2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING PRESIDENTS REPORT
Geelong Lyric Theatre Society
2025 Annual General Meeting
Dear members, volunteers, creative teams, performers and supporters,
It is my pleasure to present the President’s Report for the 2025 year—another year of growth, resilience, and artistic achievement for Geelong Lyric Theatre Society. As we reflect on the past twelve months, it is clear that our society continues to strengthen its reputation as a leader in community theatre within the Geelong region. Our success this year has been shaped by the dedication of our people, the creativity of our production teams, and the strong sense of community that defines Lyric.
Productions & Artistic Achievements
2025 saw the culmination of two large-scale creative projects, each celebrating the depth of talent within our membership and the wider Geelong theatre community.
School of Rock – The Musical (May/June)
Our first major production of the year brought an incredible energy to The Play House. With a talented youth cast, a dynamic band of young musicians, and an enthusiastic creative team, School of Rock delivered sell-out audiences and brought many new families into the Lyric community. The production showcased our ability to support young performers while tackling technically complex, contemporary musicals.
Throughout 2025, significant planning went into Mamma Mia! - our blockbuster musical opening in October. Auditions, creative appointments, marketing development, and early production meetings demonstrated strong engagement from members and the public. The excitement around Mamma Mia! has reaffirmed Lyric’s strength in presenting well-known titles that attract wide audiences while building strong financial foundations for future seasons. The season of Mamma Mia! broke all box office expectations with a sold-out season and over 80% seats booked out by opening night.
On top of financial success the production gained critical acclaim from reviewers and audience feedback and received standing ovations to all 14 shows.
Looking Ahead: Beauty and the Beast (2026)
While not part of the 2025 performance calendar, extensive groundwork has been undertaken during the year for our 2026 season of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Creative planning, scenic design development, and preliminary budgeting have already positioned us for a memorable, family-focused production next year. Recent auditions saw over 150 candidates and resulting in an amazing cast.
Community Engagement & Membership
Our membership base continues to grow steadily. Many new families joined us through School of Rock, strengthening our youth engagement pipeline. This year we prioritised:
Improved parent and guardian communication
Better backstage processes
A strengthened focus on child safety and wellbeing
Enhanced induction procedures for cast and crew
We also saw higher volunteer engagement at working bees, marketing activities, and committee-supported events—reflecting a strong and committed community spirit. We continue to encourage more volunteer engagement to share the workload around of presenting high class local productions.
Committee & Governance
2025 has been a year of consolidation for the Committee. Key achievements include:
Continued development of long-term production planning (two–three years ahead)
Strengthening financial oversight and budgeting frameworks
Revising creative team contracts, policies, and onboarding material
Formalising processes for feedback and continuous improvement across productions
I would like to acknowledge the significant work of each committee member, who give countless hours to ensure Lyric remains a stable, transparent, and sustainable organisation. Their commitment to good governance and high production standards continues to elevate our society.
Financial Position
Despite rising production costs across the industry, Lyric remains in a strong financial position. School of Rock performed solidly at the box office and early indicators suggest Mamma Mia! will be our strongest season in recent years.
This stability has allowed the society to:
Invest in new scenic and technical assets
Improve storage and equipment
Support long-term production planning
Provide safe and high-quality resources for performers and volunteers
We remain cautious but optimistic as we navigate increasing production expenses, venue costs, and market fluctuations.
Marketing & Audience Development
2025 saw continued growth in Lyric’s digital presence. The launch of our new website which will continue to expand. Improvements in branding, social media content strategy, and online engagement have translated into stronger audience reach and higher audition turnout.
We continue to build recognisable, consistent marketing identities for each production, helping position Lyric as a contemporary and professional community theatre company.
Acknowledgements
To our creative teams, musicians, production crews, stage managers, volunteers, and front-of-house teams—thank you. Your work is the heart of our society.
To our cast members, both new and returning, thank you for sharing your passion and talent. Whether you are stepping on stage for the first time or the fiftieth, you are what brings Lyric’s vision to life.
To the families, sponsors, and supporters who back our productions—we are deeply grateful.
And finally, to the Committee—thank you for your dedication, resilience, and good humour throughout the year. It continues to be a privilege to serve as President alongside such a committed group of people.
Conclusion
2025 has been a year of artistic vibrancy, operational strengthening, and community connection for Geelong Lyric Theatre Society. As we prepare for the exciting work of 2026 and beyond, I am confident in our direction and our ability to continue presenting excellent musical theatre for the Geelong community.
Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to this society. I look forward to the year ahead.
President
Geelong Lyric Theatre Society