Company registratlon number. 4322413 Charity registration numb¢r: 1091498 Midland Actors Theatre (A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report alld Financial Statem¢nts for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Bissell & Brown Birniingham Ltd Cbartered Accountants 12 Portman Rd B]rni1ngh￿n B13 OSL Midland Actors Theatre Contents Reference and Administrative Details Trustees, Report 2to4 Independent Examinevs Report Slaternent of Financial A¢tivitie$ Balance Sh¢¢t Notes lo the Finan¢ial Siatements 8t012 Midland Actors Theatre Reference and Administrative Details Trustees Jon Trevor Zak Hamza Joanne Thackwray lona Towl¢r Evans Maretha Wallace Yi Ann Kok GilliaD Adamson George Pearce 1091498 Charlty Regtstration Number Company Reglstratlon Number 4322413 The charlty 18 incoiporat¢d in England & Wales. 25 Mcrrishaw Rd Northfi¢ld Binningham B313SL R¢g5stered Offlce Independent Examlner Bissell & Brown Binningham Ltd Chartered Accountants 12 Portman Rd Binningham B13 OSL Pag¢ I Midland Aeton Theatre Trnstees, Report The trustees. who are directors for the pury)oses of company law* present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024. Objectlves and actlvities Objecls dnd alms To advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively, the art of drama. Objecllves, straleglu and acllvllles In 20234, the company has continued its work in different fields, including an Erasmus Plus projert on Dorothy Heathcote's "Rollin8 Role" system. MAT is lead partner in the proj¢ct, with partners in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Poland and the UK. Th¢ outcomes ore published on the website www.mantlenetwork.com. We have continued our project, "Spitfire Over the Midlands," fvnded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, working with groups based in schools in different parts of the region. The project culminated in a major exhibition and event in July 2023, held over three days in the Guildhall, Worcesler. Th¢ ¢xhibition was attended by 485 people. visitors included the Lord Mayor of Worcester, Robin Walker MP, and local councillors. It was featyred in th¢ lo¢al and national media, including a full-page spread in the Worcester News, and a report on the BBC news website. We wer¢ awarded a "Next Generation" grant by Birniingham City Council, for a project on "Birn)ingham's Lost Workhouses." We worked with 124 participants (age 11-21). The aim was to recover the "lost lives and voices" of people who were confined to the Victorian workhouses. There was a "sharing" event, and we also created an online exhibition on the website www.dreamingmuseums.com. We have been awarded a grant by Arts Council England, to commission a team of three ￿lter8 to develop a n¢w play, based on the theme of war. We will hold a series of script development workshops. with contributions by different artists. We can ¢elebrate a year of great success, especially in educational work. which has rais¢d our profjle as. a company, both nationally and internationally. David Allen Artistic Dlrector, Midland Actors Theatre Public bene ctivities nde ublic The trustees confllin that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 201 I to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Trustees gnd o￿leerS The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: Page 2 Midland Actors Theatre Trustees, Report Trustees: Jon Trevor Zak Ham7a Joanne Tha¢k￿?Y Iona Towler Evans Maretha Wallace Yi Ann Kok Gillian Adamson George Pearce Structur& governance and mAnagement Ivalure ofgovernlnz documenl Memordndum and Articles of Assocation , incorpornted 14th November 2001, as amended by special resolution dated 18th September 2002. The company was registered as a charity on 2nd April 2002. Recrultmenl and appolnlmenl oflruslees Trustees retire by rotation every three years and are eligible for re-appointment. StAtement of tru5tees' responslbllltles The trustees (who are also the directors of Midland Actors Theatre for the purposes of Company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial statements in a¢cordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republi¢ of Ireland" Company law require$ the trustees to prepare fu)ancial statements for each f￿anCIaL year. Under company law Ihe tNslees must not approve the f￿anCIal statements unless they are 5at15fied that they give a true and fair view of the stale of affairs of th¢ charitable company and of the incoming resources and appliration of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these fmancial 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 prudenL' state whether applicable accounting standards. comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to mat¢rial depar￿eS disclosed and explained in the fmancial statements. and prepare the flnancial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that tlie ¢harAtable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with re&sonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statemeiits comply with th¢ Companies Act 2006. They ar¢ also responsible for safeguarding the &8sets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other iryegularities. Page 3 Midland Actors Tbeatre Trustees, Report The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial inforn]ation included on the charitable company's website. Legtslation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on ........,.... . and signed on its behalf by: Jon,trevor T￿st¢¢ Page 4 Midland Actors Theatre Independent Examinerls Report to the trustees of Midland Actors Theatre ('the Company,) I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responslblllties and basls of report As the charity'5 trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordaTh¢¢ with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act,). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not requir¢d 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 Conunission under section 145(5Xb) of the 2011 Act. Independent ex&miner'$ statement I have ￿Mpleted my examination, I confinn that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to b¢lieve'. l. ac¢ounting records were not kept in res￿¢ of Midland Actors Theatre 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 principle5 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 appli¢able 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 r¢port in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be T¢￿h¢d. AA- B J Matthews FCA Chartered Accountsnts Bissell & Brown Binningham Ltd 12 Portman Rd Birnlingham B13 OSL Datc:...... Page 5 Midland Actors Theatre Statement of Financial Aetivities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses) Total 2024 Total 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Note Income and Endowments from: Charltable activities Investment incom¢ 12.779 136 38,317 51,096 136 82.985 48 Total In¢om¢ 12,915 38,317 51.232 83,033 Expendi¢ure on: Charitable activities (19,852 55.319 75.171 (122.633 Total Expenditur¢ 19,852 55,319 75,171 (122,633) Net expenditure 6,937 17,002 23,939 39.600 Net movement in funds (6.937) (17,002) (23,939) (39,600) Reeoneiliatlon or funds Total fund5 brought forward Total fijnds carried forward 24,141 26,384 90,125 17,204 9,382 26,586 All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The notes on pages 8 to 12 forn an integral part of these fll)ancial statements. Page 6 Midland Actors Theatre (Registration number: 4322413) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Note Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 28.310 26 28,037 25.034 28,336 53,071 Creditors: Amounts falllng due within one year Net assets (1,750) 2.546) 50,525 26,586 Funds of the charlty: Restricted Income funds Restricted fLmds 9,382 26.384 Unratrieted Income funds Unrestricted funds 17,204 24,141 Totsl funds 26,586 50,525 For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to Small companies. Directors, responsibilities: The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. and The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Art with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. The financial statements on pages 6 to 12 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on . and signed on their behalf by: Trevor tee The notes on page5 8 to 12 forni an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7 Midland Actors Theatre Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 I Charity status The charity is limited by guarantee. incorporated in England & Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Earh of th¢ truste￿ 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 oifice is., 25 Merrishaw Rd Northfield Birniingham B313SL Authorised for issue date 2 Aceountlng pollcles Summary of slgnlflcant a¢countlng polleies and key aceountlng estlmates The prin¢ipal accounting policies applled in the preparation of these fmancial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applxed to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. Statement of compliance The fjnancial 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 (Fks 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. B8s1s of preparatlon Midland Actors Theatr¢ meets the d¢finition of a public benefit ¢ntity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. Income And endowments Expenditure All expenditure is recognis¢d once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate slmilar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resource4 Wlth central staff costs allocaied on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated b&ged on the spread of staff costs. Charllable acllvltles Charitable exp¢nditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that ran be allocat¢d directly to such activities and thos¢ Costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Page 8 Midland Actors Theatre Notes to the Financial Statements for tbe Year Ended 31 March 2024 Taxation The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph I Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the der￿ltion of a charitable company for UK corporation tax pw)oses. Accordingly. the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within Categories covered by Chapter 3 Part I l of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. to the extent that such income or gains applied ¢xrlusiv¢ly to charitable pu4)oses. 3 1n¢ome from charlt8ble activitles Unrestrietsd funds General Reslricted runds Totsl 2024 Total 2023 Heritsge Lottery Fund Arts Council Birniimgham City Council Educational projects Sir Barry Jackson Erasmus 3 Erasrnus 4 16,562 21,755 16,562 21,755 22,140 11,113 11.179 1,600 11.179 1,600 22,967 26,765 12,779 38.317 51,096 82.985 Page 9 Midland Actors Theatre Notes to the Finaneial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 4 Expenditure on charitable Aetivllies Unreslrleted funds General Restritted runds Total 2024 Total 2023 Project purchases Research Birniingham City Council ACE project costs DH Now Erasmus direct costs Travel, touring, a¢¢ornmodation Admin Heritage Lottery Fund costs Rent & venue5 Utilities Tnsurance Telephone Printiiig, postage, stationery Sundry Independent examination Consultancy Other legal & prof costs Bank charges 2,266 459 2,266 459 7,314 12,372 7,402 19,070 881 3,381 16,562 382 933 16.933 7,314 12,372 7,402 19,070 75.442 640 881 3,381 16,562 19,498 514 1,360 508 1,906 1,028 1,192 19 399 900 1,906 1,028 1,192 19 399 900 850 5,259 314 18 18 19,851 55,318 75,169 122,633 2024 2023 5 Trustees remuneration and expenses No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have re￿Ived any remunerdtion from the tharity during the year. No trustees have received any reimbursed exp¢nses from the charity during the year. 6 Taxation The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from tsxation. Page 10 Midland Actors Theatre Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 7 Debtors 2024 2023 Trade debtors Accrued in¢ome 1,545 26,765 1,272 26,765 28.037 28,310 8 Credltors: amounts falllng due wlthln one year 2024 2023 Accruals 1,750 2,546 9 Fund$ Balan¢¢ at i AprAI 2023 Incoming r¢sourceJ R¢$ources expended Balance ot 31 March 2024 Unrestricted funds General Unrestricted funds 24.141 12.915 (19,852) 17.204 Restrleted funds H¢ritage Lottery Fund British Council / Erasmus 4 Arts Counoil Bham City Council Totsl r¢strlcted funds l6,562 (16,562) (19,070) (12,373) (7,314 19,070 21,755 9,382 7,314 26,384 38.317 55,319 Totsl funds 50,525 51.232 (75,171 26.580 Pagell Midlrlnd Actors Theatre Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Balance at 31 Mareh 2023 Balance at I April 2022 Incoming resoureeg Resources expended Transfers Unrestricted funds General Unrestricted funds 5.618 11,161 (10,760) 18,122 24.141 Restrlcted Heritage Lottery Fund British Council / Erasmus 3 British Council / Er&8mu5 4 Arts Council Bham City Council Totsl restrleted funds 19,498 16,007 28,773 18,122 2,107 (19,498) (38.974) {36,468) 22,967 26,765 19,070 (18,122) 22.140 16,933 71,872 (111.873 (18,122) 26,384 Totsl funds 83.033 122,633 50.525 Page 12 ## **MIDLAND ACTORS THEATRE** - A N N U A L R E P O R T , 2 0 2 3 4 MAT 25 Merrishaw Road Northfield Birmingham B31 3SL Telephone: 0121 608 7144 or 07946 006511 Email: david@midlandactorstheatre.com Website: www.midlandactorstheatre.com `1` ## **MIDLAND ACTORS THEATRE** - A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 3 4 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S |**1**|**Introduction**|**3**| |---|---|---| |**2**|**Erasmus Plus**|**3**| |**3**|**Spitfire Over the Midlands**|**5**| |**4**|**New Play Project**|**7**| |**5**|**Birmingham’s Lost Workhouses**|**8**| |**6**|**Funding**|**9**| |**Appendices**||| |A|**Artistic Policy**|**10**| |B|**Company Members, 2023-4**|**10**| ``` 2 ``` ## **`1 Introduction`** ``` In 2023-4, the company has continued its work in different fields, including an Erasmus Plus project on Dorothy Heathcote’s “Rolling Role” system. MAT is lead partner in the project, with partners in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Poland and the UK. The outcomes are published on the website www.mantlenetwork.com. ``` ``` We have continued our project, “Spitfire Over the Midlands,” funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, working with groups based in schools in different parts of the region. The project culminated in a major exhibition and event in July 2023, held over three days in the Guildhall, Worcester. The exhibition was attended by 485 people; visitors included the Lord Mayor of Worcester, Robin Walker MP, and local councillors. It was featured in the local and national media, including a full-page spread in the Worcester News, and a report on the BBC news website. ``` ``` We were awarded a “Next Generation” grant by Birmingham City Council, for a project on “Birmingham’s Lost Workhouses.” We worked with 124 participants (age 11–21). The aim was to recover the “lost lives and voices” of people who were confined to the Victorian workhouses. There was a final “sharing” event, and we also created an online exhibition on the website www.dreamingmuseums.com. ``` ``` We have been awarded a grant by Arts Council England, to commission a team of three writers to develop a new play, based on the theme of war. We will hold a series of script development workshops, with contributions by different artists. ``` ``` We can celebrate a year of great success, especially in educational work, which has raised our profile as a company, both nationally and internationally. ``` ## **`2 Erasmus Plus`** ``` In October 2023, we concluded a three-year Erasmus Plus project on Dorothy Heathcote’s Rolling Role system. MAT was lead partner, working with partners in Spain, Portugal, Poland and the UK. ``` ``` 3 ``` ``` We have promoted the project through the Facebook group, The Commission Model of Teaching, first launched in July 2020. It features daily posts on Dorothy’s work, and has grown to 1700+ members. The success of the FB group has raised our profile, and we have developed new contacts in Europe, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. The Erasmus Plus project outcomes are published on the website www.mantlenetwork.com. ``` ``` We have been active in other areas, in raising awareness of Dorothy’s work: ``` - `MAT was co-organiser with the University of Aberdeen of the 4-day` _`Dorothy Heathcote Now`_ `conference in October 2023. 105 delegates attended in person, and another 45 online. This was the third` _`DH Now`_ `conference, and it has now become an annual event.` - `In June, an article called “Encounters with Otherness in the Work of Dorothy Heathcote” by David Allen and Agata Handley, was published in open access in the journal` _`ArtsPraxis`_ `(10:1).` - `In July, David Allen was invited as a guest speaker to the “Cities” international conference (“Crossroads of the Invisible Theaters in Education and in School”) in Lozzo Atestino, Italy. In September, he was co-presenter (with Agata Handley) of a talk, “Dorothy Heathcote: From ‘learning about’ to ‘learning for’ the other” at the conference on “Teachers, Teaching and Teacher Education” held by the Society for Educational Studies at Oriel College, Oxford.` - `In 2023-4, David has taught two 10-week online courses on Mantle of the Expert, for the Online School of Drama, with participants from around the world including India, Hong Kong and Thailand.` ``` 4 ``` 3 Spitfire over the Midlands Midland Actors Theatre presents SPITFIRE OVER THE MIDLANDS Celebrating the rc4e that the Spiffire has played in the liNEs of wple in the Midlands The ethibition fea￿reS displays, talks, events. drama, and morel It has been demsed and curated by young people fr￿n local schooL8 12JULY, 11am-3pm OPEN DAYfor members Oft￿ public including FREE TALK @ 2pm by PROFESSOR CARLCHINN 1 &14 July, 1 Oam- 3wi Group bockings only THE GUILDHALL HIGH ST., woF￿ESTER WR12EY W¥NW.spittire2023.com Tel.. 07946 OCffi11 l Tudor Grange idland Actors Theatre Academies Trust Heritage FUTr `We received a grant of £41,406 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, for a new project,` _`Spitfire Over the Midlands`_ `, exploring the impact of the plane on ordinary people’s lives. We worked with groups of young people in different venues: Tudor Grange Academy Worcester; Tudor Grange Academy Redditch; Perdiswell Primary School; Orchard Centre, Wolverhampton; and Holly Lodge School, Smethwick.` `The project culminated in a major exhibition and event in July 2023. This was held over three days in the Guildhall, Worcester. 27 young people from Tudor Grange Academy took part in the event; they researched the stories of local people who had been involved in the war. They then developed their own characters based on this research. At the Guildhall, they created a form of “guided tour.” Visitors moved through the venue, encountering young people in role as people from the war: pilots, fighter command, nurses, a family in an air raid shelter, even German prisoners-of-war.` `The exhibition was open to the general public and was attended by: the Lord Mayor of Worcester; Robin Walker MP; local councillors; military veterans; and was featured in the local and national media, including a full-page spread in the` _`Worcester News`_ `, and a report on the BBC news website. The event was attended by 485 people; with workshop sessions for 114 primary school children, facilitated by project groups.` `6` ## **`4 New play project`** `We have been awarded grants by Arts Council England, and the Sir Barry Jackson Trust, to commission a team of 3 writers to develop a new play, based on the theme of war. The play will both draw on classical stories of war such as Homer’s` _`The Iliad`_ `and the` _`Bhagavad Gita`_ `, and also reflect current conflicts around the world.` `7` `The aim is to produce a site-specific and immersive theatre experience, akin to our acclaimed production of` _`Descent`_ `. We will hold a series of script development workshops, with contributions by actors, musicians and a choreographer, as our ideas evolve. The writers are: David Calcutt, Zainab Rao and Rajan Sharma.` ## **`5 Birmingham’s Lost Workhouses`** `In this project, we worked with 124 participants (age 11–21), in groups formed specially for project, based in five venues: Archbishop Ilsley School; Eden Leadership Academy for Girls; Calthorpe School; George Dixon Academy; and Newman University.` `The aim was to recover the “lost lives and voices” of people who were confined to the Victorian workhouses. We created an online exhibition on the website www.dreamingmuseums.com.` `Participants produced artwork inspired by the stories they uncovered. They chose the artistic media they wish to use; and were supported by the project team to develop new skills in these areas. This included creating audio recordings, drama, films, writing ‘diaries,’ making models and artefacts, powerpoints, and art work.` `8` `There was a final “sharing” event involving the different project groups. There were presentations and performances, and also an exhibition / display, recreating a workhouse laundry room.` `The project was funded by a “Next Generation” grant from Birmingham City Council.` ## **`6 Funding`** `In 2023-4, we received funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, the British Council (Erasmus Plus), Birmingham City Council, Arts Council England, and the Sir Barry Jackson Trust.` `A full breakdown of income and expenditure can be found in our Financial Statements.` `9` ## **`Appendix A`** ``` Artistic Policy ``` ``` MAT is a ‘learning theatre’ company. We are dedicated to: ``` - `using drama and theatre as a way to help people learn` - `breaking down the barriers that exist between different communities, cultures and traditions; and encouraging processes of dialogue, exchange, and learning` - `helping disadvantaged groups` - `developing our own understanding and expertise` ``` There are three main strands to our work: ``` - `Theatre productions` - `Education` - `Research and Communication` ## **`Appendix B`** ``` Company Members, 2023-4 ``` ``` Artistic Director ``` ``` David Allen ``` ``` Secretary ``` ``` Maretha Wallace ``` ``` Boardof Directors ``` ``` Gill Adamson Iris Bertz Zak Hamza Yi Ann Kok George Pearce Jo Thackwray (Vice-Chair) Iona Towler-Evans Jon Trevor (Chair) ``` ``` 10 ``` ``` Writers David Calcutt Zainab Rao Rajan Sharma ``` ``` Filming ``` ``` Maya Abbott ``` ``` Designer John Bell ``` ``` Accountant Barry Matthews (Bissell & Brown Ltd.) ``` ``` Historical Consultant ``` ``` Professor Carl Chinn ``` ``` Workshop Facilitators David Allen ``` ``` Danielle Brewster Roberta Luchini Iona Towler Evans ``` ``` Costume ``` ``` Jo Thackwray ``` ``` Music Alicia Gardener-Trejo Josh Herring ``` ``` 11 ```