details. 10 pages of anything is a lot for somebody to read when they’re not getting paid. The Board meeting isn’t for two weeks, and a lot can change between now and then; but it’s important that Trustees get at least one weekend to read what I’m sending. This time, as it’s March and we’ve got a 2025 plan to sign off, there’s a lot to say, so I’m starting early.
First comes reviewing the financials. They need to know how much cash we have in the bank, how close to our estimates we were for 2024 and how much we think we need for 2025. It’s detailed work, but a little like a puzzle and very satisfying when all of the numbers add up.
Then comes the story. Numbers are no good without narrative. Nobody says yes to an equation, percentages or ratios. But this is the business of theatre. We sell stories. This Board meeting will be about the story of the Gate. Where we’ve come from, how we’ve fought cost-of-living dragons and rescued artists in distress (the damsels take care of themselves at the Gate), and found a band of merry theatre companies with whom to wander. Then I have to tell them what we think the next adventure looks like.
And then just to bring me back to the here and now, I’m going to proofread our new website as it’s due to launch next week.
Tuesday
Another work-from-home day as this is my dedicated fundraising day. This is a new working practice I am trying, to make sure I’m not fitting it in around the edges so much. On Tuesdays, we fundraise.
I’m starting with a draft application written by our Development Manager. It’s already in great shape, especially considering she’s only been working with us for a month, so there’s just a bit of touching up here and there. It’s for a super-secret incredibly exciting collaboration with amazing ambition to change how theatres programme international work. You’d have to be heartless to say no.
In the afternoon I have a meeting with a new prospective funder and I’m writing an application of my own. I haven’t quite managed to ring-fence the day for fundraising as I’ve ended up with a couple of last minute team calls in the day relating to programme for next week, but I’m still feeling productive.
Wednesday
Team strategy day! We’ve brought in our favourite facilitator Chloe Osborne to lift the team out of short-term priorities and help us imagine what 2030 might look like. We’re prepping for a bid to return to the Arts Council’s regular funding portfolio (or so we thought!) and are dreaming big. We start with dinosaurs, some stable and grounded with big solid feet, some are sharp-beaked with wings for ducking and weaving. All of them needed to evolve.
It feels good to imagine storming the castles, finding the treasure and slaying yet more dragons before singing songs around a victory fire. But it’s also an opportunity to hold ourselves accountable – how far away are we from where we want to be and what can we do about it today?
Thursday
We are interviewing for a marketing role today. Our brilliant Comms Manager Becca has gone on to full time producing and has just been awarded one of the MGCfutures bursaries. She’ll leave (metaphorically) big shoes to fill but we’re meeting with some really exciting candidates today, and it’s a great time to join the Gate with our new shiny website and super-secret plans for 2025!
Friday
This is a non-Gate day for me and I’m spending it with Wac Arts, an amazing youth performance charity in Belsize Park. I’m a Trustee and we’re having a Board Away Day. After Wednesday, it’s funny to be at a strategy day I didn’t plan but also lets me embrace my toddler energy and ask all the questions I usually have to have the answers to – but why? And why not? And how does that work?
It also really feeds my Gate planning. We talk Arts Council, local authorities, evidencing impact and cultivating healthy working practices. I end the day with ideas.
Next week
We’ll launch a website. It’s a thing of beauty.
Both Shami (our Chair!) and I will be featured in The Stage talking about the aftereffects of the pandemic and the impact of American politics (I’ll leave you to guess who was talking about which).
I’ll spend my Tuesday with peers and friends at the Independent Theatre Council conference and Wednesday at the office with the team. We’ll also find out that the Arts Council timeline is moving so we can’t now apply for that regular funding.
I’ll guess I’ll have to rewrite some of those Board papers… and we’ll reimagine the next chapter of the Gate.
