Farewell Mr Mayflower

Chief executive Dennis Hall retired yesterday after more than a quarter of a century at the helm of one of Britain’s most successful regional theatres.

But it wasn’t always that way.

In 1982, owners the Rank Organisation applied to change the use of the theatre to a bingo hall, sparking a public inquiry and strong opposition from the Save The Gaumont Committee, who presented a 93,000-signature petition against the move.

Southampton City Council, supported by Hampshire County Council and the Arts Council of Great Britain, purchased the now Grade II Listed building with the intention of handing over control to an independent charitable trust.

But they needed to appoint a leader with a visionary approach.

Looking relaxed at his desk all these years later, that man recalls his first days in the job.

“I arrived to take up the post in November 1985 and it was a challenge to say the least,” smiles Dennis.

“I was working as the Bournemouth Entertainments Manager for eight years before coming here and I’d always been aware of The Gaumont because of its terrific history of rock and pop and I always had the belief that with what we have here, it could become a terrific theatre.

“But Rank had run it down badly over ten years as a justification for changing its use to a bingo hall and my first impression was that the staff were completely disenfranchised.

“I was taken up to the offices and what struck me first was the stench of nicotine. Then I went into the auditorium and that was an experience!

“I hadn’t really appreciated what it was used for if there were no productions in, but there they were, nine men and a dog watching a soft porn movie!”

A year-long £4m refurbishment saw the stage gutted, an orchestra pit installed and a host of other changes made to the dock, dressing rooms, front of house, offices, bars and foyer. It also included the introduction of a computerised box office and the latest sound and lighting systems.

“I stood in the dress circle one day and they were excavating the pit. They actually found a water house down there so there’s a pump keeping the water table below the pit all the time.

“I thought to myself, well if it doesn’t go well we can always flood it and put the Romans and the Christians in there and have a war. That used to sell a lot of tickets!

“The whole thing was an amazing feat I have to say.”

In February 1987, The Mayflower opened with a production of Peter Pan starring Bonnie Langford, followed by a televised gala opening ceremony starring Neil Sedaka. The first season, in which Dennis hoped to provide variety and demonstrate to Southampton audiences that this was their theatre, included everything from the Royal Shakespeare Company to The Pogues.

Persuading Cameron Mackintosh that a visit by Cats would not detract from his West End audiences was a major coup and since then most of his and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hits have visited Southampton. Huge audiences have enjoyed Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Starlight Express and many more.

“They have made British theatre what it is and from there, others like Disney have followed,” Dennis continues.

“It’s made my job a lot easier. We now have producers crawling over themselves to get dates here.”

The 65-year-old leaves a legacy of two years of scheduling, including some top yet to be announced musicals. The Lion King is even expected to visit during its 2014 tour.

During his 26-year tenure, Dennis has overseen three Royal visits and saw The Mayflower become the first provincial theatre to invest in a West End musical.

That was Buddy and it had a special resonance for him after hearing on AFN Radio as a 12-year-old at boarding school that Buddy Holly had been killed.

“It rather put a dampener on things I must say,” he laughs.”

“But I thought his music would make a spectacular show and it did. We made a small investment and had our money back many times over as well as having it back to The Mayflower.”

A self-confessed drama nut, Dennis turned down a place at RADA, but still had a longing for theatre. His one showbiz regret is refusing an offer by his old pal Lenny Henry to manage his career.

Pantomime also played a huge part in the success of the theatre. From Babes in the Wood starring Les Dawson, a wall of programmes in the chief executive’s office reads like a who’s who of showbiz.

Dennis describes Christmas show White Christmas as the best thing we’ve ever done and enjoyed a farewell party with colleagues and friends, hosted by Christopher Biggins, who most recently starred in Aladdin.

And it is with a recent pantomime launch that Dennis leaves his post to spend more time with wife Sharon, daughter Nicola and his two grandsons Harry, aged five, and Ben, who is nearly two, before considering a few offers of work next year.

This year’s Jack and the Beanstalk is the first of three festive shows in a deal he signed with Qdos Entertainment and, although they missed out on John Barrowman in a starring role this year, it is hoped he will appear in future.

Dennis is going out on a high, but what is the secret of his success?

“It’s a cliché, but this is The Mayflower family. Nobody is better than anyone else and that permeates right through. We reinvest in the building and we make sure everyone is happy.

“In Premier League terms, we’re the Manchester City or United, Chelsea or Arsenal, one of the top provincial theatres. And that’s not just down to me, it’s because of everybody here.

“It’s what sits on that stage that makes us successful and I’m always pushing everyone to come up with new ideas.

“We’ve had some difficult times no doubt, but the audience trusts us, which is why when we’ve put on experimental things like Slava’s Snow Show, they have come along in their droves. That’s because of the quality of what we do.

“I will miss standing at the back of the circle watching anything between 1,500 and 2,300 people having a bloody good night.

“It’s been an amazing journey. I’ve had a ball and now I’ve decided to move on.

“The Mayflower is my baby, I created it and I have a great affection for it. I’m going to miss the staff who have grown to be friends as much as colleagues.

But not too much! I’ve made the decision for the right reasons.

“The foundations are strong here. It’s so important to the life of Southampton and the region. This is a great, great British theatre. I wish The Mayflower well.” n Michael Ockwell has been appointed to the new role. Currently chief executive of the Grand Opera House in Belfast, he will take up his post on Monday.