Aquarian Opera
Trustee Annual Report and Financial Statement
Year ending 31 March 2025
Charity number 1080942
Aquarian Opera
Report of the trustees for the year starting 1 April 2024 ending 31 March 2025
The trustees are pleased to present their financial statements in compliance with the Charities Act 1993 and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005).
Our purposes and activities
The purposes of the charity are:
The constitutional object of Aquarian Opera is to advance the education of the public in the theory and practice of operatic singing, particularly but not exclusively by the provision of singing teaching and coaching, and by the presentation of public performances of operatic works, galas and concerts. Aquarian Opera instructs and mentors young opera school graduates in the lead roles of fully staged opera productions to build their professional careers. Aquarian Opera also facilitate, support and encourage disabled and returning performers. We bring affordable fully staged opera with a live chamber orchestra to a community theatre promoting the art and encourage new cast members to join and receive instruction in operatic singing and performance. We perform fundraising concerts for local charitable causes. The trustees are not paid, there are no employees, the charity does not make grants, only operates in England and does not have a trading subsidiary
Achievements and performance
Aquarian Opera had its first performance in September 1998 and halted performances in February 2010 after Die Fledermaus.
Melanie Vinall, Andrew Claringbull and James Vinall resurrected Aquarian Opera in December 2018, becoming the three Trustees taking over from the dormant trustees with a legacy bank balance of £2,505.64.
The first performance after the 12-year hiatus was A Night At The Opera with the English premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical, Less Miserable in November 2021 at the Barn Theatre Oxted with a cast of 20 and a piano accompaniment.
October 2022 saw the first fully staged operetta, Lehár's Merry Widow at the Barn Theatre Oxted with a fourpiece chamber ensemble and a cast of 23.
16 to 18 November 2023, Aquarian Opera performed Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro at the Barn Theatre Oxted, Surrey, in English, fully stage with a seven-piece chamber ensemble. There were 9 principal characters and a chorus of 10. The production was a critical and financial success.
Aquarian performed a one-night gala evening of Puccini’s one act comedy, Gianni Schicchi with a second half Last Night Of The Proms style concert at Cecil Hepworth Playhouse, Walton-On-Thames on 7 June 2024 and for the Barn Theatre Oxted Centenary Festival on 8 June 2024. This was semi-staged, with a tenpiece chamber orchestra and cast of twenty.
21 to 23 November 2024, Aquarian performed Puccini’s La Boheme at the Barn Theatre Oxted and one night on 27 November at Cecil Hepworth Playhouse, Walton-On-Thames. This was a fully staged production in English, with a ten-piece chamber orchestra and double cast principals.
Trustees
Aquarian Opera trustees for the purpose of charity law serving during the financial year 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 were as follows:
Chairman Andrew Gordon Claringbull (appointed 12 December 2018) Secretary Melanie Vinall (appointed 12 December 2018) Treasurer James Anthony Vinall (appointed 12 December 2018)
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Aquarian Opera is an unincorporated charitable trust ruled by the 13 May 2000 constitution and rules governing document and is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission (1080942) since 31 May 2000.
Chairman’s Statement
Putting on a staged opera takes an immense amount of effort by the production team, theatre volunteers, and of course the cast. All those working behind the scenes deserve a huge amount of credit too. A fully staged opera production is expensive and filling the auditorium has its challenges.
Aquarian Opera Company has had its most busy year as we were invited to take part in the Centenary celebrations at the Barn Theatre Oxted. Since the success of Marriage of Figaro last November 2023, we produced a fully staged Gianni Schcchi in June and La Boheme in November at the Barn Theatre, Oxted and Cecil Hepworth Playhouse, Walton On Thames. We also performed private concerts to raise funds and awareness of what we do in our communities.
Not only have we been well supported by our loyal audiences, but we have also had more generous advertisers and sponsors than before. It is not economically viable to fully stage opera with professional soloists and a chamber orchestra at an affordable ticket price for a provincial theatre. Without the exceedingly generous support of The Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust and the Astor of Hever Trust these performances would be quite challenging and the quality would suffer.
Aquarian Opera was created to develop amateur performers, provide a platform for young professionals to play leading roles and develop opera/theatre skills for interested people, both on stage, behind the scenes and inclusive of individuals not always given theatre skills and experience.
Aquarian Opera has ended the year with a healthy surplus of £3,455.14, a groundswell of support and a growing, enthusiastic core membership and supporters to build on our successes.
We are heading towards our Autumn production of Die Fledermaus with a fiscal surplus, a growing audience, a growing chorus, incredible supporters and a feeling that we actually produce something quite special.
Long may this continue
Andrew Claringbull
Chairman
Aquarian Opera
April 2025
Year starting 1 April 2024 ending 31 March 2025
1 April 2024 starting surplus £4,693.37
31 March 2025 ending surplus £3,455.14
Total Income - £26,482.32
Total Spending - £27,720.55
Aquarian Opera
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities
(including income and expenditure account) for year ending 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | |
| Incoming resources | |||||
| Membership and concert fees | £ 2,934.00 | £ 1,303.00 | £ 2,310.65 | £ 585.00 | £ - |
| Tickets | £ 15,763.58 | £ 7,515.71 | £ 5,664.57 | £ 5,882.27 | £ - |
| Donations | £ 5,784.74 | £ 4,268.72 | £ 996.00 | £ 814.00 | £ - |
| HRTCT grant | £ 2,000.00 | £ 1,000.00 | £ - | £ - | £ - |
| Astor Of Hever Trust grant | £ 1,000.00 | £ - | £ - | £ - | £ - |
| Total incoming resources £ | £ 26,482.32 | £ 14,087.43 | £ 8,971.22 | £ 7,281.27 | £ - |
| Resources expended | |||||
| Production and publicity | £ 7,100.80 | £ 6,077.55 | £ 4,795.31 | £ 3,149.24 | £ 910.78 |
| Recurring/Insurance/Website | £ 561.11 | £ 296.00 | £ 193.00 | £ 94.51 | £ 135.50 |
| Licence/scores/music | £ 1,323.46 | £ 550.00 | £ 248.91 | £ 204.47 | £ 396.12 |
| Musician fees | £ 18,735.18 | £ 6,340.80 | £ 3,960.00 | £ 800.00 | £ - |
| Total resources expended | £ 27,720.55 | £ 13,264.35 | £ 9,197.22 | £ 4,248.22 | £ 1,442.40 |
| Net incoming (outgoing) | |||||
| resources | -£ 1,238.23 | £ 823.08 | -£ 226.00 | £ 3,033.05 | -£ 1,442.40 |
| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Total 31 Mar previous Year | |||||
| Funds brought forward | £ 4,693.37 | £ 3,870.29 | £ 4,096.29 | £ 1,063.24 | £ 2,505.64 |
Total 31 Mar funds carried forward £ 3,455.14 £ 4,693.37 £ 3,870.29 £ 4,096.29 £ 1,063.24
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 23 | 20 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets | ||||||||
| Tangible assets | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Total Fixed | ||||||||
| Assets | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Debtors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand |
£3,455.14 | £4,693.37 | £3,870.29 | £4,096.29 | £1,063.24 | £2,505.64 | ||
| Total Current | ||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Liabilities | £3,455.14 | £4,693.37 | £3,870.29 | £4,096.29 | £1,063.24 | £2,505.64 | ||
| Creditors falling | ||||||||
| due within one | ||||||||
| year | ||||||||
| Net Current assets |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Creditors:falling | ||||||||
| due after more | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| than 1 year | ||||||||
| Net assets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Surplus/deficit of | ||||||||
| the charity: | ||||||||
| Unrestricted income funds |
£3,455.14 | £4,693.37 | £3,870.29 | £4,096.29 | £1,063.24 | £2,505.64 | ||
| Total charity Surplus/Deficit |
£3,455.14 | £4,693.37 | £3,870.29 | £4,096.29 | £1,063.24 | £2,505.64 |
The trustees have prepared these accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005).
Notes on the accounts
1 Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments at market value. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities – Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005), applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Companies Act 1985.
b) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to use to further any of the purposes of charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which have been set aside to fund particular future activities of the charity. Restricted funds are donated for particular areas of the charity work or specific projects undertaken.
2 Legal status of the Charity
The Charity is unincorporated and the trustees control and administer the charity for its stated purpose and the assets are held in trust by them. Assets are an item of physical or intellectual property owned by an organisation, seen as having value and can be used to meet debts, commitments, or legacies. Legal ownership of all assets is with the trustees for the benefit of the Charity and has no share capital.
Charity addresses and property
1 Charity address
Aquarian Opera (UK Charity number 1080942) 9 Tanhouse Road Oxted Surrey RH8 9PE
2 Property
Aquarian is an opera performance charity and has no property or physical assets.
Structure and membership
Aquarian is a single entity with no affiliate bodies and is not part of a wider group structure and has no subsidiary bodies
Only the three trustees (Andrew Claringbull, Melanie Vinall & James Vinall) are entitled to vote under the charity’s governing document and there are no other individuals with any executive function. Aquarian’s governing document does not give the membership any voting rights, but the trustees do take their views and opinions into consideration
Employees and volunteers
There are no employees and all performances are enabled by a group of less ten volunteers. The musicians are paid as per union rules and the principal opera singers are paid expenses at a maximum of £20 per session
Governance
Aquarian have the following policies and procedures in place
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a. internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
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b. safeguarding policy and procedures
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c. financial reserves policy and procedures
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d. complaints policy and procedures
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e. serious incident reporting policy and procedures
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f. internal risk management policy and procedures
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g. trustee expenses policy and procedures
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h. trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
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i. bullying and harassment policy and procedures
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j. social media policy and procedures
Aquarian do not have the following policies in place, as these activities are outside the scope of the charity’s purview
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k. investing charity funds policy and procedures
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l. campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
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m. engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Safeguarding and risk
Aquarian does have cast and crew that are under 18 and some vulnerable adults that are appropriately supervised by accredited adults
Performance licenses are obtained and Enhanced DBS checked licensed chaperones attending as per local authority regulation, insurance requirements and covered in Aquarian’s Safeguarding procedures
Serious Incidents
No serious incidents (including any historical incidents) have or has been reported to the charity or any been made aware of during the financial period of this return