Company registratlon No. 02864170 {ETrgland and Wales) Charity registration No. 1035615 KENTISH OPERA (A company limited by guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
KENTISH OPERA Reference and Adminlslratlve Detalls Secretsry Phitip Wallace Prlnclpal OfflrA 23 Oakley Drive Bromley Kent BR2 8PS Reglstered offlce 23 Oakley Drive Bromley Kent BR2 8PS The charty Is Incorporated In Endand & Wales Sollcltoys Thackray Williams Klngs House 3240 Widmore Road Bromley Kent BR11RY Bankers CAF Bank Lld 25 Kings Hil Avenue West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Independont Examiner Harrison Hli Castle & Co- Chartered Accountants Melbury House 34 Scwthborough Road Bickley K&nt BR12EB
KENTISH OPERA Trustees. Report For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 The trustees. who are directors for the purFoses of company law. present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2024. Trustees lan Alexander, Chairman Glllian Bishop {reslgned 3010712024) Alice Blogg (resigned 3010712024) Nicola Blogg (resigned 30107r2024) Rita McKay (resigned 2410712024) Edward Palmer (reslgned 3011112023) Robèrt Skone James. Hon Treasurer Philip Wallace. Secretary and Trustee only Peter Whiston Philip N8wion (appointed 3011112023. resigned 3010712024) ObJectlva8 and acllvftlas Objects and aims The Company is a r8gisler8d Charity number 1035615 and is governed by its Memorandum and Artides of Association. It is run by a Council of Management (who are the Trustee5) lCh must consist of a minimum of thm persons. There Is maximum number. The memb8rs of the Company COTnprise mixture of acling and noTracting members and also voluntary helpers who subscribe to the objects of the Company. The Companls maln objects. as stated In the Memorandum ar8: 'To educate the public in the operatic arts and to furiher Ihe development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts". To achteve the above objects, the C(Nnpany p8rfomis up lo ftdkscale grand operas in English each year. The Company also perfoms from Ivne to time smaller operetta and concerts at local venues In Bromley, Croydon and N(Kth Kent and Central London kx8ti$. The Council and mnber3 strongly believe that it is imfftnt to prtsjuce 0ra$ to the highest professlonal standards and In a basically traditional manner so that the public attending perfornances Is able to aFpreciate the operas rfornied as the composers c4)nceived them. Current Year In the 202&2024 season we PLrt on two shows. These were a gaa concert In October 2023 in the Pamoja Hall Sevenoaks and a wes of perfonnances of Aida in Aprd 2024 at the stsg Theatre Sevenoaks. The gala concert was well attended and resulted in a small surplus while r8ached nearly 70¥0 capacity audience over three performances of Aida. By controlling scwery and costume costs and as a result of generi)us donations. k)sses were much less than those budgel8d and were manageable within our rOseeS. and as a result of daiming Theatre Tax Relief. Wa ended the season with IrKreased reserves, which puts us in a gcmxl posttion going in to 2024-2025 but knowng we must continue to control costs carefulty and strive to increase audience levels still further.
KENTISH OPERA Trustees. Report (Continued) For the Year End8d 31 August 2024 Rlsk Managemènt Expenditure is CafullY budgeted and much reduced by Ihe significant use of volunteers in many areas. e.g. own box office. front of house, assisting in building sets. assislirwJ in making and altering ¢oslumes. chorus and general administration. The Major risk area is the l)ox office which is unpredictsble. The crK)I of opera, however, is the key factor since there is generally resistan fr1 our suburban audience to attend in the required numberys to operas they are not familiar with. Nèvertheless. one of the obj8Ctives of K8ntish Opera is to produce from time to time less pular operas in order to e(lucate and broaden our audience's tsste. This can only be done if elther reserves are at a comfortable level or additional Incorne through sponsorship is achieved. Reserves and out11k The steps we took in 2023-2024 to control expendilure have vthed and we erKled the season healthy reserves of £75,211 (2023: £66,975). In 2024-2025 we intend to continue our efforts to control expenditure and reduce losses. In parallel though we wlll continue to seek grants, increas8 th& number of Friends. and look for olhar sources of income. Statement of Trustees. Responslbllitles The trustees (who are also Ihe dir8Ctors of Kentish Opera for the purposes of company law) ara responsible for preparing the trustees, report arKI finanoal statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (Unrted Klngdom Generaty Accepted Accounting Practice) and 8ppIic8ble law and regulations. Company law requiTrs the trustees to prgpare finanoal slatements for eath financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements urkn they are satisfied that they give a trua and fair view of th8 State of affairs of the tharitable c(wnpany and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure. for that period. In preparing th8se financial stalements, the tnJste8s ar8 required to: select suitable accoun1w pc4icies and aptty them consistsnty, obseNe the methods and principles In tre charl SORP: mak8 judg8m8nts and estvnales that ar8 r8asonable prlen( stste whether applicable UK Acccmjnting Stsndards have been followed. subject to any material departures disdosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basls unless It Is inappropriate to pSUrne Ihat the charilable company %*ill continue in business. The Irustees are responsible for keeping adequate 8ecounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the tharitsble compansls transacttons and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial POSFlion of Ihe charitable company and anabl8 them io ensure that tha financial stat8ments comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also SponsIble for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularitie5. Approved by the trustees ofthe charity on the 28 January 2025 and signed on its behalf b. lan Alexa Trust8e er, Chaiman
KENTISH OPERA Independent Examlnefs Report to the trustees of Kentlsh Opera I rep¢)rt on the accounts of the chariiy for the year ended 31 Augusl 2024 which are set out pages 6 to14. Respectlve responslbllltles of trustees and •xamlnor The trustees (who are ajso the direct5 of the company for the purposes of company law) ar8 responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The ttustees consider that an audil 15 not required for this year under s8ctK)n 144{2) of Ihe Charities kt 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examinatk)n is needed. Having satisfied myEelf that the charity is rlot subject to audit urKler company law and is eligible for independent examinalion. it is my reswnsibilty to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Art to follow the procedures laid down in the general D•IK)n5 given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the 2011 Act: and to stata whather particular matt8rs have come to my attention. Basls of Independent oxamlnofs roport My examlnatlon was carrled out sn accordance wlth tho general Dlrectlons given by the Charlty Commission. An examination Indudes a VIeW of the accA)untsng re¢S kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes (x)nsideration of any unusual items or disdosures in th8 accounts and seeking explanations from you as trust8es cx)nceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to %thether the aCcnts present a 'true and fair view, and the report Is limited to those matters set out In the statement below. Independent •xamlnorf8 Statemont In connection with my oxaminalion. rx) mattw has cc*n& to my attenlton", (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accountsng records in accordance section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and to prepare accounts vthich accord with the accounting records. comply with the accounting requirements of section 3 of the CoMpanS Act 2006 and with the methods and principl8s of the Statement of Recommended Praclre: AcUntIng and Repcffting by Charities have not been met; or (2) to which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enatAe a proper Lmderstanding of the accounts to be reached. PR Casue FCA Harrison Hill Castb & Co Melbury House 34 Southborough Road Bickley Bromtey Kant BR12EB 28 January 2025
KENTISH OPERA Statement of Flnanclal Activttles Uncludlng Income and Expenditure and Statement of Total Recognised Galns and Lossos) For the YearEnded 31 August 2024 Unrestrtcted funds 2024 2023 Donations and legacles Charitstle actiimties Investment Income 12.lJ60 55.474 1,590 9,360 56.769 435 Total Income 69,124 66,564 Charitable acttvities 60.888 55,071 Interest payable and similw expenses 60.888 55,071 N•t Incom• 8.236 11.493 Totsl funds brought fOard 66,975 55,482 Totsl funds carrled forward 12 75,211 66,975 All of the charitys aetivitses derive from c(x)tinuing operations duriNJ the Iwo periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 12.
KENTISH OPERA Balance Sheet As at 31 August 2024 2024 2023 Flxed assets Tangible assets Currents assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 10 5.521 70,9)0 3.541 64,523 76.421 Creditors: amounts falllng due wtthln ono year 11 (1.210) (1.089) Not current assets 75.211 66,975 Not assots 75,211 66,975 Funds of the eharlty Unrestricted ¢ncone furKIs 75.211 66.975 Total funds 12 75,211 66,975 For the financial year ending 31 August 2024 the charlty was enllded to exempkn from audSt under secli(m 477 of the Companio6 knt 20(A r*ling to small (x)rnpanies. Dlrectors, responslbllltles: The members have nol required Ihe charfty to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance ryth section 476: arKI The dlrectors acknthyledge their responsknilities fix complying wth the reqUirents of the Act with respect to accounling records and the prepafalion of acccwits. These accounts hav8 been prepared in accordance V4ilh the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The financial statements on pages 6 to 16 were approved by the trustees, and authorised kn issue on 28 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by. lan Alexander, Chairman Trust88 Robert Skone James, Hon TaSurer Trusta8
KENTISH OPERA Notes to the financial statsments For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 1 Charity status The charity is a charity limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capilal. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £Nil towards the assets of the charity in the 8venl of liquidats'on. 2 Accounllng poll¢io• Summary of slgnificant accountlng pollcies and key accounung estimatos The prln¢ipal accounting pollcies applied in the preparalion of these financFal statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently appl to all the years presented, unless otherwise stat8d. Statemènt of compllance The financial statements have been prepared in aco)rdan¢e with Accounting and Reporting by Chafrties: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financlal Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Irèland (FRS 102) (eff8¢tive 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)). the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) and the Crxnpanies Act 2006. Basis of preparation Kentlsh Opera meets the definltlon of a publlc benefft entity UTKler FRS 102. Asseis and Ilabllltles are initially rècognlsed at histiyical cost or transaction value unless otherwise staled in the rd8vant accounting policy notes. Going concorn The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainlies about the charitvs ability to continue as a going concern nor any slgnificant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets hald by the charity. Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 FetKuary 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these finanaal slatements. Income and ondowmonts Box Office receipts a tsken up in the year In which the prodUcn5 are perfrned. Membershlp fees are included on a received basis. Donatlons and legacles Donations. unless allocated for a specffic woduclion. are accounted for in the year in which they are received. Legacies are aUrrted for in the ar in ¥thich Itw are reGved. Grants racelvable Grants, unless allocated for a Specif production. are accounted for in the year in whh they are received. These are included in the tncome derived from charitable actFvitss.
KENTISH OPERA Notes to the financlal statam8nts {Continued) For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Charitable xtivlli•s Kentish 0ra'S charltabl8 activibes c(SISt of the W¢ngft of operas and other rèlated classical music events consistent with the main objects of the company being lo educate the public in the operatic arts and to further the development of public apprewlN)n and laste In the satd arts.. Expendlture All expenditure is reGognised On there is a legal or l$tctiVe obligation to that expenditure. il is probable settlement is required and the amount can b8 measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be direclly attributed to particular headings they hav8 been allocated on a basis c(x)sistenl with the use of resources. Governance costs These indude the costs attributable to the charivs c¢Jnpliance Wbth constittrtional and statutory requirements. and, most particularly, the independent examinerfs fee. Govomment grants Grants can be recelved from Sevenoaks Dlstrfct Arts Councl. Theatre Tax Relief is also recelved. Taxatlon The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Sthedule 6 of the Flnance Act 2010 and therefore It meets the definitK)n of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity ts potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains reTrived wilhin categories cov8red by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxatlon of Chargeae Galrts Act 1992. to the extent that suth Income or gains are applled exdusively to charitable purposes. Tanglble fixed assets Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment are deprecialed over the estimated useful Ilfe of the asset. Expendlture on costumes arKI scenery is charged in Ihe production account of the in question. Deprociation and amortlsath)n Depreciation is provided on taThJible flxed assels so as to vKite off the cost or valuation. less any estimated residual value. over their expected useful economic bfe. Asset class Fumiture & equipment Depreclatlon method arml rate 25% on cost Fund structure Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees. discretion in furtherance of the objedives of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricled funds sel aside for speafic purposes at discreti( of the trustaes.
KENTISH OPERA Notes to the fInand statemenls (Contlnued) For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Income from donations and legacies 2024 2023 Donatlons from individuals Legacies 12,060 9,360 12.060 9.360 Charltabla activities 2024 2023 Box office receipts & perfonnance fees Mambershlp subscrtptions & fees Programme sales & aaerSing Grants & sundry income Hire of coslumes, scenery, events & sundry income Grfi ald tax rellef Theatre tax relief 38.469 1.575 2.093 295 31,295 1,225 1,067 778 286 1,792 20,326 2,519 10.523 55.474 56,769 Inveslmonl income 2024 2023 Interest raceivable and swnlar ir8 1,590 Charitablo activities 2024 2023 Opera Company {note 7) Govemance costs 5g.928 960 54,231 60,888 55,071
vernan costs represent fees paid to the IrKleperKlent ehniner to complete the examination of the financial statements.
KENTISH OPERA Notes lo the financial statements (Contlnued) For the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Opera Company 2024 2023 Productlon dlr8ctors' fees Principals. fees Theatrefvenue rent & expenses Orchestra & related costs Scenery Scores Rehearsal halls Rehearsal pianistslrepeliteurs Publicity & printing Programm8s {net) c0sme$ & wigs Lighting Production sundries Insurance Printing. postsge & ststior Sundry admin expens83 Scenery & costume storage Professlonal fees Donations Depreciation re new traller 5.000 9.200 5,800 8,850 9,000 8.707 13,407 2.417 1,065 1.877 161 1,778 58 3,804 1,106 5.131 4,110 1.412 3.585 1,238 2,459 14 1.210 3,703 1,500 195 280 2,235 341 612 3.188 3,000 59.928 54,231 For toth yEars. 811 of the above expend was attributable to unrestricted fvnds. Trustees. remunoratlon and expenses During the year. the Tnjstees (Members of the C(yJncil of Management) w8re relmbursed for 8xndItUre tolalling £2.161 (2023 - £2.407) incurred on behalf of the Company. The majority of this expenditure lated to publiiity, adverttsirg, programme prcKluction costs and sundry production expenses. Apart from Performan fees of £1.060 paid to one trustee and family member, no other trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have receiveil any remunerab'on from the charity during the year. No trustees have receNed any 0th8r benefts from the charity during Ihe ye8r.
KENTISH OPERA Notes to the financial slataments (Contlnued) For the Year Ernled 31 August 2024 Tangible fixed assets Fumtiure & equipment Cost At 1 September 2023 Additions Eliminated in res of disFM)s 6,938 At 31 August 2024 6,938 D8pre¢iation and Impalrnnt At I September 2023 Depreciati<)n charged in th8 ar Ellminated in r8Stct of disFwts 6,938 At 31 August 2024 6.938 Net book valuo At 31 August 2024 At 31 August 2023 10 Dobtors 2024 2023 Debtors & prepayments 5.521 3.541 11 Credltors: amounts falllng due wfthln one year 2024 2023 Creditors & accfuals 1,210 1,089
KENTISH OPERA Notes lo the SIalem (Contlnued) For the Yw Erxlod 31 2024 12 Balan kncoming Rosources Trdnsfers 01-Sep23 resources expended Balanco 31-Aug-24 UNestricted funds 30,479 68,403 721 (60.8881 37.994 ted (note 15 & 16) 36,496 37,217 Tcrtal funds 66,975 69.124 (60.8881 75,211 13 Is of not funds Balan Cash flow Balance ol-se23 31-AU24 Cash at bank 64,523 6,377 70,900 Net funds 64.523 6,377 70,900 14 Related party transaction8 Apart from the transactrms detsled in note 8, there *ere no other related paty transactions in the year. 15 Pèarl Clements fund 2024 2023 Balance brought forward Payment from the estate of Mr A Clements Expended in year Transfer to General fund Interest received 4,128 (4.130) The Designated unreslrted Fund No 1 Is the Pearf aements Fund, whlth was establlshed by Mr Alan Clements in 1995 in memory of his late wife, Pearl Clements. with the intention that these funds woukJ assist Kentish Opera to mount ¢Mcerts and to support the engagement of promising young singers in its cyera produdtons. Mr Clements later agreed that Kensh Opera can use these funds generally and so they are no longer 'RestrFcte(r. lar Clements has passed away Lxrt Kentish Opera continues to receive genercMs donations from his estate. The Pearl Clements Fund has now been transferred into our general reseTves.
KENTISH OPERA Notes to the financial Slatements (Contlnued) For the Year Endod 31 August 2024 16 John Cas8 fund 2024 2023 Balance brought foThvard Received fomi the John Cass estat8 Expended in year In18rest r8C8ived 36,496 36,157 721 339 37.217 36,496 The Designatad Unrestricted Fund No 2 is the John Cass Fund, Isthich was 8Stablish8d by legacy from the estate of John Cass in 2019. This is a general legacy and will assist Kentish Opera to mount opera and concerts and to support the eroagement of promising young singers in its opera productions