THE THRESHOLD THEATRE COMPANY

RULES

2nd Edition

1. TITLE

The name of the Company shall be “The Threshold Theatre Company”.
The Company shall remain affiliated to the parent Society “The Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society”.

2. OBJECTS

(i) To train and help young and inexperienced people to gain a good knowledge of all aspects of operatic and dramatic arts.

(ii) To educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts.

In furtherance of the above objects but not further or otherwise the Company shall have the following powers:

(a) to promote plays, drama, comedies, musical shows and other dramatic and operatic works of educative value.

(b) to purchase, acquire and obtain interests in the copyright of or the right to perform or show any such dramatic and musical works.

(c) to hold regular workshops to educate the Company in all aspects of the theatre.

(d) to purchase or otherwise acquire plant, machinery, furniture, fixtures, fittings, scenery, costumes and all other necessary effects.

(e) to raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise; provided that the Company shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds.

(e) to do such other lawful things as shall further the objects of the Company.

3. MEMBERSHIP

(a) The membership of the Company shall consist of Acting and Non-Acting Members and may also include as Honorary Life Members such persons as shall have rendered special services to the Group.

(b) Membership shall be open to all those having sympathy with the objects of the Company and desiring actively to further it and to pay the annual subscription prescribed by the rules.

(c) Applications for membership shall be made in writing, signed by the applicant, to the Secretary.

(d) Prior to election all candidates for Acting membership shall satisfy the Committee as to their histrionic and/or musical ability.

4. FRIENDS

The position of Friend of the Company shall be open to all those having sympathy with the objects of the Company. On payment of an annual subscription to be determined by the Committee they shall be entitled to have their names printed in the Company’s Programme and enjoy such privileges as the Committee may from time to time determine. They shall be entitled to participate in all social events of the Company and to attend all General meetings of the Company but shall not have voting rights at any such meetings.

5. OFFICERS

The Officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary. All candidates for the post of Chairman shall be approved by the Committee of the Company’s parent Society “The Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society”.

6. COMMITTEE

(a) The property and funds and the management of the affairs of the Company shall be vested in a Committee consisting of the Officers plus five other Members.

(b) Sub-Committees shall be made up of Committee members or a majority of Committee members. A quorum for meetings of the Sub-Committees shall contain a majority of Committee members. all acts and proceedings of Sub-Committees shall be reported back to the Committee as soon as possible.

(c) No Member shall be proposed for election to the Committee without his or her prior consent.

(d) The Officers and Members of the Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations in writing for Officers and Committee Members shall be in the hands of the Secretary seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

(e) In the event of a vacancy occurring during the year the Committee shall have the power to fill the same until the next Annual General Meeting.

7. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

(a) Any Officer or Member of the Company who, in the opinion of the Committee confirmed by a Special General Meeting of the Company, shall be guilty by his/her actions of misusing the privileges of the Company or of otherwise bringing the Company into contempt or disrepute may be suspended or expelled from the Company. The Officer or Member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Meeting before a final decision is made.

(b) The Committee may, by a unanimous vote, remove from the list of Members the name of any Member who has persistently neglected the work undertaken by the Group or whose conduct they consider likely to endanger the welfare of the Company.

8. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Annual Subscription for membership of the Company shall be at such rates as the Committee may from time to time determine.

9. FINANCE

(a) The funds of the Company shall be applied solely to the stated objects of the Company.

(b) No Member of the Company shall receive payment directly or indirectly for services to the Company or for other than reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses incurred in its work.

(c) The financial year of the Company shall end on 30th September annually.

10. SELECTION OF SHOW, AUDITIONS AND CASTING OF PRODUCTIONS

The selection and casting of productions to be performed shall be the responsibility of the Committee. the Committee reserves the right to invite alternative auditionees for a particular part/s if, in its opinion, no suitable person has applied. the Committee shall also have the power to revise the cast from time to time if, in its opinion, a person proves to be unsuitable for a part for which he/she has been cast.

11. ATTENDANCE AT REHEARSALS

A register of attendances at rehearsals shall be kept and any Member who has attended less than 75% of the rehearsals for which he/she has been called shall render himself/herself liable, at the discretion of the Committee to be excluded from taking part in the production. Any Member not having paid his/her subscription by the 4th rehearsal of the current production shall be liable to the same penalty.

12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Company shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Committee and not less than 14 days notice of the Meeting shall be given by the Secretary to each Member. At this Meeting the Chairman shall present the Annual Report of the Committee for the past year; the treasurer shall present the Financial Statement; the Officers and Members of the Committee for the ensuing year shall be elected and such other business as may be necessary in the interests of the Company shall be transacted.

13. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

In addition to the Annual General Meetings of the Company, Special General Meetings may be held at any time the Committee deem necessary and the business of a Special General Meeting shall be set forth in a notice calling the Meeting. Special General Meetings shall be convened by the Secretary within 21 days of receipt of a written request by any 6 Members. Not less than 14 clear days notice of a Special General Meeting shall be given to every Member.

14. QUORUM AT GENERAL MEETING

No business other than the formal adjournment of the Meeting shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum be present and such quorum shall consist of not less than 15 persons or one tenth of he Membership whichever is the greater, present.

15. RESOLUTION AT GENERAL MEETING

Unless otherwise provided by these Rules all Resolutions brought forward at a General Meeting shall be decided by a bare majority of the votes properly recorded at such a Meeting and in the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

16. DISSOLUTION

The Company shall only be dissolved:

(a) by the Main Committee of the Parent Company, The Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society, if in its opinion, the Company has failed in its objects or if the Company incurs such losses as to render it uneconomic to be supported further by the Parent Company.

(b) by Resolution passed by a majority of at least five sixths of the Members present at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose, of which 21 days notice shall have been given to the Members.

In the event of Dissolution any balance of cash remaining in hand after the realisation of assets and payment of debts shall not be paid to or distributed among the Members of the Company but shall be given to the Committee of the parent company The Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society to be distributed as they shall determine.

17. RULES

(a) No alteration to any of these Rules shall be made except at a General Meeting nor unless 21 days prior to such Meeting a written notice of the proposed alteration or of one substantially to the like effect shall have been given to the Secretary who shall give 14 days notice thereof to the Members and the Resolution embodying such proposed alteration shall be carried by a majority of at least two thirds of the votes recorded thereon a the Meeting.

(b) The Committee shall have the power to decide upon and contingencies not provided for by the Rules, its decision in all cases being final.