Board directors at Christchurch’s The Regent threatened with sack unless they reverse controversial changes by the time of the AGM at the start of April

BOARD directors at the Regent in Christchurch have been threatened with the sack unless they reverse some of the controversial changes they brought in time for the next AGM at the start of April.

As previously reported, many members of the theatre were left fuming after a slew of changes were made, including slashing the time the bar and refreshment counters were open.

The hugely popular Christmas Spectacular was also axed in favour of a pantomime, the theatre’s museum was shut and backstage tours cancelled. None of the changes were discussed with Regent members before being made.

As a result, an extraordinary meeting of members took place on Sunday, which the A&T was not allowed to attend. At the end of that meeting, vice-chair of the board, Chris Humphries, resigned.

There were 78 members at the meeting, demonstrating what one said was the “level of anger and concern” over the board’s actions. A motion declaring the board would be dismissed by the time of the AGM if some changes were not reversed was carried unanimously.

Former chair Gary Trinder said: “There has been a lack of board control and a lack of understanding of the business, the needs of the business, and the stakeholders of the business.

“There has been no communication at all with members since the new board took over in April last year. Decisions like shortening the coffee shop and bar hours and days they were open were made without any discussion with volunteers or members.

“Members made it clear at the meeting that this was simply not acceptable and, in fact, the refreshment facilities are being reopened seven days a week forthwith.

“The board claimed some of the decisions it had taken, like closing the museum and cancelling the backstage tours, had been made while a review of them was undertaken.

“But you don’t cancel and close things, or shorten hours, while a review is being carried out, or without consulting the volunteers who run them.

“The key to anything is talking to the people who really understand what you are considering making changes to, and that was not done.

“Also, historical items displayed in the cinema museum, which gave a detailed history of Dorset and Hampshire cinemas, have been dismantled, removed and threatened to be disposed of without any discussion with the volunteers who ran it. This makes a nonsense of things being ‘under review’.”

Mr Trinder said members also feared that because of the changes, the theatre was “losing its community feel and the very purpose it was set up for”.

He continued: “Several local groups who have been involved with The Regent for over 20 years felt they were being pushed away.”

In a statement, the board admitted it had “recognised that communications had simply not been good enough over the last year and committed to improving this, particularly with their volunteers”.

It said it had explained at the meeting that “for several years the Regent has been losing money, and since the pandemic many independent cinemas have been struggling”.

But the centre had managed to turn this around with “a change in strategy to feature more live theatre shows, whilst maintaining the level of our cinema offer”, the board added.

However, Mr Trinder said: “Whilst this is true, a British Film Institute grant during the pandemic had eased things considerably, and the 2023/24 financial year loss was just £8,500.

“The company also operates a separate development fund with money generated from the sale of tickets and donations to allow purchase of items for the Regent which are classified as improvements, and this fund is relatively cash rich.”

The board said some of the changes had been to ensure the theatre’s “financial sustainability”, and admitted: “Not all these decisions have proved popular.”

Going forward, it said, it would “do more to listen to feedback from members and volunteers”.

It said it would review the refreshment and bar opening times and that it was hoping to reinstate the backstage tours and find another home for the museum.

The board added: “Now that the Regent’s finances are back on an even keel, the board wishes to develop a longer-term strategy and business plan in consultation with local stakeholders.”

It said that the vice-chair closed the meeting by saying the board were “volunteers themselves and that he hoped everyone could work together to ensure the continuing success of The Regent as a much-loved community centre for the arts”.