## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
Charity number 1039935
A company limited by guarantee number 02909605
## Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2022
_Group's logo_
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 5|
|Examiner's report|6|
|Statement of financial activities|7|
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 to 12|
**Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
1
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates**
**Position Dates** Pamela Storr Chair of the board Anne Lloyd Resigned April 2022 Gillian Morley Lauren Huxley Neil McCallum Madeleine Thorne Inderjeet Bell Appointed June 2021 Job Kabamba Appointed June 2021 Linzi Tate
Inderjeet Bell Appointed June 2021 Job Kabamba Appointed June 2021 Linzi Tate Appointed June 2021 **Charity number** 1039935 Registered in England and Wales **Company number** 02909605 Registered in England and Wales **Registered and principal address Bankers** Interplay Theatre HSBC Bank Plc Monmouthshire Building Society Armley Ridge Road Leeds University Monmouthshire House Leeds 27 Blenheim Terrace John Frost Square LS12 3LE Woodhouse Lane Newport Leeds University South Wales NP20 1PX LS2 9HE
## **Independent examiner**
Simon Bostrom FCIE **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO** Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 17 March 1994. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association as amended by special resolution on 24 June 1994 and amended on 4 January 2019 and 23 July 2020. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of company law and are appointed by the members at the AGM.
2
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
To advance the education of children and young people in the appreciation and practice of the arts, in particular theatre, drama and the performing arts.
## **The charity's main activities**
The usual activity of Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah is to create original theatre performances and drama workshops primarily for and with children and young people, but also their teachers and families, with the purpose of engaging them in learning about the art form, themselves and the world. The charity carries out this work in schools, community settings and theatre venues.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular education through the arts.
## **Achievements and performance**
## **My Learning interactive digital resources**
Working in partnership with Leeds Museums and Galleries (LMaG) and informed by a steering group of primary teachers, a skilled team of artists, heritage and education specialists created four compelling audio and film stories supported by a suite of cross-curricular, interactive learning resources. These explore the different stages of the journey of a real-life artefact, - a shabti figurine – from the workshops of the Valley of the Kings over three thousand years ago, to display at Leeds City Museum today.
The resources are hosted on the My Learning site, a flagship learning platform curated by LMaG and were launched in July 2021 with an online introductory session for teachers and training for the Museums’ learning team. Online CPD exploring experiential learning through Drama was also provided to the steering group alongside the consultation process.
In parallel with project development, two pieces of research were commissioned: mapping digital learning provision across the arts and heritage sectors and a case study report. Learning from these will enable the company to consider how it might bring together live and digital activity in the future to engage and develop audiences.
## **Stirring up the Past Storytelling Walk**
2021 also saw the development of a new local history storytelling walk around Leeds city centre. Listeners are guided by the Genius Loci, or spirit of Leeds to stops on a map where they experience stories of significant people from Leeds who are often marginalised in history.
Designed for children aged 9+, their teachers, parents and carers, the walk was trialled with 60 local children before being launched for families in October with a day of craft activities at Kirkgate Market, and for schools with an online introductory session in December. The walk uses simple mobile phone technology, and for those without access to devices, pre-loaded MP3 players are available to borrow. A micro-site has been set up for the walk which includes a beautifully designed map, sound files, a variety of resources, images and activities to accompany the walk, and guidance on practicalities, including materials for those with additional needs. From Easter 2022 the walk will also be available on the Love Exploring App.
Training was provided to support associate artists from Mafwa Theatre; a community theatre company working with people from sanctuary-seeking and migrant backgrounds; to facilitate the walk for affiliated groups.
3
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **Achievements and performance continued**
## **Research and development Activity**
During 2021/2 The Blahs were involved in activity to develop three exciting new projects:
## **Guerrilla Gardening**
In a city full of concrete, there is a garden hidden away behind the rows of housing, surrounded by high walls. It is bursting with flowers, fruit, and vegetables. The man who lives here grows them to brighten up the grey, and to feed himself. This little oasis stops him from feeling lonely and keeps his bad memories at bay. One day, a child accidently discovers the garden; at first he is not welcome, but as the seasons change, a friendship blooms. As the man’s trust in people grows through his friendship with the child, the walls of the garden come down and the man is encouraged to take his first steps out into his local community.
Between April and July 2021 the Blahs worked in partnership with charity Trees for Cities through their Edible Playgrounds initiative, to start work on a new show for children aged 5+ exploring food poverty and celebrating the unifying power of growing. Workshops were delivered in two Bradford primary schools, using drama and storytelling techniques to consult with children about their experiences and attitudes towards growing and green spaces. Learning from these sessions informed five days of R&D activity with a diverse creative team, culminating in sharing of work-in-progress with the original groups of school children.
## **Anna Hibiscus’ Song**
Anna lives in “Amazing Africa” with her extended family; she is so happy that she does not know what to do with her feelings. She sets off to ask her grandparents, aunties, cousins, uncle, and father each of whom give her advice on how to express herself. Finally, her mother helps her to channel her feelings, and sitting in her mango tree Anna finds her own way through song.
The Blahs worked in collaboration with Sheffield-based African theatre company Utopia Theatre to adapt a picture book by Atinuke into a touring show for children aged 3-6 years. Initial drama and storytelling sessions were held in two Early Years settings in Leeds and Sheffield to explore the story with groups of young children, uncovering their interests, understandings and needs. This then fed into two weeks of R&D led by Utopia Theatre and hosted by the Unicorn Theatre, culminating in two presentation events at Unicorn and Sheffield Theatres.
## **Pride in Me**
The Blahs connected with Curious Arts and Homotopia to open up conversations with a broad range of LGBTQIA+ artists and companies to explore the grounds for making work collaboratively with/for children and young people. An initial conversation event was held online hosted by Queer Arts North, which led to a series of individual conversations with LGBTQIA+ artists, which the Blahs commissioned Curious Arts to undertake on its behalf. A short report was submitted distilling main themes from these conversations, which will be used to inform future artist commissioning strategies and to help shape structures for supporting associate artists.
## **Financial review**
The net expenditure for the year was £32,285, including net expenditure of £19,701 on unrestricted funds and net expenditure of £12,584 on restricted funds.
## **Reserves policy**
Trustees consider that the appropriate level of unrestricted reserves held by Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah should be a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 months expenditure. This is to allow the smooth operation of the charity and to sustain activity during a period of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This currently equates to between £6,800 and £11,300. The reserves policy will be kept under review on an annual basis or if risks to the company change.
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £55,697.
£44,397 of reserves are currently being held above the upper limit specified in the reserves policy. Trustees have agreed that this amount will be invested over the period April 2022 – March 2023 to support organisational development activity to move the company to a position where it can apply for core funding. By the end of March 2023, remaining reserves will be within the range of the policy.
4
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS102)), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by the board of trustees on 13/12/2022
Linzi Tate (Trustee)
5
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2022, which are set out on pages 7 to 12.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the charitable 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 charitable company 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 ('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 material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the company 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.
Simon Bostrom FCIE
21/12/2022
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
6
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Statement of Financial Activities
## (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2022
|Notes
2022
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Income from:**
Grants and donations
(2)
8,640
Performance and workshop fees
2,775
Interest
245
Other income
-
**Total income**
11,660
**Expenditure on:**
Salaries NICs and pensions
(3)
15,822
Motor, travel and tour costs
86
Rent and storage
-
Insurance
620
Telephone, internet and web support
384
Administrative costs
362
Advertising
-
Professional fees and consultancy
8,678
Memberships and subscriptions
-
Production costs
3,086
Depreciation
-
Independent examination
720
Legal and governance
698
Bad debts
783
Other expenditure
122
**Total expenditure**
31,361
**Net income / (expenditure)**
(19,701)
**Fund balances brought forward**
75,398
**Fund balances carried forward**
(4)
55,697|2022
Restricted
funds
£
26,799
-
-
-
26,799
11,544
1,074
-
-
-
-
2,624
-
-
23,941
-
-
-
-
200
39,383
(12,584)
18,274
5,690|2022
Total
funds
£
35,439
2,775
245
-
38,459
27,366
1,160
-
620
384
362
2,624
8,678
-
27,027
-
720
698
783
322
70,744
(32,285)
93,672
61,387|2021
Total
funds
£
54,734
1,792
246
3,960
60,732
25,771
157
555
600
858
432
1,260
6,919
72
16,892
113
720
169
-
411
54,929
5,803
87,869
93,672|
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
7
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Balance sheet
|as at 31 March 2022
2022
Unrestricted
£
**Current assets**
Debtors and prepayments
(5)
1,065
Cash at bank and in hand
55,794
**Total current assets**
56,859
**Current liabilities:**
**amounts falling due within one year**
Creditors and accruals
(6)
1,162
**Total current liabilities**
1,162
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
55,697
**Net assets**
55,697
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
55,697
Restricted funds
-
**Total funds**
55,697|2022
Restricted
£
1,600
4,090
5,690
-
-
5,690
5,690
-
5,690
5,690|2022
Total
£
2,665
59,884
62,549
1,162
1,162
61,387
61,387
55,697
5,690
61,387|2021
Total
£
7,067
89,106
96,173
2,501
2,501
93,672
93,672
75,398
18,274
93,672|
|---|---|---|---|
For the year ending 31 March 2022 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 13/12/2022
Linzi Tate (Trustee)
8
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Notes to the accounts
## for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Going concern**
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Grants and donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
## **Expenditure and liabilities**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows: Fixtures and fittings and equpment: over 5 years
## **Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
9
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2022
|**2 Grants and donations**
Arts Council England (ACE)
Leeds City Council Arts@Leeds
National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)
Foyle Foundation
Leeds Inspired
Z-Arts
**3 Staff costs and numbers**
Gross salaries
Pensions|2022
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
8,640
-
-
-
-
8,640|2022
Restricted
funds
£
14,999
-
-
10,000
1,000
800
26,799|2022
Total
funds
£
14,999
8,640
-
10,000
1,000
800
35,439
2022
£
26,829
537
27,366|2021
Total
funds
£
34,834
5,000
14,900
-
-
-
54,734
2021
£
25,202
569
25,771|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The average number of employees during the year was 1.3, being an average of 0.5 full time equivalent (2021: 1, 0.4 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
|**Defined contribution pension scheme**
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
Amount of any contributions outstanding at the year end
**4 Restricted funds**
Balance b/f
Incoming
£
£
ACE R&D
14,999
-
NLHF
3,275
-
ACE SUTP
-
14,999
Foyle Foundation SUTP
-
10,000
Leeds Inspired SUTP
-
1,000
Z-Arts
-
800
18,274
26,799|Outgoing
£
14,999
3,275
10,109
10,000
1,000
-
39,383|2022
£
537
44
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|2021
£
569
109
Balance c/f
£
-
-
4,890
-
-
800
5,690|
|---|---|---|---|
## **Fund name Purpose of restriction** ACE R&D
Funding was awarded to engage in research and development activity for three new touring shows: Anna Hibiscus’ Song, Guerrilla Gardening; Pride in Me.
Funding was originally awarded as a contribution towards the Stirring up the Past project. Following disruptions to activity caused by the pandemic, funding was renegotiated to support the creation of enhanced digital resources and training for museum staff.
NLHF
Foyle Foundation SUTP Leeds Inspired SUTP Z-Arts
Towards the Stirring up the Past project Towards the Stirring up the Past project Towards the Guerrilla gardening project
10
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2022
|**5 **
**6 **
**5 **|**Debtors and prepayments**
Debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
**Creditors and accruals**
Creditors
Accruals
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
**Tangible assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2021
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2021
Depn reversed re. disposals
Charge for year
At 31 March 2022
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2021|2022
£
800
265
1,600
2,665
2022
£
338
720
60
44
1,162
£
3,658
-
(375)
3,283
3,658
(375)
-
3,283
-
-
Fixtures
and fittings|2021
£
3,828
250
2,989
7,067
2021
£
1,311
720
361
109
2,501
Total
£
3,658
-
(375)
3,283
3,658
(375)
-
3,283
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|
## **6 Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
During the year one trustee was paid a total of £113 in respect of travel and accommodation (previous year: £nil).
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
## **Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel**
The key management personnel of the charity include the trustees and Chief Officer. The total employee benefits received were £27,366 (previous year: £24,439).
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit in this capacity during this or the previous year.
11
## The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!
## Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2022
|2022
2021
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds
funds
£
£
**Income**
Grants and donations
8,640
5,000
Performance and workshop fees
2,775
1,792
Interest
245
246
Other income
-
3,960
**Total income**
11,660
10,998
**Expenditure**
Salaries NICs and pensions
15,822
9,801
Motor, travel and tour costs
86
-
Rent and storage
-
-
Insurance
620
40
Phone, internet and web support
384
7
Administrative costs
362
56
Advertising
-
-
Professional fees and consultancy
8,678
183
Memberships and subscriptions
-
-
Production costs
3,086
525
Depreciation
-
113
Independent examination
720
170
Legal and governance
698
13
Bad debts
783
-
Other expenditure
122
-
**Total expenditure**
31,361
10,908
**Net income / (expenditure)**
(19,701)
90
**Fund balances brought forward**
75,398
75,308
**Fund balances carried forward**
55,697
75,398|2022
Restricted
funds
£
26,799
-
-
-
26,799
11,544
1,074
-
-
-
-
2,624
-
-
23,941
-
-
-
-
200
39,383
(12,584)
18,274
5,690|2021
Restricted
funds
£
49,734
-
-
-
49,734
15,970
157
555
560
851
376
1,260
6,736
72
16,367
-
550
156
-
411
44,021
5,713
12,561
18,274|2022
Total
funds
£
35,439
2,775
245
-
38,459
27,366
1,160
-
620
384
362
2,624
8,678
-
27,027
-
720
698
783
322
70,744
(32,285)
93,672
61,387|2021
Total
funds
£
54,734
1,792
246
3,960
60,732
25,771
157
555
600
858
432
1,260
6,919
72
16,892
113
720
169
-
411
54,929
5,803
87,869
93,672|
|---|---|---|---|---|
12