11:33am Tuesday 20th July 2010
AMONG those who have special memories of the Horseshoe Theatre Company is local stalwart, Hannah Williams.
The former John Hunt of Everest School English and music teacher was, for many years, a member of the Horseshoe Supporters Club, helping to raise money for the maintenance of The Shrubbery, before becoming the company’s marketing officer.
Now, she is an honorary member of Basingstoke Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) and is using her experience to drum up support for that group.
She has instigated a scheme known as the Danny Newmanstyle of subscription, previously used by the Horseshoe Theatre Company, to help build up a loyal following for BATS.
Hannah said: “It was introduced by Ian Mullins and it worked magic for the Horseshoe Theatre Company. Danny Newman was an American entrepreneur who wrote a book called Subscription Now. Ian had read about this style of marketing and he invited Danny to come over to Basingstoke, where he spent a couple of days with us at The Shrubbery, where we had a ‘teach-in’.”
With Hannah operating the scheme, it proved to be a great success over nine years, ensuring The Haymarket had good houses.
“People had such faith in Ian,”
said Hannah. “They would subscribe for the season before they even knew what was in it.
“And first nights were quite an occasion, as you often couldn’t get a seat, because The Haymarket was full of subscription people – I would love to see BATS shows like that.” Ian, who now lives in New Zealand, recently sent a photograph to Hannah, of the time when the Horseshoe Theatre Company took part in the very popular Basingstoke Carnival procession in the 1980s.
Hannah said: “There was no way we could afford an expensive lorry to use as a float, but it so happened Ian had an open-air car and I managed to persuade him and his wife, Helen, to use that and gathered a group of young people to accompany them with placards promoting the theatre company and the subscription scheme.”
In a message to local theatregoers, Ian said: “I always enjoy hearing news from Basingstoke, and I was delighted and fascinated to hear from Hannah that BATS has launched its own Danny Newman-style of subscription, which we used at the Horseshoe Theatre Company.
“Eventually, we had 3,000 cherished subscribers and I hope the BATS scheme will eventually be as successful – BATS is, after all, Basingstoke’s own semi-professional company and should be cherished!
“The best way you can show your support is to subscribe for the package deal of Beauty and the Beast and South Pacific, and thus safeguard the future of this fine Basingstoke company.”
The first of these two shows, Beauty and the Beast will take place in November, followed by the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic next May. To find out more about the subscription scheme, call Hannah Williams on 01256 322529 or you can also visit bats.net
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/trade_directory/