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2025-07-31-accounts

The Incognito Theatre Group

Company registration no. 04988774 Registered Charity 1102558

Trustees Report and Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31st July 2025

The Incognito Theatre Group Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st July 2025

Reference and Administrative Information

Registered Charity: 1102558 Company registration: 04988774 Registered Office: 106A Holly Park Road London, N11 3HB Operational Address: Incognito Theatre 106A Holly Park Road London, N11 3HB

Trustees and Officers

The Incognito Theatre Group (the Charity) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. As such its directors are collectively referred to as the trustees.

Mary Groom Margaret Johnson Jill Lomas Chris Mason Huw Morgan Julianne Mullen John Savage Christopher Sly

Programme group member Programme group co-ordinator Social / Health and Safety oversight Technical management and Co. Secretary Information systems and web site Programme group member Theatre manager Finance

Company Secretary

Chris Mason

Bankers

Reporting Accountant

CAF Bank Limited Christopher Goldie

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The Incognito Theatre Group Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st July 2025 (continued)

Structure, Governance, and Management

Governing Document

The Incognito Theatre Group ("the Charity") was incorporated on 9th December 2003 as a company limited by guarantee. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 9th December 2003 as subsequently amended, most recently by a Special Resolution dated 21st July 2021 which was intended to update the Articles in line with the model provisions published by the Charity Commission.

The liability of each member in the event of a winding up is limited to one pound sterling, for the payment of creditors of the Charity contracted before he/she ceases to be a member, or within one year thereafter. At 31st July 2025 there were 74 guarantors in the register of members (2024: 90).

Appointment of Trustees

The board of trustees (who are also directors of the company for the purposes of company law) governs the Charity. In accordance with the Articles of Association the trustees are elected at an annual general meeting when a third of the existing trustees retire by rotation. Trustees are eligible for re-election.

There is a minimum of three trustees and, between annual general meetings, additional trustees may be co-opted by the board for a term until the next AGM where they may be confirmed as new trustees.

Related Parties

The Charity is independent of any other charities or organisations but works closely with other organisations and leases the theatre from the London Borough of Barnet.

Risk Management

The trustees undertake regularly a review of the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and establish systems to mitigate those risks.

Objectives and activities

The Charity was established in 2003 to take over the assets, liabilities, and all activities of the previous Incognito Theatre Group, a private theatre club which had been in existence since 1938. The Charity leases its own well equipped 64 seat theatre and aims to make high quality live theatre accessible to local actors, back-stage crew, technicians, directors, designers, writers and audiences and so enrich their lives and benefit the community generally.

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The Incognito Theatre Group

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st July 2025 (continued)

Achievements and Performance

The year under review was the third full year of productions after the closure caused by the Covid19 pandemic, and the Group put on a slightly amended run of five productions roughly nine to ten weeks apart after a slightly longer summer break. And there were two other imported shows.

The programming of the 2024/25 season developed the recent trend of including more

adventurous programming with modern themes relevant to life in the 21st century and one classic.

The season started with a play called Home, I’m Darling by Laura Wade, about a couple fixated on the 1950s, in particular the lifestyle, décor, dress and appliances. In early December there was the American classic A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams about the decline of Blanche Dubois. February saw

The Revlon Girl by Neil Anthony Docking, about the breaved mothers of Aberfan in the late 1960s following the mining tip collapse. The very end of April saw the opening of Terrence Rattigan's Flare Path set in a hotel on

the edge of a Lincolnshire airfield which dealt with some issues rarely talked about at the time. There then followed a theatre hire by Zips who did a play about a charity moonwalk supporting Breast Cancer

The fifth production was an adaptation of Shapkespeare's Julius Caesar with a very simple set, dramatic lighting and modern music Another hire ended the year under review with a play about the Bronte family but concentrating on the fall of Branwell Bronte. It was titled Infernal and presented by Room One Theatre Company. There was also one rehearsed reading of Quartermain's Terms for two shows but participants hardly needed scripts. It adapted the Revlon Girl set.

With this and the two hires, there were as many performances as the 6 show series.

Starting the season a little later and finishing a little earlier did assist in attracting cast members.

During the year the Trustees agreed to continue for the season 2025/26, the five show pattern

and keep the diverse range of plays we produce, but due to shortage of backstage and support people to have a moratorium on lettings and costume and prop hire.

Audience habits appear to be returning to pre pandemic patterns and the use of social media has increased sales. Some have turned up on the night and found performances sold-out. Two productions sold out completely and two others achieved 92% and 97% sales. As expected the Shakespeare adaptaion (an acquired taste) achieved 65% sales, producing overall healthy returns. The outside hires also generated the income lost by not having a 6th show. The set building crew are proud of their re-use of materials and other savings in production costs such as the sourcing from upcycling sites, other theatres and selling-on after the play items too specialised to keep as regular stock. The Shakespeare adaptation did not attract royalty fees.

On the social side there was a barbeque in the autumn of 2024 and a New Year party in January 2025. Tuesday morning work parties continue to attract more person hours than the old Wednesday club nights, so the latter have been abandoned. Now in its 11th year the Monday Club meets every other week to involve people retired or working flexibly.

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The Incognito Theatre Group Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st July 2025 (continued)

Financial Review

Results for the year

During the year to 31st July 2025 the charity showed a surplus of £1,182 (2024 surplus of £11,684) which, when combined with assets brought forward, lead to net assets held by the charity at the year end of £54,789 (2024 £53,607).

Format of the Accounts

The accounts comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) effective 1 January 2019.

Investment Powers

The trustees are empowered by the Articles of Association to invest the funds of the Charity as they deem appropriate. Investment in a more efficient heating system occurred in May 2025

Trustee Assurance

The trustees can confirm that the Charity's Assets are sufficient to fulfil its obligations and that all cash and investments held by the Charity have been acquired in accordance with the powers available to them under the Articles of Association.

Reserves Policy

The company has reserves of over £50,000. Current expenditure is intended to be covered by ticket sales, members' and friends' subscriptions,donations, bar sales, and when we recruit more helpers to ease the management the restoration of hiring out of the theatre, costumes, and properties.

Plans for Future Periods

The Charity aims to continue its development in and contribution to the local community. In respect of the building, improvements to the lighting and sound characteristics of the Foyer / Bar have been planned and this will make it a more user friendly and flexible space for letting and studio performances, asd well as internal use for readings and member sessions.

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The Incognito Theatre Group Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st July 2025 (continued)

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the Charity for that year.

In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 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.

Approved by the Trustees on ………………………………..

and signed on their behalf by…………………………………

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The Incognito Theatre Group

Independent Examiner's Report to the Board of Trustees on the unaudited accounts of The Incognito Theatre Group

For the Year Ended 31st July 2025

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning 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 whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Christopher Goldie Reporting Accountant 11 Kings Road Barnet Hertfordshire EN5 4EF

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The Incognito Theatre Group

Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31st July 2025

Statement of Financial Activities

Incoming Resources
Income from Productions
Hire of Theatre
Income from Social Events
Grants and Donations (note 4)
Profit on refreshments and bar
Membership Subscriptions
Interest
Other income
Total Incoming Resources
Resources Expended
Charitable Activities:
Production Costs
Theatre Maintenance and Administration
Governance Costs
Total Resources Expended
Net Movement of Funds
Fund Balances at 1st August 2024
Fund Balances at 31st July 2025		 Unrestricted Funds
2025
2024
£
£
24,501
24,397
1,875
2,325
103
384
2,131
4,235
1,701
2,303
2,001
2,060
832
80
1,007
810
34,151
36,594
10,169
10,266
22,787
14,631
13
13
32,969
24,910
1,182
11,684
53,607
41,923
54,789
53,607		 Unrestricted Funds
2025
2024
£
£
24,501
24,397
1,875
2,325
103
384
2,131
4,235
1,701
2,303
2,001
2,060
832
80
1,007
810
34,151
36,594
10,169
10,266
22,787
14,631
13
13
32,969
24,910
1,182
11,684
53,607
41,923
54,789
53,607
36,594
10,266
14,631
13
24,910
11,684
41,923
53,607

All activities relate to continuing operations. There are no other recognised gains or losses apart from those shown above.

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The Incognito Theatre Group

Financial Statements

As at 31st July 2025

Balance Sheet

Fixed Assets
Cost of land purchased in 2011 (note 5)
Current Assets
CAF Gold account opened 2023-24
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Prepayments and sundry debtors
Creditors, Accruals, and Deferred Income:
Amounts falling due within one year
Net Current Assets/(Liabilities)
Net Assets
Represented by:
Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 2025
£
1,040
1,040
40,803
7,666
5,564
54,033
284
53,749
54,789
-
54,789
54,789		 2024
£
1,040
1,040
40,000
10,517
3,880
54,397
1,830
52,567
53,607
-
53,607
53,607

For the year ending 31st July 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Trustees' responsibilities:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.

Approved by the Trustees on ………………………………..

and signed on their behalf by…………………………………

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The Incognito Theatre Group

Notes to Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31st July 2025

1. Basis of Preparation

(a) 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 notes to these accounts. The accounts 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 (FRS102) issued on 16th July 2014, and with the Charities Act 2011.

(b) Going Concern

The Trustees consider there is reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to consider an operational existence for the forseeable future. Accordingly we continue to to adopt the going concern basis in preparing this annual report and financial statements.

(c) Change of Accounting Policy

The accounts present a true and fair view and no changes have been made to the accounting policy.

(d) Changes to accounting estimates

No changes to accounting estimates have occurred in the reporting period.

(e) Material prior year errors

No material prior year errors have been identified in the reporting period.

2. Accounting Policies

(a) Recognition of Incoming Resources

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:

(b) Funds Structure

Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the funder. There were no restricted funds received in this period or brought forward from the previous period.

(c) Grants and Donations

Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources. Donations represent voluntary amounts received during the year.

(d) Tax reclaims on donations and gifts

Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that donation and is treated in addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have been specified otherwise.

(e) Recognition of Expenditure

Liablilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is legal or constructive obligation commiting the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the Statement of Financial Activities.

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The Incognito Theatre Group

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

For the Year Ended 31st July 2025

2. Accounting Policies (continued)

(f) Depreciation

All assets except property (see note 5) are written off in the year of the expense.

(g) Operating leases

The theatre is leased from the London Borough of Barnet. The previous 10 year lease expired on 23 March 2019 and after protracted negotiations a new lease was eventually granted for a 25 year term from 24 March 2023 with rent reviews every 5 years. There are options to break for the landlord at 15 and 20 years and for the tenant every 5 years. The initial market rent is stated as £9,000 p.a. but this is currently reduced to £900 p.a. under a separate 5 year agreement with LBB, pursuant to the council's Community Benefit Assessment Tool scheme.

3.

Legal Status of the Charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the Charity being wound up the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the Charity.

4. Grants and Donations

Donations
Other Donations (including Gift Aid)
5.
Fixed Assets
Cost of land purchased in 2011		 2025
£
2,131
1,040		 2024
£
4,235
1,040

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