"THE MARTYN GROGAN ARTS CENTRE"
The proposal to rename The Ridings Arts Centre at The Winterbourne International Academy.

A proposal for the adoption of the name "The Martyn Grogan Arts Centre" was submitted to Winterbourne International Academy Senior Management and the Chair of the Board of Trustees in early May for consideration at a Trustees' Meeting in June, so we are sad that within days of our application this proposal was refused by Adam Williams: this decision fell to him as an ex-officio Trustee and Chief Executive, after consulting with Mr A Lazarides, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

He thanked us for our compelling documentation and acknowledged the impact that Martyn had made on the school and pupils, but that "naming a building after somebody is a serious commitment and, in doing so, there is something implied regarding the efforts and impact of that person above and beyond others who worked there at that time. I am uncomfortable with this implication and would not wish for other staff members, many of whom have given just as much of themselves to their vocation, both within and beyond the Arts Centre, to feel somewhat unappreciated".

One very positive comment has been received so far: "The diverse and impressive line-up Martyn brought about at the Arts Centre is no longer happening. In this case I wonder if the dedication of this building to his memory is really so fitting. In my mind his name should be associated with a building or place where the arts are thriving: a living, breathing, vibrant artistic space - or even a festival or an award. He was, after all, bigger than the building, and his achievements in education and theatre both pre and post-dated it".
If you have a comment, please let me know.

History of the Arts Centre.

The first plans for the Sixth Form block and school Arts Centre were drawn up during Miss Sedgwick's Headship, but it was not until the arrival of Dr Rob Gibson as Head that Martyn Grogan's vision for the completed Arts Centre to become a culture centre for the local and wider area became a reality, with the first show being presented in April 1996.

Martyn and Jan Grogan were a formidable team, and went on to produce exciting programmes of music, Dance, theatre and entertainment for both the school and wider community - and students benefitted from exciting afternoon workshops with the performers. This continued for more than ten years.

Martyn was a very persuasive person - he persuaded both Fred Wedlock and Chris Harris to be regular performers and to become patrons. He persuaded Steve Berkoff to perform his one-man show "Shakespeare's Villains" (1998) and Mr Berkoff was so impressed by Martyn's commitment to Theatre and the Arts that he arranged for the actress Linda Marlowe to premier her new one-woman show "Berkoff's Women" at The Arts Centre (1999 and again in 2001). It was a great privilege for the school and yet another feather in the cap for Martyn.

The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School students were delighted to be asked to perform at the venue and for several years they came along to entertain with their West Country Touring productions, and the National Theatre brought their touring production of "Twelfth Night" in 1998.

Great bands, legendary artists, touring groups, actors and companies, all said the same thing: the venue was exceedingly popular with them because of the warm welcome and respect they were accorded by Martyn and his team of student helpers.

Many of the bands, groups and artists brought their own followers with them: for some performances we had people who had travelled from Manchester, Taunton, London and Essex!

Later on in the life of the Arts Centre, students were given the opportunity to learn stage lighting and sound and used their acquired skills at actual peformances.
The stage lighting and sound system for the use in the Arts Centre as a public venue was part-funded by Winterbourne Parish Council after an application from Martyn to the WPC.

Martyn retired in 2012 after over thirty-five years service. Since then the Centre has no longer functioned as a community venue, but his legacy as an inspirational teacher lives on in the legions of ex-students who remember happy school days with a teacher who shaped their lives.
Steven Berkoff sent his condolences to the family when he heard the sad news that Martyn had died on 30th November, and on the evening of his funeral, many people attended a theatre performance by Gemma Bolwell, one of Martyn's students from long ago. She dedicated that night's performance to Martyn:

"This evening's performance of 'How to Reappear' is dedicated to Martyn Grogan, an inspirational Drama teacher who sadly passed away on 30th November. Without him there would be less thought-provoking theatre in the world and fewer people performing it. He taught us how to face the stage and life with courage, energy, commitment and self-belief. He will be missed"

The recent production of "Oliver" at the school was dedicated to Martyn (Martyn employed both Lewis Groves and Lisa Benbow, current Drama teachers at the school).

Many ex-students expected that after Martyn's death that school Senior Staff in the new school building would take the opportunity to rename the old Arts Centre and Sixth-Form block in memory of an inspirational man and teacher.
The proposal for the adoption of the name "The Martyn Grogan Arts Centre" was submitted on behalf of ex-students to Winterbourne International Academy Senior Management and the Chair of the Board of Trustees in early May for consideration at a Trustees' Meeting in June. We are sad that this proposal has been refused.

Shows at the Arts Centre

    Date             Event    and   Genre

25-Apr-96    Metamorphosis (Everyman)------ Drama 06-Jun-96    Tempest (Everyman) ------ Drama 19-Sep-96    What Four ------ Jazz 25-Sep-96    Mark Eden-Chris Stell Duo --- Classical Guitar 10-Oct-96    End of the Pier (Everyman) -- Drama 16-Oct-96    Rick Payne unplugged ------ Blues 30-Oct-96    Dr Miracle Bristol Opera 06-Nov-96   Caligula (Kaos) ------ Drama 08-Jan-97    Brass, Bells and Barbershop --- Musical entertainment 16-Jan-97    Keith Tippett ------ Jazz 23-Jan-97    Circus Maniacs ------ Circus 30-Jan-97    Fred Wedlock ------ Legend! 05-Feb-97    Bristol Bach Choir ------ Choral 20-Feb-97    Kemp's Jig (Chris Harris) ---- Drama 09-Apr-97    Hess (Kai Barron) ------ Drama 16-Apr-97    Merchant of Venice (Compass) --- Drama 24-Apr-97    Any String Goes ------ String Quartet 04-Jun-97    Duende Folk ------ Latin American 11-Jun-97    Russell Edwards Duo ------ Flute and Guitar 19-Jun-97    Paul Jones and Dave Kelly ------ Blues Legends! 26-Jun-97    Tir Na Nog (Travelling Light) --- Drama 02-Jul-97     Canterbury Tales (BOVTS) --- Drama 10-Sep-97    Benefit Concert ------ Rock 18-Sep-97    Manon Morris Harp ------ Concert Harp 25-Sep-97    Fever ------ Drama 01-Oct-97    Sally Flann and Andrew Bullock, Cello and Pianoforte 09-Oct-97    Surviving Bluebeard (Orchard) ------ Drama 16-Oct-97    Crazy Rhythm ------ Gypsy Jazz 23-Oct-97    Gee Baby I Love You ------ Soul 06-Nov-97   Importance of Being Earnest (Kaos) ------ Drama 08-Jan-98    Courtship (Kim Hicks) ------ Drama 15-Jan-98    Polly ands the Phonics Harmony 21-Jan-98    Keith and Julie Tippett Jazz - contemporary 29-Jan-98    Fabulous Wounds (Earthfall) --- Dance Contemporary 05-Feb-98    Premiere Brass Quintet ------ Brass Ensemble 12-Feb-98    Beemaster (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 25-Feb-98    Twelfth Night (National) ------ Drama 26-Feb-98    Fred Wedlock ------ Legend! 04-Mar-98    Philip Gross and Miranda Garland Music and Poetry 22-Apr-98    Conall Yellowclaw (Kaos) ------ Drama 23-Apr-98    Albion Band ------ Folk Legends! 29-Apr-98    Julie Felix ------ Folk Legend! 28-May-98   Fairport Acoustic Convention ------Folk Legends! 03-Jun-98    Tempest (Compass) ------ Drama 11-Jun-98    Sally Barker Group ------ Folk 17-Jun-98    April in Paris (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 18-Jun-98    Anusha Subramanyam ------ Bharatnatyam Classical Indian Dance 24-Jun-98    Mistero Buffo (Kai Barron) Drama 25-Jun-98    Great Western Chorus ------ Barbershop 01-Jul-98     Under the Greenwood Tree ------ Drama 09-Jul-98     Affinity - All That Jazz 16-Jul-98     Electric Lobsters ------ Rock and Roots 09-Sep-98    Joe Brown ------ Legend! 10-Sep-98    Bibs Ekkel and Slandra Alexandrov -- Balalaika 17-Sep-98    Imule ------ Dance, African 18-Sep-98    Helena ------ Guitar 23-Sep-98    Rick Payne ------ Blues 24-Sep-98    Zi Lan Liao ------ Chinese Dance 28-Sep-98    Bouncers (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 30-Sep-98    Paul Jones and Dave Kelly ------ Blues Legends! 07-Oct-98    Messing With Medea (Orchard) ------ Drama 14-Oct-98    Alice, The Way Back (Everyman) ------ Drama 15-Oct-98    Zubop Jazz - Afro Latin 21-Oct-98    Legend of the Creaking Floorboard (Horse and Bamboo) ------ Drama 22-Oct-98    Huw and Tony Williams ------ Folk 23-Oct-98    Shakespeare's Villains (Steven Berkoff) ------ Legend! 04-Nov-98   Master and Margarita (Kaos) ------ Drama 28-Jan-99    Effie's Burning (Crisp) ------ Drama 15-Apr-99    Kissing Sid James (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 22-Apr-99    Carmina ------ Celtic fusion 28-Apr-99    Metropolis (Kaos) ------ Drama 05-May-99   Rococco Blood (Earthfall) ------ Contemporary Dance 06-May-99   Berkoff's Women (Linda Marlowe) ------ Legend! 10-Jun-99    Crazy Rhythm -------- Gypsy Guitar 17-Jun-99    Rolling Clones ------ Tribute 23-Jun-99    Tim Van Eyken and Robert Harbron -----Folk 24-Jun-99    Spaghetti Western-Super-Mare (Big State) ------ Drama 30-Jun-99    Sweet Dreams (BioDance) ------ Dance 07-Jul-99     Orit Wolf Classical Piano 08-Jul-99     Hard Times (BOVTS) ------ Drama 15-Jul-99     Helen Shapiro ------ Legend! 16-Sep-99    Wurzels + Colvin and Quarmby ------ Legend! 22-Sep-99    Bristol Baroque Ensemble ------ Chamber Music 29-Sep-99    Faustus (Ophaboom) ------ Drama 30-Sep-99    Bob Hall Show ------ boogiewoogie 06-Oct-99    Albion Band ------ Folk Legends! 08-Oct-99    Teechers (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 13-Oct-99    Four Pennies ------ Legend! 20-Oct-99    Project Georges Brassens Gypsy Swing 21-Oct-99    Edge of Day - Laurie Lee ------ Tribute Music and Poetry 04-Nov-99    Golden Goose (Lantern) ------ Drama 12-Jan-00    Ludwig Beatles ------ Tribute 19-Jan-00    Allan Schiller ------ Classical Piano 27-Jan-00    Paul Jones and Fiona Hendley ------ Blues ------ Legend! 02-Feb-00    WAZ ------ Folk 03-Feb-00    Groove Tube - Hot Rox ------ Rock 10-Feb-00    Kemp's Jig (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 16-Feb-00    Beach Boys Inc ------ Tribute 17-Feb-00    Matilda (Imule) ------ Drama 02-Mar-00    Fred Wedlock - Adults Only ------ Legend! 12-Apr-00    Humphrey Littleton Jazz ------ Legend! 03-May-00    Merchant of Venice (Barebones) ------ Drama 27-May-00    Showdown Song and ------ Dance 07-Jun-00    Kelvin Henderson Band ---- Country Music 14-Jun-00    Paul Jones and Dave Kelly ------ Blues Legends! 22-Jun-00    Bristol Baroque Ensemble ------ Chamber Music 29-Jun-00    Julie Felix Folk ------ Legend! 05-Jul-00     Legend of Robin Hood (BOVTS) ------ Drama 06-Jul-00     Rollin Clones ------ Tribute 13-Jul-00     Midsummer Night's Dream (WCT) ------ Drama 19-Jul-00     Abba Gold ------ Tribute 2 nights 14-Sep-00    George Melly and John Chiltern's Feetwarmers ------ Jazz Legends! 20-Sep-00    Nuclear Fish ------ Rock 28-Sep-00    Electric Lobsters and Colvin and Quarmby ------ Ceilidh Band 08-Oct-00    Teechers (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 2 nights 11-Oct-00    Great Western Chorus ------ Choral 12-Oct-00    Gee Baby I Love You ------ Soul 18-Oct-00    Stacey Kent and Band ------ Jazz 01-Nov-00    Sinbad the Sailor (Lantern) ------ Drama 02-Nov-00    The Girl Who Cut Flowers (Horse and Bamboo) ------ Drama 02-May-01    John Mills and Guests ------ Classical Guitar 09-May-01    Frankenstein (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 2 nights 17-May-01    Naked Voices ------ Acapella 23-May-01    Comedy of Errors (WCT) ------ Drama 05-Jun-01    Agamemnon ------ Drama 20-Jun-01    Blues Band ------ Legend! 11-Jul-01     Beijing Opera ------ Chinese Opera 13-Sep-01    Wurzels + West Country Life ------ Legend! 19-Sep-01    Beauty and the Beast (Festival of Fools) ------ Drama 26-Sep-01    Elaine Delmar ------ Jazz singer 03-Oct-01    Spiro ------ Music 11-Oct-01    Allan Schiller ------ Classical Piano 17-Oct-01    Mella Faye and the Big Band ------ Jazz 18-Oct-01    Berkoff's Women (Linda Marlowe) ------ Legend! 24-Oct-01    September in the Rain (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 2 nights 08-Nov-01    Firebird (Multistory) ------ Drama 27-Nov-01    Frog Princess (Lantern) ------ Drama 4 nights 16-Jan-02    Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen------ Jazz Legends! 24-Jan-02    Zango Zimbabwe ------ Dance 31-Jan-02    Young Rock Band Night ------ Rock 07-Feb-02    Fred Wedlock, Hannah Wedlock and the Blue Notes ------ Legends! 21-Feb-02    That's the Way to Do It! (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 2 nights 27-Feb-02    Macbeth and Twelfth Night(WCT) ------ Drama 28-Feb-02    Bob Hall Show ------ Folk 25-Apr-02    Popcorn ------ Drama 25-Apr-02    Whole Lotta Led ------ Tribute 03-May-02    Earthfall Residency ------ Dance - contemporary 09-May-02    Pair of Beauties (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 2 nights 15-May-02    Gordon Giltrap ------ Guitar 23-May-02    Kate and Liesl ------ Flute 29-May-02    Robin Hood (Ophaboom) ------ Drama 05-Jun-02    Yerma ------ Drama 2 nights 14-Jun-02    Chas and Dave ------ Legend! 20-Jun-02    Sally Barker ------ Vocalist 21-Jun-02    Beach Boys Inc ------ Tribute 26-Jun-02    Bharatnatyam ------ Classical Indian Dance 03-Jul-02     Love's Labours Lost (BOVTS) ------ Drama 2 nights 11-Jul-02     Paul Jones and Dave Kelly ------ Blues Legends! 18-Jul-02     Helen Shapiro Farewell Concert Tour ------ Legend! 19-Jul-02     Samba Time ------ Dance 12-Sep-02    Wurzels and Fred Wedlock ------ Legend! 19-Sep-02    Vadim Peaceman and Erika Nastrom Classical 26-Sep-02    Chimanimani ------ Zimbabwe 02-Oct-02    Comets ------ Rock 10-Oct-02    Mella Faye and the Big Band ------ Jazz Funk 16-Oct-02    Hells Bells ------ Tribute 30-Oct-02    Charlotte Salomon (Company of Angels)(Horse and Bamboo) ------ Drama 31-Oct-02    The Great British Jazz Band ------ Jazz Legends 13-Nov-02    Temperance Seven ------ Legend! 18-Nov-02    Can't Stand Up For Falling Down (Earthfall) ------ Contemporary Dance 27-Nov-02    Robin Hood (Lanternfish) ------ Drama 3 nights 15-Jan-03    Blues Band ------ Blues Legends! 23-Jan-03    Whole Lotta Led ------ Tribute 06-Feb-03    Ally Slopers Half Holiday (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 07-Feb-03    Beemaster (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 08-Feb-03    Around the World in 40 Years with Chris Harris ------ Drama 13-Feb-03    The Stones (Travelling Light) ------ Drama 19-Mar-03    Barron Knights ------ Legend! 03-Apr-03    Twelfth Night/Macbeth (WCT) ------ Drama 10-Apr-03    Young Rock Bands Night ------ Rock 02-May-03    Earthfall Residency ------ Contemporary Dance - 07-May-03    Otis Grand and his Big Blues Band 20-May-03    Albert Nobbs (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 2 nights 06-Jun-03    London Pergolesi Sinfonietta ------ Concert 19-Jun-03    An Evening with Roy Hattersley ------ Legend! 03-Jul-03     B'Eagles ------ Tribute 11-Jul-03     Brecht Residency (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 17-Jul-03     Hells Bells ------ Tribute 11-Sep-03    Wurzels +West Country Life ------ Legend! 18-Sep-03    Rock Night 25-Sep-03    Beach Boys Inc ------ Tribute 01-Oct-03    Yakabaka Music from Zimbabwe 08-Oct-03    Lears Daughters (Yellow Earth) ------ Drama 16-Oct-03    Rock Night 23-Oct-03    History of Comedy (Olly Crick) ------ Drama 12-Nov-03    Whole Lotta Led ------ Tribute 26-Nov-03    Aladdin (Lanternfish) ------ Drama 3 nights 22-Apr-04    Life's a Beach (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 09-Sep-04    Wurzels ------ Legends! 16-Sep-04    Kurt Stevens Vocalist 23-Sep-04    Whole Lotta Led ------ Tribute 29-Sep-04    Young Bands Night ------ Rock 07-Oct-04    B'Eagles ------ Tribute 14-Oct-04    Hannah and Hannah ------ Drama 04-Nov-04    Young Bands Night ------ Rock 10-Nov-04    A Strange Event (Horse and Bamboo) ------ Drama 24-Nov-04    Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates ------ Drama 3 nights 19-Jan-06     Pirates of the River Severn (Old Spot) ------ Drama 10-May-06    I Want that Hair (Hull Truck) ------ Drama 21-Sep-06    Ben Badoo ------ African Drumming 27-Sep-06    Virgins (Company of Angels) ------ Drama 12-Oct-06    Young Bands Night ------ Rock 09-Nov-06    Young Bands Night ------ Rock 23-Nov-06    Ali Baba (Lanternfish) ------ Drama 2 nights 11-Jan-07    Sgt Peppers Only Darts Board Band ------ Tribute 18-Jan-07    Gloucester Scaramouche (Old Spot) ------ Drama 01-Feb-07    Young Bands Night    ------ Rock 08-Feb-07    Good Person of Szechwuan (Scene) ------ Drama 15-Feb-07    Paul Jones and Dave Kelly    ------ Blues 08-Mar-07    Night at the Pantomime (Chris Harris) ------ Drama 29-Mar-07    Young Bands Night    ------ Rock 27-Apr-07    Earthfall Residency    ------ Dance - contemporary 10-May-07    Young Bands Night    ------ Rock 14-Jun-07    Tattercoats (Multistory) - matinee ------ Drama 14-Jun-07    Beast in our Backyard (Multistory) ------ Drama 21-Jun-07    Young Bands Night ------ Rock 05-Jul-07     Alllan Schiller Classical Piano 11-Oct-07    Truckstop (Eastern Angles/Company of Angels)    ------ Drama 18-Oct-07    Man Equals Man    ------ Drama 15-Jan-09    King of Spain's Daughter (Old Spot)    ------ Drama 07-May-09   Dancing With Angels    ------ Drama 04-Feb-10    Chancers (Old Spot)    ------ Drama 04-Mar-10    Me and Me Dad (Hull Truck)    ------ Drama 24-Nov-11    Red Riding Hood (Horse and Bamboo)    ------ Drama

The original Arts Centre archives have not yet been found. This list has been compiled from my own notes and sources and may not be complete.
Cast lists and programmes for plays will be deposited in the archives of the University of Bristol Theatre Collection after this submission.
John Kite 16 March 2016

Sponsors of The Arts Centre productions:

   Airmec
   Barclays
   British Aerospace
   Brookers Mobile Bars
   Courtstall Services
   Curtis-Cryer
   David Powell
   Direct Associates
   Donovan Construction
   Edit Concepts
   Elite Hygiene Services
   Forum
   Investment SouthWest Arts
   Jarvis Grange
   Joe Public
   Keller Accountants
   Kestrel Design
   Kirby Simcox
   Kronenberg1664
   Lionel Saunders
   McKendrick Norcott
   Page
   Pearce Construction
   Pipewise
   Power Electrics
   Rolls-Royce
   Sharemills Building Contractors
   South Gloucester Council
   Stage Coach Tickets
   Tardis Internet
   The Wheatsheaf
   Winterbourne Motors

The University of Bristol has an excellent on-line archive of actors and plays and is well worth a visit at
# The University of Bristol Theatre Collection.