Published: Wednesday, 21st February, 2007 10:41
Cash booty for opera Pirates
By Border Telegraph Newsroom
Print Article
PIRATES have plundered a local treasure chest to help provide a musical treat.
Melrose Amateur Operatic Society has been awarded £1000 to offset against hall rentals of £1700 for this year’s rehearsals and performances.
The company is presenting ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ at the Corn Exchange this week as its annual homage to the work of Gilbert & Sullivan.
Eildon Area Committee recommended refusal of the application for a community grant because the society has savings of £26,686 — £10,000 in excess of the scheme’s funding limit.
It took a swashbuckling performance by Melrose councillor Bill Smith to persuade members to unlock the treasure chest and hoist the Jolly Roger.
He said: “They can hardly apply for a project grant because it isn’t needed for a structure or equipment.
“But there is clear evidence that they do help themselves and contribute to the musical life of the Scottish Borders as well.”
Councillors were told that the society, founded in 1935, was likely to incur a loss of £5452 in 2007, even if 90 per cent of the 182 seats in the Corn Exchange were sold for the six-night run.
Councillor Bill Lamb, a member of Galashiels Amateur Operatic Society for over 50 years, informed members that the cost of staging a production was horrendous.
The hire of costumes and scenery, hall rentals and the payment of performance rights drained finances before ticket revenue could be factored in.
He said: “It only takes one bad season with poor ticket sales and you have a disaster on your hands.”
Councillor Miles Browne argued that providing a grant could be a disincentive for audiences wishing to support productions and he felt that the society was in a sound financial state.
He said: “They seem quite capable of looking after themselves, but I think there are other more deserving causes.”
When taken to the vote, however, the grant application was approved by six to four.
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