the legal 500 – law
Michael Ockwell and Nick Vaughan
“What Paris Smith does so well is to spread its support across the whole community – in the arts, sport and leisure. The success of all these sectors brings inward investment to the city.”
As well as the Mayflower, the firm advises Southampton’s Nuffield Theatre. “Our involvement with arts organisations goes back a long way. It’s great for Paris Smith to be able to help a charity like the Mayflower that, in turn, provides such important support to the local community,” said Vaughan.
Looking ahead
The theatre’s future is about putting on the right shows at the right time across the year, but for Ockwell it extends beyond what you see on stage. His passion for theatre – both acting and managing – began at an early age and he is determined the Mayflower continues to attract young audiences. The refurbishment was billed as a ‘regeneration for the future generation’.
“The arts give people of all ages brilliant life experiences that can set them up for the future. That’s what we want to achieve. The great thing about our relationship with Paris Smith is that they put their money where their mouth is in supporting our community activities,” he said.
Paris Smith’s sponsorship was recently confirmed for a further two years. The firm’s logo on the stage’s fire curtain leaves audiences in no doubt how entwined it is in the Mayflower’s past and future.
Vaughan noted that the theatre makes an exceptional venue for corporate hospitality and hosting charity events. “Going to the theatre as part of a corporate event is a very inclusive experience that both guests and their partners always enjoy. We had around 60 guests dancing in the aisles at the musical Hairspray.” he said.
Mayflower 400
Paris Smith’s story in Southampton began 200 years ago. Step back another 200 years to 1620 and the city was the initial departure port for the pilgrim fathers on their journey to the ‘new world’ in America. For history buffs, the Mayflower, along with the Speedwell, left Southampton but problems with the Speedwell forced the pioneers to stop in Plymouth before venturing across the Atlantic
in just the Mayflower. Mayflower 400 is a dynamic programme of commemorative events to mark the 400th anniversary of that voyage.
The theatre and Paris Smith are working hand-in-hand on this. The firm is a headline sponsor of Mayflower 400 and partner Janet May sits on the Southampton Cultural Development Trust, which is co- ordinating the project. Ockwell chairs the city-wide steering group on the commemorations. The firm’s marketing director Helen Freeston is providing organisers with support during the build-up and throughout the year of activities planned for 2020.
“We see Mayflower 400 as an opportunity for the city to curate a programme of events that will stand us in good stead to apply to be a UK City of Culture in the future,” said Ockwell, who is also involved in Mayflower 400. “Having Paris Smith on board is a great benefit to the theatre and to Southampton.”
parissmith.co.uk
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
businessmag.co.uk
53
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