January 2018

Trustee positions

Thank you for taking an interest in joining the Board of the Octagon Theatre Trust. The
Octagon is one of Bolton’s most iconic and valued charities, providing not only a nationally
regarded programme of productions but also vital projects for young people and
communities to experience arts and culture. The Theatre is celebrating its 50th anniversary
whilst forging exciting plans for the future – with wider community engagement and
significant capital improvements for the building.

The trustees have an important role in safeguarding and steering the charity to ensure its
continued prosperity. In this pack you will find information about the Trust and about the
position. You may wish to visit our website (www.octagonbolton.co.uk) and look at our
current productions and projects, and there you will also find a copy of our most recent
annual report.

We are looking to appoint a Vice-Chair and a finance specialist, either as separate

individuals or a combined role. We are looking for people who are each willing to offer their
time and expertise, share with us responsibility for the charity, and make a positive
contribution to one of Bolton’s most important cultural organisations.

We are always keen to ensure the Board reflects the diversity of our population, and so we
especially welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, people
with disabilities, and people under the age of 35.

The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 2 February, and interviews will take place
in mid-February. Please apply by submitting a letter of interest and CV to
recruitment@octagonbolton.co.uk. I am happy to be contacted by email below if you have
any queries or would like a discussion before applying.

Thank you again for your interest and I hope you will consider joining us.

Yours sincerely,

Claire Moreland DL
Chair of the Board
claire.moreland@octagonbolton.co.uk
Information on the role

The Octagon Theatre Trust is a limited company and registered charity, trading as the
Octagon Theatre Bolton. It is governed by charitable objectives set out within the
Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Board of Trustees are both the directors of
the company and the trustees of the charity. As such, trustees have a legal responsibility to
both ensure the company operates well financially, but also within its charitable objectives
and the law. The Board takes important decisions on the strategic direction of the
company, including the approval of the business plan, budgets and senior appointments.

In addition to a governance role, the Board supports the management and operations of the
company by providing a range of expertise, contacts and skills as necessary. Board
members are expected to play an active role in advocacy and fundraising to complement
the work of the Chief Executive and the staff team.

We seek to appoint trustees with a range of skills in order to provide informed debate and
decision making. When recruiting we consider where further skills and perspective are
needed.

We are committed to inclusion and diversity, and we want our board to reflect the
community we serve. We particularly wish to address the under-representation of Black,
Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, and people with disabilities. We will consider
applications from people who do not have previous trustee (or similar) experience, but who
have the willingness and aptitude to take on the role with appropriate training and support.

As a charity our trustees are volunteers and we ask for people to make a commitment to
attend meetings throughout the year. There are currently five to six meetings a year
(including a strategy day) and some members also participate in sub-groups. Trustees also
commit to regularly attending performances and other events. The majority of meetings are
held at the theatre or an accessible location in Bolton. We publish meeting schedules a
year in advance. Whilst most meetings are held in the early evening (at 5.30pm), the
strategy day is usually a full day commitment.

The term of office is three years and we ask people to serve a full term. Trustees can be
re-appointed for a second three year term, and in some cases, a third and final two year
term.

Becoming a trustee is an important responsibility and those who are regularly unable to
attend meetings or otherwise make the commitment required will be asked to resign their
position.

The Vice-Chair has a specific role to deputise for the Chair and when necessary, work with
the Chair and Chief Executive to shape and lead the board’s business. The Finance Chair
has a specific role to chair the Finance and Governance Group and steer the board’s
financial responsibilities.
Trustee Job Description and Person Specification

Purpose:
The overall responsibility of the Board of Trustees, and therefore every member, is to
safeguard the assets of Octagon Theatre Trust, act within the law and ensure it achieves its
Charitable Objectives.

Key duties of all trustees – individual and collective:

• To monitor the financial performance of the company, approve annual audited

accounts, be aware of fiduciary responsibilities and take responsibility for maintaining
the company’s long-term financial solvency and sustainability.

• To ensure that the company functions within the legal and regulatory framework of
UK charity law and strives to achieve best practice in charity governance.

• To work collaboratively with other board members and staff to develop the vision,
mission and values of the Octagon Theatre Bolton and approve strategic/business
plans that will achieve these.

• To attend and participate in regular meetings of board members and participate in

working groups and sub-groups where appropriate.

• To monitor and manage the effective delivery of strategic plans and, in particular,
engage an annual evaluation of the company’s performance – financially,
operationally and artistically.

• To monitor the internal and external risks facing the charity and put in place actions to
mitigate risk wherever possible.

• To proactively seek opportunities for the charity to earn, raise and generate income
and/or partnerships and to work with the Chief Executive and staff in realising
fundraising targets.

• To be an advocate and ambassador for the company at all times, both formally and
informally, including attending fundraising and networking events.

• To regularly attend the theatre’s performances and events, to stay informed of – and
participate in discussions about – its activities.

• To appoint the Chief Executive and Artistic Director, reviewing their performance and
approving their remuneration.

• To maintain good relations and communications with other Board members, acting
collaboratively and professionally in best interests of the company.
 • To be willing to undertake personal development in relation to trusteeship and board
responsibilities.

Personal attributes of all Board members

• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of

charity trusteeship.

• Financial awareness, numeracy and the ability to understand financial information.

• Good communicator and collaborator who is able to work well with a range of people
and reach decisions through building consensus.

• Able to think strategically, listen to advice, make sound judgements and express
opinions.

• Artistic awareness: able to appreciate a range of theatre work (of own taste or
otherwise) and its relevance, value and merits to the organisation and audiences.

• Advocacy and influencing skills and the ability to network effectively and make a
positive impression on others on behalf of the company.

• Experience in a given field (for example finance, law, human resources, local
government, community relations, theatre practice etc) and a preparedness to offer
their specialist, personal and business skills and contacts to support the work of the
staff when required.

• Takes responsibility well; is able to understand what is expected, reach decisions,

maintain commitments and hold others to account where necessary.

• Discretion and the ability to handle confidential information sensitively.

• Willingness to uphold the values of the organisation and to comply with the board’s
code of conduct.

• Willingness to devote time to the role, including availability for board meetings as well
as other events and performances.

Personal attributes for the Vice-Chair

 A strategic outlook, matched by a strong Bolton network that can further the public
and private sector partnerships that will develop the Octagon for the future; a
willingness to deputise for the Chair and help shape the business of the board.
Personal attributes for the Finance Chair

 A professional background in finance, such as chartered accountancy; a commitment

to Chair the Finance and Governance Group; and a willingness to work with the all
trustees and staff to ensure strong accountability for financial decisions and
outcomes.

Organisational structure and appointments

The trustees have overall responsibility for the company. The Board has five sub-groups:
 A Finance and Governance Group, responsible for financial monitoring and control,
risk assessment, legal and procurement issues.
 An HR Group, responsible for employment policy as well as trustee and senior staff
succession and appointments.
 A joint Capital Project Board with Bolton Council, responsible for managing the
delivery and completion of the theatre’s re-development.
 A Fundraising Group, responsible for fundraising towards the theatre’s
redevelopment.
 An Equality and Diversity Group, responsible for the theatre’s equality action plan.

There are also two wholly owned subsidiaries:

 Octagon Catering Services Ltd, whose directors are made up of some of the trustees
and independent members. This company delivers the on-site ancillary trading such
as the café, bar and merchandise.
 Octagon Theatre Productions Ltd, whose directors are currently the Chair and Chief
Executive. This subsidiary meets the eligibility requirements of the HMRC Theatre
Tax Relief scheme and acts as the vehicle for our productions on stage.

Trustees elect a Chair and Vice-Chair. There can be a maximum of 20 trustees; currently
three can be appointed by Bolton Council and two by AGMA (the Association of Greater
Manchester Authorities). The trustees may co-opt people with specialist expertise as
members of sub-groups as necessary.

Current trustees (as at December 2017)

 Claire Moreland (Chair) – formerly Head, Chetham’s School of Music

 Cllr John Byrne – Bolton Council nominee
 Rosslyn Colderley – North England Regional Director, Sustrans
 Sophy Jacob – Head of Business, BBC Children’s
 Carol Johnson – Director of Asset Management, Bolton at Home
 Vivienne Jones – General Manager, Warburtons
 Lucinda Harvey – HR consultant
 Cllr Ann-Marie Humphreys – GMCA nominee
 Vicki Jackson, HR Business Partner, Greene King
 Stephen McArdle – Corporate Litigation Associate, KBL Solicitors
  Manu Mistry – entrepreneur
 Cllr Madeline Murray – Bolton Council nominee
 Stephen Parry – Management Tutor and former NHS Trust Chief Executive
 Cllr Linda Thomas – Leader, Bolton Council and Bolton Council nominee
 Bill Webster – Assistant Vice Chancellor, University of Bolton and Interim Principal of
Bolton College
 Natalie Wilson – Artistic Director, Theatre Centre
 Liz Wilson – Executive Director, Oxford School of Drama

Steve Arnfield (former Director of Finance/Deputy CEO of Bolton Council) is currently the
Vice-Chair and Chair of the Finance and Governance Group. He is stepping down in March
2018.

Current senior staff (as at August 2017)

 Roddy Gauld, Chief Executive

 Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director
 Fiona Gibson, Business Director
The Octagon Story
We are a theatre situated in the heart of Bolton and believe in reaching out to all of the
communities that surround us, and we strive to bring wonderful theatrical experiences to the
people of Bolton and beyond.

We lovingly bring stories to life on our stages designed to make you laugh, cry and sit on
the edge of your seat. Over the course of a year you might see a comedy or two, a brand-
new play, a musical, thought-provoking drama, a historical retelling and more.
Off our stages we help nurture and develop stories of others. Through our work in the
communities from our storytelling sessions for under 5s to our drama group for over 50s we
believe everyone should have the opportunity to be creative.

At 50 years old we were the first theatre to be built in the North West since World War One.
Beginning as the brainchild of a university lecturer and a group of students to build a theatre
for the people of Bolton, the Octagon was going to be a little bit different from the usual.
With amazing support from the local government, and the people of Bolton who helped
raise funds brick by brick, our building was officially opened on 27 November 1967 by HRH
Princess Margaret and we opened our doors for the very first time to begin our long journey
of telling wonderful stories to the people of Bolton and beyond.

The first story on our stage was Annie And Fanny by Bolton playwright Bill Naughton. A
new play written by a local playwright – this was an exciting start to the proud tradition we
have held strong for 50 years of supporting new and local writing. New writing has always
been an important part of the Octagon story as well as producing plays from some of the
greatest playwrights throughout history. The heart of our theatre from the day it was built,
right up to the present, is our intimate and flexible Main Auditorium theatre space. It seats
between 300 and 390 and unlike most theatres not only does the set change from
production to production but the seating alters too and responds to the staging. . Usually
seen in three main configurations of in-the-round, end-on and thrust stage every time you
come and see a show you will enjoy a totally different experience.

Throughout the years many changes have happened to the building and the work we do,
from the creation of our Studio Theatre in 1987 to the inception of our participation
programme which seeks to engage with communities across Bolton. We are continually
looking to evolve and develop the work we create and most recently have announced
funding for a major capital development of our building, where we will be seeking to not only
improve our visitor experience but also the accessibility of our backstage areas and an
improved provision for the young people we work with.

We believe in world-class theatre: made in Bolton. Most of our production work is delivered
on-site and to facilitate this we have a large workshop where sets are constructed, a small
sound engineering studio, a wardrobe department where all costumes are cut, fitted and
sewn, and a prop store where furniture and smaller items are housed. The Octagon’s
rehearsal space, The Lab, is where actors work under direction for about four weeks before
transferring to our Main Auditorium when the production is ready for its opening
performance.

We believe that everyone has a story to tell. Our community, participatory and education
work is recognised as a benchmark both regionally and nationally. From a popular Youth
Theatre programme to our work with young people with learning disabilities, to groups
within our community partner Bolton at Home, we believe everyone has their own story and
theatre can be an amazing tool in empowering and building the confidence in people to tell
theirs.

Our vision and values

Our community will be enriched and inspired by quality, entertaining and thought-provoking
theatre productions, and opportunities for people to realise their potential, express
themselves and fly.

Values:

Creativity We are an organisation that creates theatre and inspires others to be

creative too.

Inclusion We want the entire community to be part of the Octagon and for them to
be able to access our work, to feel welcome and safe.

Learning We encourage people to grow their abilities and their ideas; and for us
to grow and stretch our own too.

Quality We seek to ensure that everything we do, especially the work we create
and the service we offer, aspires to the highest possible quality.

Pride We take pride in our work, our theatre and our town; and we strive to
make Bolton proud of us.

Building information and development

The main auditorium seats between 320 and 390 in three formats: Thrust, End Stage and
In-the-Round. The studio theatre seats up to 100 people. There is an on-site rehearsal
room, and a second meeting/workshop room, on-site wardrobe and a separate off-site
scenery workshop and store.

In 2019, we are due to complete a £9.8m re-development of the theatre. Funding of over
£8m has been secured, with the largest grants coming from Arts Council England and
Bolton Council. Fundraising for the final £1m is currently underway. This re-development
will allow the Octagon to become fully accessible for the first time, with improved audience
comfort, new participatory facilities and increased backstage space for productions,
rehearsals and administration. The building will also become more environmentally
sustainable and digitally enabled.

Financial information
The Octagon turns over approximately £3m. Around one third of our income comes from
public grants, with the majority through box office sales, followed by other trading and
fundraising. You can view our statutory accounts on the charity commission website:
https://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.a
spx?RegisteredCharityNumber=248833&SubsidiaryNumber=0 and you can see a summary
of our accounts in our annual report: https://octagonbolton.co.uk/about-us/annual-report/