2023-03-31-accounts - The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah

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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 2023

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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 13

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2023

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 Linzi Tate Chair of the board Lauren Huxley Vice Chair Gillian Morley Madeleine Thorne Inderjeet Bell Job Kabamba Anne Lloyd Pamela Storr Neil McCallum

Resigned April 2022 Resigned December 2022 Resigned May 2023

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

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.

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

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

NPO Application

The company submitted an NPO application to Arts Council England for £275,000 for three years core funding, this bid proved unsuccessful. The company has therefore redrawn its business model, set aside reserves to employ a freelance fundraiser to support the Executive Creative Producer in establishing new funders on a project by project basis, kept the core staffing at a minimum until that funding comes on stream and has obtained funding (via the Guerrilla Gardening Grants for the Arts bid) to completely rework our website so that it reflects the ways that the company will be working in future, both of these are expected to come to fruition next financial year.

Guerrilla Gardening

The company entered a second stage of development for this piece thanks to a successful Grants for the Arts bid to Arts Council England, we worked 2 actors, a dramaturg, director, a puppeteer, design technician and kinetic sculptor to explore and flesh out ideas from the first iteration the previous year. The resulting work (about 2/3 of what we think the final piece will be) was shown at Princeville Co-op Academy Primary in Bradford in July 2022 to garner feedback from pupils, staff, parents and carers.

We obtained funding from the National Lottery to provide a day of wraparound arts and growing activity (provided by our project partner, Trees for Cities) which served both as an innovative way of engaging with parents and carers who might not otherwise attend if it was simply a development showing of a piece of theatre and as a way in which they could engage with the school in a new way. The day saw just under 300 attendees which exceeded our expectations. We hired a filmmaker to record the activities and parent/carer/pupil feedback which we now have available for viewing online.

The feedback from both the creative team and attendees has fed directly into our planning for the next stage of development and showing.

Stirring Up The Past

We have continued this project, available on the Love Exploring App, via the Stirring Up the Past web presence and via headphones from The Leeds Library. We have had over 500 visitors thus far.

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Heartbeats

Towards the back end of the year we got the news that the company has (in partnership with Southwest Yorkshire Hospital Trust) received funding (£90,000) from the Youth Music Trust. We will be developing and delivering a project in hospitals in the Dewsbury/Batley area that explores music making with children in longterm in-patient and outpatient care. We will be working alongside clinicians and care staff, children and young people, parents and carers to scope out, develop and trial a project that adheres to disease protocols and the reality of busy and complicated wards to develop an app/screen delivered technology that allows children to play with music making at whatever level of skill they possess. This project will begin in 2023/2024 but we have already approached storyteller and writer Matthew Bellwood to lead the project as we would like to create a storytelling/gameplaying approach to music making. At a later date, Matthew will bring in a much wider range of artists and developers to realise the project.

Staffing

The company has now moved fully to a Creative Producer model, led by Iain Bloomfield and employed a new Administrator, Lucy Dix. Andrew Procter remains in charge of our finances.

Financial review

The net income for the year was £10,250, including net expenditure of £3,385 on unrestricted funds and net income of £13,635 on restricted funds after transfers.

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 any period of uncertainty. This currently equates to between £30,450 and £50,750 based on budgeted expenditure of £121,800. 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 £52,312.

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

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 19/9/2023

Linzi Tate (Trustee)

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 2023, which are set out on pages 7 to 13.

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

4/12/2023

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Statement of Financial Activities

(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Notes 2023 Unrestricted funds £ Income from: Grants and donations (2) 5,000 Performance and workshop fees - Interest 464 Total income 5,464 Expenditure on: Salaries NICs and pensions (3) 2,321 Motor, travel and tour costs - Rent and storage 30 Insurance 635 Telephone, internet and web support 541 Administrative costs 416 Advertising - Professional fees and consultancy 4,092 Production costs - Independent examination 720 Legal and governance 94 Bad debts - Other expenditure - Total expenditure 8,849 Net income / (expenditure) (3,385) Fund balances brought forward 55,697 Fund balances carried forward (4) 52,312	2023 Restricted funds £ 55,688 - - 55,688 11,603 381 - - - - 4,475 3,028 22,566 - - - - 42,053 13,635 5,690 19,325	2023 Total funds £ 60,688 - 464 61,152 13,924 381 30 635 541 416 4,475 7,120 22,566 720 94 - - 50,902 10,250 61,387 71,637	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

All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Balance sheet

as at 31 March 2023 2023 Unrestricted £ Current assets Stock - Debtors and prepayments (5) 4,514 Cash at bank and in hand (6) 49,194 Total current assets 53,708 Current liabilities: amounts falling due within one year Creditors and accruals (7) 1,396 Total current liabilities 1,396 Net current assets / (liabilities) 52,312 Net assets 52,312 Funds Unrestricted funds 52,312 Restricted funds - Total funds 52,312	2023 Restricted £ - - 19,325 19,325 - - 19,325 19,325 - 19,325 19,325	2023 Total £ - 4,514 68,519 73,033 1,396 1,396 71,637 71,637 52,312 19,325 71,637	2022 Total £ 2,665 59,884 62,549 1,162 1,162 61,387 61,387 55,697 5,690 61,387

For the year ending 31 March 2023 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 are 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 19/9/2023

Linzi Tate (Trustee)

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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, if 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.

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2023

2 Grants and donations Arts Council England (ACE) Leeds City Council Arts@Leeds Mind The Gap National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) SW Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foyle Foundation Leeds Inspired Z-Arts 3 Staff costs and numbers Gross salaries Social security costs Employment allowance Pensions	2023 Unrestricted funds £ - 5,000 - - - - - - 5,000	2023 Restricted funds £ 29,988 - 1,415 4,285 20,000 - - - 55,688	2023 Total funds £ 29,988 5,000 1,415 4,285 20,000 - - - 60,688 2023 £ 13,700 669 (669) 224 13,924	2022 Total funds £ 14,999 8,640 - - - 10,000 1,000 800 35,439 2022 £ 26,829 2,075 (2,075) 537 27,366

The average number of employees during the year was 1, being an average of 0.4 full time equivalent (2022: 1.3, 0.5 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 Guerrilla Gardening - 29,988 SW Yorkshire P/ship NHS - 20,000 ACE SUTP 4,890 - NLCF Awards for All - 4,285 Mind the Gap - 1,415 Z-Arts 800 - 5,690 55,688	Outgoing £ 29,988 675 4,890 4,285 1,415 800 42,053	2023 £ 224 44 Transfers £ - - - - - - -	2022 £ 537 44 Balance c/f £ - 19,325 - - - - 19,325

Fund name

Purpose of restriction

ACE Guerrilla Gardening Towards the Guerrilla gardening project. SW Yorkshire P/ship NHS Towards the Heartbeats project. ACE SUTP Towards the Stirring up the Past project. NLCF Awards for All Towards the Guerrilla gardening project. Mind the Gap Towards the Guerrilla gardening project. Z-Arts Towards the Guerrilla gardening project.

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2023

5 6 7 8	Debtors and prepayments Debtors Prepayments Accrued income Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank Cash in hand Creditors and accruals Creditors Accruals Taxation and social security Other creditors Tangible assets Cost At 1 April 2022 Additions At 31 March 2023 Depreciation At 1 April 2022 Charge for year At 31 March 2023 Net book value At 31 March 2023 At 31 March 2022	2023 £ 4,249 265 - 4,514 2023 £ 68,519 - 68,519 2023 £ 602 720 30 44 1,396 £ 3,283 - 3,283 3,283 - 3,283 - - Fixtures and fittings	2022 £ 800 265 1,600 2,665 2022 £ 59,884 - 59,884 2022 £ 338 720 60 44 1,162 Total £ 3,283 - 3,283 3,283 - 3,283 - -

The Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah!

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2023

9 Related party transactions

Trustee expenses

No trustee received any expenses during this year (previous year: one trustee and £113).

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 total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £14,593 (previous year: £27,366).

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 2023

2023 2022 Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds £ £ Income Grants and donations 5,000 8,640 Performance and workshop fees - 2,775 Interest 464 245 Total income 5,464 11,660 Expenditure Salaries NICs and pensions 2,321 15,822 Motor, travel and tour costs - 86 Rent and storage 30 - Insurance 635 620 Telephone, internet and web support 541 384 Administrative costs 416 362 Advertising - - Professional fees and consultancy 4,092 8,678 Production costs - 3,086 Independent examination 720 720 Legal and governance 94 698 Bad debts - 783 Other expenditure - 122 Total expenditure 8,849 31,361 Net income / (expenditure) (3,385) (19,701) Fund balances brought forward 55,697 75,398 Fund balances carried forward 52,312 55,697	2023 Restricted funds £ 55,688 - - 55,688 11,603 381 - - - - 4,475 3,028 22,566 - - - - 42,053 13,635 5,690 19,325	2022 Restricted funds £ 26,799 - - 26,799 11,544 1,074 - - - - 2,624 - 23,941 - - - 200 39,383 (12,584) 18,274 5,690	2023 Total funds £ 60,688 - 464 61,152 13,924 381 30 635 541 416 4,475 7,120 22,566 720 94 - - 50,902 10,250 61,387 71,637	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