Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
Registered Number 04192235
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY**
A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND A REGISTERED CHARITY
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Information|1|
|Trustees' report|2 - 4|
|Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance Sheet|7|
|Notes to the financial statements|8-11|
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
|**Company Number**|04192235|
|---|---|
|**Charity Number**|1105090|
|**Principal Office:**|Cambridge Junction|
||Clifton Way|
||Cambridge|
||CB1 7GX|
|**Independent Examiner:**|Stuart Berriman|
||Chater Allan LLP|
||7 Quy Court|
||Colliers Lane|
||Stow-Cum-Quy|
||CB25 9AU|
|**Bankers:**|Natwest|
||37 Fitzroy Street|
||Cambridge|
||CB1 1EU|
1
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
The Charity Trustees of Menagerie Theatre Company, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their annual report together with the financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2025.
The registered name of the entity is Menagerie Theatre Company. It is also known as 'Menagerie' and/or 'Menagerie Theatre'.
The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Mr J. Barlow Dr R. Myers Ms K Blayney
Company Secretary: Mr P. Bourne
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing Document**
Menagerie Theatre Company is a company limited by guarantee governed by it Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 2nd April 2001. It is a registered charity with the Charity Commission.
## **Trustee Recruitment & Training**
Trustees are appointed by the Trustees, with the Chairman of Trustees being responsible for the induction and training of new Trustees. An induction package is prepared for any new Trustee to include the following: Copy of the Memorandum & Articles of Association, Minutes from the last Board meeting, most recent Annual Report & Accounts, copies of recent publicity and other appropriate material. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
## **Organisation**
The board of trustees administers the charity. The board meets bi-monthly and there are sub-committees covering strategy, finance, marketing and stakeholder relations which meet as necessary. An Artistic Director is appointed by the trustees to manage the day to day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Artistic Director has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for the operational matters including finance, employment and artistic performance related activity.
## **OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES**
The charity’s key objective, as set out in The Memorandum & Articles of Association is to advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of drama. In pursuit of this objective, the charity has engaged in the activities outlined:
## **HOTBED FESTIVAL**
## 19-21 July 2024
The festival of new writing at the Cambridge Junction included:
- A new production of Albatross by Martha Loader
- 4 Young Writers plays in staged readings/ performances
- 6 full co-productions of new writing
- 6 works in progress of new writing plays
- Support and programming of Hidden Voices Artists
- 12 short ICE plays (In conjunction with University of Cambridge)
- Two workshops
## **YOUNG WRITERS PROGRAMME 24-25**
We delivered a writer development programme for 8 writers. Workshops had professional tutors who helped guide writers to public performances of their plays with professional actors at Hotbed. The tutors were Patrick Morris, Andrew Burton, Sarah Woods, and Winnsome Pinnock.
2
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
## **HIDDEN VOICES**
Hidden Voices is our programme supporting and nurturing under-represented theatre makers. We made support investments in new works from the following Hidden Artists:
Venture Forth by Bobby Brill Clementine by Beth Mullen The Lodger by Dora Colquhoun
## **TOURING**
We developed and continued touring a production of the political satire Toy Stories by Chris Dobrowolski.
## **COMMUNITY PROJECTS**
Started Democracy project in association with Cambridge City Council. Running workshops asking what is your relationship to democracy? Did you vote or did you stay at home?
## **INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS**
- We worked with the Municipal Theatre of Most in the Czech Republic to produce Drz SE! A Czech translation of our production Stand By Your Van!
- We invited renowned puppeteer and storyteller Josephina Beck to produce her Swedish play The Goat and Me at Hotbed 24.
- We worked with The Romanian Cultural Institute to produce Traffic Jam by Alena Negela at Hotbed 24.
## **THE IDEAS STAGE**
The Ideas Stage continued with workshops and initiatives from Menagerie to develop creative partnerships with universities that use theatre to explore the scientific, historical, political and cultural ideas which shape our world.
## **WRITER DEVELOPMENT**
We worked closely with dozens of playwrights (and young playwrights) throughout the year offering mentoring, dramaturgy and opportunities to see and promote their work through feedback and support.
We also continued with a script reading service for playwrights wanting critical feedback on their work in progress, also involving local audiences through public readings and discussion sessions.
## **CORPORATE AND EDUCATION WORK**
We worked with The University of Cambridge presenting education and theatre workshops for businesses and ran a programme supporting Faculty Development as well as development projects with UCL and University of Newcastle.
## **OVERVIEW**
Through our programme of productions, readings and education work, we:
- Produced a festival of New writing - Hotbed
- Developed 6 new Young Writers plays
- 12 short ICE plays
- 1 new touring show Toy Stories
- Developed Ideas Stage workshops
- attracted 6000+ live audience
- Staged 6 co-productions - Hotbed
- reached 2000+ people through our teaching workshop programmes
- Contracted 22 theatre practitioners to deliver workshops
- Contracted 60+ theatre practitioners to develop and perform new plays
- Read and feedback on 50+ plays by new playwrights
- 1 international production produced (Drz SE!)
- 2 international projects as part of Hotbed 24
## **SUPPORTERS**
We had 18 "member supporters" who contributed over £1,100 in membership fees
## **GRANT SUPPORT**
We acknowledge the support of:
- Arts Council England (New writing support)
- The Romanian Cultural Centre (Translation and production support)
- Most City Theatre, Czech Republic (Support for the prduction of Drz Se!)
- Cambridge City Council (Democracy Project)
3
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
## **RESERVES POLICY AND GOING CONCERN**
The trustees aim to develop and maintain a level of reserves (that is those funds that are freely available) which enables the charity to bridge the funding gaps between spending on productions and events and receiving resources that provide funding. This year we ended with negative reserves. This has arisen due to the current state of Arts funding. In the coming year the company has a number of projects that will enable it to significantly improve the level of reserves. All expenditure is paid and agreed on a project by project basis. The budgeted income and expenditure going forward is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern. As at 30 April 2025 there were no free reserves; unrestricted funds stood at (£3,702).
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to: (i)select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
(ii) observe the methods and principals in the Charities SORP; (iii)make sound judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
(iv)state whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and with applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements .
(v)prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Trust and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees 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 order of the Trustees on and signed on its behalf by: 27 January 2026
J Barlow Director and Trustee
4
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 30 April 2025 which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
## **RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT**
As the charity trustees of the 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 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 company’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 Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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.
Stuart Berriman (Independent Examiner) Chater Allan LLP 7 Quy Court Colliers Lane Stow-Cum-Quy CB25 9AU
Date: 27 January 2026
5
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Statutory fund and grants
**6**
Charitable Activities
**7**
Interest
**Total Income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable Activities
**8**
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income / (Expenditure) for the year**
Transfer between funds
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
79,387
79,387
44,839
-
44,839
187
-
187
45,026
79,387
124,413
54,785
52,310
107,096
54,785
52,310
107,096
(9,759)
27,077
17,318
-
(9,759)
27,077
17,318
6,057
6,057
**(3,702)**
**27,077**
**23,375**|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
64,900
32,183
341|
|---|---|---|
|||97,423|
|||113,057|
|||113,057|
|||(15,633)|
|||-
(15,633)|
|||21,690|
|||**6,057**|
Income and expenditure is derived solely from continuing operations.
6
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY (Registration number: 10145977) BALANCE SHEET AS AT YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
||||**2025**|||**2024**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**||**£**|**£**||**£**|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||||||||
|Tangible Assets|**2**|||-|||-|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||||||
|Debtors|**3**|8,877|||-|||
|Cash at bank and in hand||15,598|||9,257|||
|||24,475|||9,257|||
|**CURRENT LIABILITIES**||||||||
|Creditors due within one year|**4**|1,100|||3,200|||
|||||||||
|**NET TOTAL ASSETS**||||23,375|||6,057|
|**The funds of the charity:**||||||||
|Unrestricted funds|**5**|||(3,702)|||6,057|
|Restricted funds|**5**|||27,077|||-|
||**9**|||23,375|||6,057|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the period ended 30 April 2025.
The trustees have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
- a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Section 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.
Approved by the board on and signed on its behalf by: 27 January 2026
J Barlow Director
7
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
## **1 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **a) Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS 102. "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities FRS 102 (2019). Menagerie Theatre Company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **b) Going Concern Basis**
The Trustees have considered the financial position of the charity and believe it is well place to manage its financial risks successfully. The Trustees consider that the going concern basis is appropriate as the expected income is sufficent that reserve levels ensure the Trustees can meet their financial obligations for the next 12 to 18 months and on that basis the charity is a going concern.
## **c) Recognition of liabilities**
Liabilities are recognised on the accruals basis in accordance with normal accounting principles, modified where necessary in accordance with the guidance given in the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by charities, issued in 2019 (SORP 2019 FRS 102 version)
## **d) Income**
Grant income is accounted for in the period to which the grant applies or the period in which the production it was donated to takes place.
Sponsorship and box office income is accounted for in the period in which the production takes place.
## **e) Expenditure**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Irrecoverable VAT is charged aa an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.
## **f) Funds structure policy**
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds that are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes, and it is the policy of the board of trustees to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.
There is no formal policy of transfer between funds or on the allocation of funds to designated funds, other than that described above.
## **g) Volunteers and donated services**
The value of services provided by volunteers is not incorporated into these financial statements. Further details of the contribution made by volunteers can be found in the trustees' annual report. Where services are provided to the charity as a donation that would normally be purchased from our suppliers, this contribution is included in the financial statements at an estimate based on the value of the contribution to the charity.
## **h) Foreign Currencies**
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are taken to the profit and loss account.
## **i) Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Computer equipment - 33% on cost
8
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
**MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
## **2 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 May 2024
Addition
**At 30 April 2025**
**Depreciation**
At 1 May 2024
Charge for year
**At 30 April 2025**
**Net book value**
At 30 April 2025
At 30 April 2024
**3 Debtors**
Other debtors
**4 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Accrued expenses
**5 Statement of funds**
General Reserves
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted funds**
Arts Council England
Cambridge City Council
Garrick Trust
Idlewild Trust
Toystories
University of Oxford - Huntley Carter
**Total restricted funds**
**Total Funds**|**At 1 May**
**2024**
**£**
6,057
6,057
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,057|Income
**£**
45,026
45,026
44,387
35,000
-
-
-
-
79,387
124,413|Expenditure
**£**
54,785
54,785
44,387
7,923
-
-
-
-
52,310
107,096|Computer
Equipment
£
1,529
-
1,529
1,529
-
1,529
-
-
**2025**
**£**
8,877
**2025**
**£**
1,100
1,100
Transfers
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Totals
£
1,529
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||1,529|
||||||1,529
-|
||||||1,529|
||||||-|
||||||-|
||||||**2024**
**£**
-|
||||||**2024**
**£**
3,200|
||||||3,200|
||||||**At 30 April**
**2025**
**£**
(3,702)|
||||||(3,702)|
||||||-
27,077
-
-
-
-|
||||||27,077|
|||||||
||||||23,375|
## **Arts Council England**
Main funding for The Hotbed Festival and new writing development for community and professional writers in the East of England.
## **Barbara Whatmore**
Supporting our annual programme for young writers - with professional led workshops and showcasing of new scripts for 10 regional (East of England) writers aged 18-30 years.
## **Garrick Trust**
Supporting our annual programme for young writers - with professional led workshops and showcasing of new scripts for 10 regional (East of England) writers aged 18-30 years.
## **Idlewild Trust**
Supporting our annual programme for young writers - with professional led workshops and showcasing of new scripts for 10 regional (East of England) writers aged 18-30 years.
## **Toy Stories**
A new writing theatre production developed and toured in the East of England and across the UK. Supported by ACE.
## **Huntly Carter**
A theatre research project presented as part of our "Ideas Stage" programme - co-developed with, and supported by University of Oxford.
9
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
|**6 Income**
2025
2025
**2025**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
Funds
Funds
£
£
**£**
**Statutory funding and grants**
Arts Council England
-
44,387
44,387
Cambridge City Council
-
35,000
35,000
Idlewild Trust
-
-
-
Barbora Whatmore
-
-
-
Garrick Trust
-
-
-
Toystories
-
-
-
University of Oxford - Huntley Carter
-
-
-
-
79,387
79,387
**7 Charitable activity income**
2024
2024
**2025**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
Funds
Funds
£
£
**£**
Workshop, Project & Training fees
44,839
-
44,839
44,839
-
44,839
**8 Resources Expended**
2025
2025
**2025**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
Funds
Funds
£
£
**£**
Workshop facilitators
11,725
2,263
13,988
Writers/Directors
6,800
4,118
10,918
Performers
3,086
8,495
11,580
Freelance administrators
8,100
19,190
27,290
Technical staff
6,827
1,150
7,977
Designer writers & prodn
587
7,267
7,854
Direct Production
521
920
1,441
Guest Company Fees
750
5,216
5,966
General admin costs
354
56
410
Company performance fees
-
-
-
Marketing, PR & design
4,569
491
5,060
Rent
3,660
1,883
5,543
Subs & Travel
2,589
1,139
3,728
Accountancy
1,620
-
1,620
Van Costs
528
28
556
Insurance
993
-
993
Bank Charges
96
-
96
Tickets/Scripts
1,865
-
1,865
Other
116
95
211
Depreciation
-
-
-
54,785
52,310
107,096
The charity had no employees during the current or previous year.
**9 Funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**2025**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
At May 2024
6,057
-
6,057
Surplus/(Deficit)
(9,759)
27,077
17,318
Transfer
-
-
-
At 30 April 2025
(3,702)
27,077
23,375|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
46,881
-
4,459
3,000
2,000
4,692
3,868|
|---|---|
||64,900|
||**2024**
**Total**
£
32,183|
||32,183|
||**2024**
**Total**
£
19,210
13,860
16,832
23,592
7,037
10,524
815
4,643
689
-
3,270
4,134
4,283
1,200
850
1,082
97
939
-
-|
||113,057|
|||
10
Docusign Envelope ID: 681C4019-6DDA-4E81-A735-7D76FBF4B5A6
## **MENAGERIE THEATRE COMPANY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025**
## **10 Transaction with trustees**
There were no remuneration transactions during the year (2024- £NIL)
## **11 Status of the company**
The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital.
The liability of the members of the company is limited. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of the same being wound up while he or she is a member, or within one year of ceasing to be a member, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before ceasing to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for and for the adjustment of the rights of contributories among themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding one pound. At the balance sheet date the company had 4 members.
## **12 Comparative Statement of Financial Activities**
|**Income from:**
Statutory fund and grants
Charitable Activities
Interest
**Total Income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable Activities
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income / (Expenditure) for the year**
Transfer between funds
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
64,900
64,900
32,183
-
32,183
341
-
341|
|---|---|
||32,523
64,900
97,423|
||50,208
62,848
113,057|
||50,208
62,848
113,057|
||(17,685)
2,052
(15,633)|
||5,079
(5,079)
-
(12,606)
(3,027)
(15,633)|
||18,663
3,027
21,690|
||**6,057**
**-**
**6,057**|
Income and expenditure is derived solely from continuing operations.
11