22 Jan 2024
Theatre company OVO stands on the precipice of further growth and development, with exciting plans for the coming year.
The next few months will see a process of restructuring and reorganisation for the St Albans-based organisation, with a specific focus on resourcing and the creation of a development strategy.
“We haven’t stopped since the pandemic, but in that time we’ve grown massively,” reveals artistic director Adam Nichols.
“We’re now in a regrouping phase which we originally planned to carry out last autumn, but the time disappeared on us.
“We are operating under the same model we had when we were a quarter of our size,” he elaborates, “and the way we run the Roman Theatre with just a small team is not sustainable going forwards.
“Our biggest challenges are how we manage growth and fulfil the demand of our audience, so we need to make sure we’re equipped to continually deliver high quality productions.”
The St Albans Roman Theatre Festival – unquestionably the highlight of OVO’s annual programme – has expanded from just three weeks in 2019 to 14 weeks last year, with the audience growing from 3,000 to 16,000.
“Our expectation is that the audience figures will continue to go upwards as we increase capacity. The changes we’re making will not be visible to the audience, and we will always strive to deliver a good experience, but it’s a case of incrementally improving our standards and reducing the impact of growth on the team.
“It’s partly back-stage, but also operationally front of house. It’s a very complicated site to manage.
“Currently all the technology relies on a generator, which is our biggest cost. We’re looking at setting up a permanent power source, which is feasible but very challenging to install. We want to provide a more comprehensive and better service at the box office, and on stage improve our production values, sets and costumes.
“Last year we installed new sound and lighting, which resulted in significant improvements, but there are other things we can do going forwards.”
This summer’s festival will be a mix of five shows produced in-house and four co-productions, with details of the programme set to be announced in the next few weeks.
“We’re constantly changing, and trying to be bigger and better. Working collaboratively with other theatre companies means we have a bigger budget and shows can then travel as well.
“But we will always stay within our main creative parameter, which is contemporary updates to classic plays and stories, taking into account the specific considerations of the Roman Theatre.
“We are always thinking about the audience. For them it’s a special day out and so we want to provide a different experience to the sort of show they’d see indoors. Something a bit lighter sometimes, which fits the beautiful environment. We’re looking at extending the live music as well, as that works really well.
“Finding the right people is the hardest thing, as there’s a real shortage on the technical side. The proximity of local film studios means they are drawing the talent from theatre, and it’s hard to compete as there is so much demand for skills.”
After 20 years at OVO, he remains as passionate as ever: “I still love directing plays. It’s why I do it. I also really enjoy running, growing and developing the organisation, there’s just so much potential to go further.”
In September, Adam announced the surprise news that OVO was set to transform a derelict 18th century barn into St Albans’ newest theatre, providing a permanent base which could also be used during the winter months.
The company has been awarded £300,000 from the government’s Community Ownership Fund to renovate and convert St Germain’s Barn and the little-used St Michael’s Changing Rooms adjacent, with both buildings owned by SADC.
“We’re working on a revised model to get open more quickly, with a phased approach towards the ultimate plan. It’s most important that we get into the building and establish ourselves, even if it isn’t the finished article.
“The scope it gives us will enable us to present different shows indoors to what we can put on at The Maltings Arts Theatre. We want it to be more of a destination, a nice interesting space where someone will spend time before and after a show.”
