The AGM took place as scheduled on 15th May 2012, at the Art Workers’ Guild, London, where some 50 members were present to conduct the business on the agenda, enjoy canapés and a glass of wine afterwards.

That meeting concluded the Society’s programme for this year, which included eight lectures, plus the Wickham Lecture in Bristol and the Craig Lecture at the Central School of Speech and Drama, the STR-Poel Event 2011 at the National Theatre, the STR Theatre Book Prize for 2011 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and the trip to Ellen Terry’s cottage at Winchelsea with the Irving Society.

Arrangements for next year, to begin with the first lecture in the Annual Series in October, are well in hand and will be announced in the Hon Secretaries’ newsletter in mid-September. Meanwhile there is the Annual Publication, Margaret Leask’s biography of actress Lena Ashwell, to come next month, followed by Issues 2 & 3 of Volume 66 of Theatre Notebook.

Following the AGM, Professor Christopher Baugh presented the Annual Address – 100 Years of Scenography: The British Contribution. Prof. Baugh is Vice-Chairman of the Society for Theatre Research, Emeritus Professor of Performance and Technology at the University of Leeds, and Professor of Theatre at the University of Hull. He lectures on staging histories, especially mid 17th century to mid 19th century, places of performance, and above all scenography, practice and theory. His research has been split between his practice as a scenographer, his writing about contemporary scenography and his interests in its history and theory.

A short account of his address will be posted on the website in due course.