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Rules and Constitution

Willenhall Musical Theatre Company is governed by 50 rules, current as at August 2026. They set out what the company exists to do, who can join and what membership costs, how the Executive Committee is elected and how it runs the company, how shows and casts are chosen, and what members agree to when they take part. Recent rules cover safeguarding, data protection, young members, health and safety, equal opportunities and conduct at the theatre.

Who it is for
AnyoneWritten for anyone who wants to read it, member or not.
What it is
Governing document
Last updated
4 August 2026

The company's governing document, 50 numbered rules as at August 2026, covering the name and objectives, membership and subscriptions, the Executive Committee, finance, general meetings, how shows and casts are chosen, and members' obligations. It is reproduced in full inside the member pack, and this standalone copy is for the committee, new committee members and anyone who wants the rules on their own.

The headlines

  • 50 rules in total, current as at August 2026, where the 2014 constitution had far fewer
  • Membership is open to anyone aged 16 or over at the start of rehearsals unless the show requires otherwise, and every member has one vote
  • The company is run by an Executive Committee of Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary plus up to 10 further members, elected at the AGM
  • Rules 44 to 50 are the modern additions: safeguarding, data protection, members under 18, health and safety and emergencies, equal opportunities, communication with members, and conduct at the theatre
  • Under Rule 43 the Executive Committee can change the rules at any time by a two thirds majority, and the vote does not have to happen at a General Meeting
  • Rule 42 provides that on dissolution any remaining assets go to another charitable body with similar objectives

How the rules are grouped

Rules 1 to 3
what the company is and what it may do
Rules 4 to 14
membership, eligibility, subscriptions, resignation and honorary life membership
Rules 15 to 20
the Executive Committee, its meetings, powers, finance and financial year
Rules 21 to 28
the AGM, retirement of officers, the Presidency, special general meetings, quorum, resolutions and notice
Rules 29 to 40
choosing shows, production team and cast, rehearsals, tickets, attendance and production money
Rules 41 to 50
social media, dissolution, altering the rules, and the modern safeguarding, data protection, under-18, health and safety, equal opportunities, communication and theatre conduct rules

The fifty rules

  1. 1Name
  2. 2Objectives
  3. 3Powers
  4. 4Membership
  5. 5Eligibility for Membership
  6. 6Applications for Membership
  7. 7Capabilities of Candidates for Membership
  8. 8Expulsion of Members
  9. 9Subscriptions and Fees
  10. 10Payment of Subscriptions
  11. 11Non-Payment of Subscriptions
  12. 12Adjustment of Subscriptions
  13. 13Resignations
  14. 14Honorary Life Members
  15. 15Executive Committee
  16. 16Executive Committee Members not to be Personally Interested
  17. 17Meetings of Executive Committee
  18. 18Executive Committee's Powers
  19. 19Finance
  20. 20Financial Year
  21. 21Annual General Meeting
  22. 22Retirement of Officers and Executive Committee
  23. 23Presidency
  24. 24Special General Meetings
  25. 25Procedure at General Meetings
  26. 26Quorum at General Meetings
  27. 27Resolution at General Meeting
  28. 28Notice of General Meeting
  29. 29Selection of Works
  30. 30Selection of Production Team
  31. 31Selection of Cast
  32. 32Revision of Cast
  33. 33Obligations of Acting Members
  34. 34Control of Rehearsals
  35. 35Tickets
  36. 36Attendance at Rehearsals and Performances
  37. 37Acting Members in excess of Requirements
  38. 38Production Money (Ticket Money)
  39. 39Production Account
  40. 40Recovery of Money due to Company
  41. 41Social Media
  42. 42Dissolution of Company
  43. 43Alteration to Rules
  44. 44Safeguarding
  45. 45Data Protection
  46. 46Members Under 18
  47. 47Health, Safety and Emergencies
  48. 48Equal Opportunities
  49. 49Communication with Members
  50. 50Conduct at the Theatre and During Show Week

The Annual General Meeting

The AGM is held in September, or as soon as practicable afterwards, and is chaired by the Presidents. The Secretary gives at least 14 days' notice to every member, with the audited accounts, nominations for the committee and auditor, and any proposal to elect an honorary life member. All members may attend and vote, and each has one vote.

The committee presents its report and the audited accounts for the past year, and the officers, the rest of the Executive Committee, an auditor and any honorary life members are elected for the year ahead. Nominations must reach the Secretary in writing at least 14 days beforehand, though nominations can be taken at the meeting for any position still unfilled, and a contested position is decided by ballot. The whole committee and the auditor retire annually but may stand again, and casual vacancies are filled by co-option.

A quorum is not less than 50 per cent of the registered membership. Resolutions pass on a bare majority unless a rule says otherwise, with the Chair holding a casting vote. The financial year runs from 1 September, and the accounts are prepared within two months of 31 August.

A Special General Meeting can be called by the committee, or within 14 days of a written request signed by at least 12 members, and only the stated business may be transacted.

Getting a copy

The full 50 rules are not on the website as a file yet. Ask any committee member or the Secretary for a copy. The rules are also reproduced in full inside the member pack.

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