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2022-08-31-accounts

Company registration number: 02828276 Charity registration number: 1034809

The Play House (B'ham) Ltd

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

Bissell & Brown Birmingham Ltd Chartered Accountants

12 Portman Rd KIngs Heatb Birmingha B13 OSL

The Play House

Contents

Reference and Administrative 1
Details
Trustees' Report 2
 to5
Independent Examiner's Report 6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9
 to13

The Play House

Reference and Administrative Details

Secretary

Joanne Marie Sadler

Charity Registration Number

1034809 Company Registration

Number

02828276

The charity is incorporated in England. Registered Office c/o Action For Children 2-4 Guild Close Birmingham B16 8EL Accountants Bissell & Brown Birmingham Ltd Chartered Accountants 12 Portman Rd Kings Heath Birmingha m West Midlands B13 0SL

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The Play House

Trustees'

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Financial and operational review

The Play House is a long established and highly respected theatre in education company, known nationally and internationally for its trademark participatory approach. Since it was founded in 1986, the company has developed a strong track record of high-quality work in schools. It has an excellent reputation locally and regionally with teachers, local authorities, arts organisations and academic institutions.

Our vision is to stimulate the learning and curiosity of children and young people through engagement in drama experiences. We have a strong ethos of meaningful participation at the heart of everything we do through the creation of rich fictional worlds, where children interact with a range of situations and characters. We strongly believe in the transformational power of theatre.

The Play House continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with increased safety measures in place in schools which are still restricting bookings to some degree. Whilst we have seen the school bookings begin to re-grow, there is still some way to go before prepandemic levels are achieved.

After 20 years of wonderful service, Juliet Fry stepped down from her role as Artistic Director in June 2022. Juliet continues to support the company as a freelance practitioner. Jo Sadler-Lovett was appointed as Artistic Director in May 2022. Laura Killeen, General Manager, also left the company in July 2022. In September 2021 Emily Lewis was appointed as Business Development Manager. Malcolm Jennings, Teacher Actor, continues to play a key part in the development and delivery of the artistic activities.

Key projects and highlights from 2021/22

Outside the Box:

This year saw some exciting and ambitious work happening to support B22 Common Wealth Games with a performance of Outside The Box, in partnership with Untied Artists and four Birmingham schools. The performances included children from the schools acting alongside professional actors and a professional Squash athlete, Commonwealth Games Gold medallist, James Willstrop. It was performed at the University of Birmingham Squash courts as part of the city-wide cultural celebrations of the Games.

Brummie Citizenship:

Funded by The John Feeney Charitable Trust, The Play House worked in partnership with a Birmingham school, to explore how people from different communities can share the same values. We worked with different members of the school community from lunch staff to teachers, to explore their lived experiences which bought them to present circumstances. Children from the school heard their carefully crafted stories and were encouraged to explore themes that linked these different experiences together.

New Histories:

Commissioned by Birmingham Arts School, The Play House worked with an under-served Birmingham school, to co-create a performance with children which explored the history of the hyper-local area and see the impact of that history on modern living. This resulted in a celebratory performance at the school to an audience of peers and parents/ carers. The school felt the children really enjoyed taking part in the project and said they would like to work with us again on further projects.

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The Play House

Trustees'

CRIC storytelling:

Funded by the Community Recovery Innovation Challenge, The Play House created a paid internship/ training project for a Birmingham based parent with no previous experience of professional story-telling or performance. Carefully nurtured by our staff, they developed 3 stories to touring standard and also developed the skills around managing interactive performance techniques and professional touring requirements. The story-teller delivered performances in an early years and nursery setting, free of charge, gaining great feedback “I could see the children coming alive when you got then to act things out and you listened to the little things they were saying” (quote from nursery staff).

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CPD/Inset

The Play House continues to offer CPD to both experienced teachers, and those at the start of their careers, to support the creative delivery of the curriculum. This year we worked with Marshill Nursery with an EYFS CPD and Birmingham Arts School with a Storytelling CPD.

Higher Education Bookings:

The Play House was asked to act as guest lecturers in a variety of Higher Education Settings (University of Worcester, University of Warwick and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire). Our employees gave an overview of the company’s work and demonstrated our participation model, in order to increase awareness and understanding for subsequent generations of artists.

Barnardos

The Play House has worked in the Barnardo’s children’s centres in Birmingham including the Ladywood Children's Centre and St Thomas Children's Centre, delivering interactive storytelling sessions for young children aged 4-8 outside of the school term.

New Art Gallery Walsall

This year, The Play House embarked on an exciting new partnership with New Art Gallery Walsall. We have delivered two interactive story-telling performances (The Selfish Giant and Spidery Stories) to support the rotating art exhibitions in the gallery. Performances have been specifically tailored to support SEND family audiences, as well as reaching members of the general public who may not otherwise visit the gallery.

School tour highlights

Romans

The Romans examines the legacy of the Roman invasion of Britain and its relevance today. In role as archaeologists at the site of a newly discovered Roman Villa the pupils will uncover the everyday life and customs of Roman Britons. This workshop develops a deeper awareness of both the role of the modern-day archaeologist and those of the Roman masters and Celtic slaves in the villas of Roman Britain.

Story telling residency

The Play House Storytelling Residency consists of a Storyteller working with small groups throughout the day. During the sessions the children co-create and share stories together based on a multi-sensory, initial stimulus offered by the storyteller. The storyteller then builds on ideas and any developing narrative coming from children's responses, both physical and verbal. We work with teachers to understand current learning focus and desired outcomes.

Meet the Character

Schools were able to book a visit for their pupils from famous historical figures or key fictional characters. The visits enhance lessons and bring learning to life in school. The Play House create bespoke interactive character encounters based on the specific learning aims of the schools pupils. We work with the teachers at the time of booking to find out what outcomes the school would like to achieve.

Jack and the beanstalk

A participatory retelling of the traditional tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, the performance enrols children in the role of Jack's best friends. They arrive for a play date to find Jack has gone missing! The children help to find Jack by adventuring up the beanstalk to explore the land in the clouds and save Jack from the Giant.

Anansi the Spider

This is a brand new programme which brings to life the tale of one of the great folk Ghanaian and Caribbean story heroes. Using puppetry, multi-sensory play and song, the children help Aunt Nancy bring to life this African classic where all children can find themselves reflected. This programme has been extremely popular.

“I love joining in with all the activities, especially the dancing” (quote from child)

Secret Poetry Slam

Set in a dystopian future where the government has banned all forms of artistic expression, Secret Poetry Slam puts the children in role as investigators going undercover to find out about the work of a banned poet. After taking part in one of his workshops and creating their own poetry the children have to decide whether to keep his identity a secret or not.

Split Second

Split Second is a programme for 9-13 years exploring consequences of knife crime in terms of the impact those directly involved, their loved ones and the wider community. Set in a boxing club, the children engage in thought provoking discussions about people’s responsibility to one another and how we can support young people experiencing youth violence. This programme is delivered annually off the back of consistently successful tours.

“A brilliant and effective workshop that helped the children think about the serious consequences of their actions. It explored the difficult topic of knife crime in a way where children understood the impact without it being graphic.” (Quote from Wardend Primary school).

HOPE

HOPE is an engaging workshop for primary school children aged 7-11 which explores their experiences and feelings surrounding lockdown though the safe context of a story. Set in the Derbyshire village of Eyam after the plague of 1666, HOPE explores the amazing true story of the villagers' voluntary isolation that saved the lives of the surrounding communities. HOPE was created in response to children’s experiences of COVID and gave them a safe environment to make sense of their feelings.

Resilience Quest

After its successful beginning last year, this programme was redeveloped into a two person show and successfully toured around many Birmingham schools. Resilience Quest provides a safe avenue for children to explore healthy coping strategies for dealing with difficult emotions and to understand when and how to ask for help to increase resilience.

“This has fed into lots of our PSHE work on resilience and self-esteem and very successfully made the children feel part of the action.” (Quote from Colmore Primary school).

Careless Talk

Careless Talk is a long-established touring performance-workshop which explores how a young person could be groomed to take part in extremist action. The piece is set in the fictional town of Brodingham and tells the story of Scarlett, a young member of a minority community, The Circle, who are being persecuted by another group. The children are guided through a process where they find positive and peaceful solutions for the characters in this piece which promotes social responsibility, tolerance and respect.

“This is not just a bolt-on, this is core to our PSHE and Our Wider Learning curriculum.” (Quote from Colmore Junior School).

Daughters of Invention

The Millennium Point Trust commissioned us to deliver our engineering programme, Daughters of Invention, to 4 partner schools across Birmingham working with 240 children. In partnership with the University of Birmingham we work with 8 PhD engineer students to engage primary age children in solving a medical engineering challenge. The focus of the programme is raise the aspirations of children and allow them to see the viability of an engineering career, as well as develop the communication and engagement skills of the PhD engineers.

‘I really loved watching [the children] rehearse their stories… The Play House did a great job at pulling the emotional part of their lives out of them. Telling amazing stories of how they have got to where they are, communicating their research - it has been hugely beneficial to them.” (Quote from Year 5 Teacher).

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: Deborah Shaw, Chair, Chair Keshena Bowie Adaya Henry (appointed 21 March 2022) Alexandra Henwood Tessa Taylor Daniel Jones (termination of appointment 30[th] August 2022) Secretary: Joanne Marie Sadler (appointed 20 March 2023)

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of The Play House (B'ham) Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 22[nd] May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

.........................................

Deborah Shaw Trustee

The Play House

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Play Company")

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of The Play House (B'ham) Ltd are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of The Play House (B'ham) Ltd as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

...................................... Barry Matthews FCA Chartered Accountants Bissell & Brown Birmingham Ltd

12 Portman Rd KIngs Heath Birmingham B13 0SL

Date: 22[nd] May 2023

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The Play House

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Charitable activities
3
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
12		 Unrestric
ted funds
£
48,423
48,423
(46,600)
(46,600)
1,823
13,077
14,900
52,952
67,852		 Restricte
d funds
£
157,485
157,485
(182,722)
(182,722)
(25,237)
(13,077)
(38,314)
56,850
18,536		 Tot
al
202
2
£
205,908
205,908
(229,322)
(229,322)
(23,414)
-
(23,414)
109,802
86,388

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2021 is shown in note 12.

The notes on pages 9 to 13 form an integral part of these financial statements.

The Play House

(Registration number: Balance Sheet as at 31 202 August 2

Not
e
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
8
Current assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
10
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
11
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds
12
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
12		 202
2
£
2,824
13,734
76,501
90,235
(6,671)
83,564
86,388
18,536
67,852
86,388		 202
1
£
2,694
22,095
93,130		 202
1
£
2,694
22,095
93,130
115,225
(8,116)
107,109
109,803
56,850
52,953
109,803

For the financial year ending 31 August 2022 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

The financial statements on pages 7 to 13 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on............................................................................................................................................and signed on their behalf by:

......................................... Deborah Shaw Trustee

The notes on pages 9 to 13 form an integral part of these financial statements.

The Play House

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: c/o Action For Children 2-4 Guild Close Birmingham B16 8EL Principal place of business Authorised for issue date

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

The Play House (B'ham) Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax

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The Play House

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year

Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Page

3 Income from charitable activities

Schools & universities
Arts Council
Bham Org Commonw Games
Edward Cadbury
Royal Academy
WMCA
29th May 1961 Char Trust
Thistle Trust
Total for 2022
Total for 2021
4
Expenditure on charitable activities
Production costs
Freelance fees
Staf costs
PR & marketing
Travel
Insurance
Telephone etc
Recruitment
Sundry
Accts & independent exam
Ofice expenses
Computer software
Training
Rent
Legal & Prof
Bank charges
Depreciation of fxed assets
Total for 2022
Total for 2021		 Unrestrict
ed
funds
Gener
al
£
48,423
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
48,423
26,534
Unrestrict
ed
funds
Gener
al
£
-
32,060
-
1,016
-
2,100
1,970
2,744
(1,109)
1,140
373
1,237
2,400
1,303
244
180
942
46,600		 Restricte
d
fund
s
£
-
12,353
109,154
1,000
16,978
15,000
2,000
1,000
157,485
94,290
Restricte
d
fund
s
£
6,003
80,782
87,776
3,250
2,411
1,100
-
500
-
-
-
-
-
900
-
-
-
182,722		 Total
funds
£
48,423
12,353
109,154
1,000
16,978
15,000
2,000
1,000
205,908
120,824
Total
funds
£
6,003
112,842
87,776
4,266
2,411
3,200
1,970
3,244
(1,109)
1,140
373
1,237
2,400
2,203
244
180
942
229,322		 Total
funds
£
48,423
12,353
109,154
1,000
16,978
15,000
2,000
1,000
205,908
120,824
Total
funds
£
6,003
112,842
87,776
4,266
2,411
3,200
1,970
3,244
(1,109)
1,140
373
1,237
2,400
2,203
244
180
942
229,322

Total expendit ure £ 5 Net incoming/outgoing resources Net (outgoing)/incoming resources for the year include: 202 2 £

6 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year. No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

7 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

8 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 September 2021
Additions
At 31 August 2022
Depreciation
Charge for the year
At 31 August 2022
Net book value
At 31 August 2022
At 31 August 2021
9
Debtors
Trade debtors		 Furniture
and
equipme
nt
£
2,693
1,073
3,766
942
942
2,824
2,693
202
2
£
4,580		 Total
£
2,693
1,073
3,766
942
942
2,824
2,693
2021
£
3,813

Other debtors

9,154 18,282

13,734 22,095

10 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank
11
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals
12
Funds
Balance
at 1
Septemb
er
2021
£
Unrestricted funds
General
General
42,953
Designated
Designated- develop & IT fund
10,000
Total unrestricted funds
52,953
Restricted funds
Not analysed
-
Arts Council
36,850
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
20,000
Bham Org Commonw Games
-
Royal Academy
-
WMCA
-
Total restricted funds
56,850
Total funds
109,803		 Incomin
g
resourc
es
£
48,42
3
-
48,423
4,000
12,353
-
109,154
16,978
15,000
157,485
205,908		 Resources
expended
Transfers
£
(46,601)
13,077
-
(46,601)
(4,000)
(49,203)
(20,000)
(100,000)
(8,096)
(14,500)
(195,799)
(242,400)		 202
2
£
76,501		 202
1
£
93,130
202
1
£
-
8,11
6
-		 202
1
£
93,130
202
1
£
-
8,11
6
-
202
2
£
5,532
(1)
1,140
6,671
8,116
Balance
at 31
August
2022
£
57,85
2
10,00
0
67,852
-
-
-
9,154
8,882
500
18,536
86,388
£
-
13,077 67,852
-
-
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
9,154
8,882
500
- 18,536
13,077 86,388
Unrestricted funds
General
General
Designated
Designated- develop & IT fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted
Not analysed
Total funds		 Balance
at 1
Septembe
r
2020
£
48,641
10,000
58,641
-
58,641		 Incoming
resource
s
£
26,534
-
26,534
101,632
128,166		 Resource
s
expended
£
(32,222)
-
(32,222)
(44,782)
(77,004)		 Balance at
31
August
2021
£
42,953
10,000
52,953
56,850
109,803

The Play House

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year

Income and Endowments from:
Charitable activities (analysed below)
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities (analysed below)
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure)/income
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds carried forward		 Total
2022
£
205,908
205,908
(229,322)
(229,322)
(23,414)
(23,414)		 Total
2021
£
128,166
128,166
(77,004)
(77,004)
51,162
51,162

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Charitable activities
Sales to schools & univs
Sales to L.A.s
Arts Council England
Sir Barry Jackson
Edward Cadbury
WM Police
Bham Rep Theatre
Bham City
WM VRU
Woodward Trust
John Feeney Charitable Trust
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Bham Org C.Games
Royal Academy
WMCA
29th May 1961 Char Trust
Thistle Trust
Charitable activities
Production costs
Production expenses
Staf costs
Staf costs UF
Freelance
Freelance
Motor & travel
Motor & travel
Rent RF
Rent UF
Ofice expenses
Computer software and maintenance costs
Training
Insurance RF
Insurance UF
Telephone & post
Print & stat
Sundry
Bank charges
PR & marketing RF
PR & Marketing UF
Independent exam
Legal & prof
Recruitment RF		 Total
2022
£
48,423
-
12,353
-
1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
109,154
16,978
15,000
2,000
1,000
205,908
(6,003)
-
(87,775)
-
(80,783)
(32,060)
(2,410)
-
(901)
(1,303)
(373)
(1,237)
(2,400)
(1,100)
(2,100)
(1,970)
-
1,109
(180)
(3,250)
(1,016)
(1,140)
(244)
(500)		 Total
2021
£
23,153
3,381
55,410
1,500
1,000
3,000
4,880
7,342
5,500
1,500
1,500
20,000
-
-
-
-
-
128,166
(5,975)
(314)
(36,756)
(19,792)
(2,020)
(1,087)
(31)
(13)
-
-
-
-
-
(1,449)
-
(1,444)
(2,351)
(2,415)
-
(2,217)
-
(1,140)
-
-
Recruitment UF
Depreciation of ofice equipment		 Total
202
2
£
(2,74
4)
(942)
(229,322)		 Total
202
1
£
-
-		 Total
202
1
£
-
-
(77,004)