Charity Registration: 1127394
ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY (Formerly known as ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY) Report and Accounts For the year ended 30 June 2023
ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2023
Reference and administrative information
Charity Name: Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company (formerly known as Alderley & Wilmslow Amateur Operatic Society) Charity registration number: 1127394 Charity address: 175 Dickens Lane, Poynton, Cheshire, SK12 1NZ
Trustees
The Trustees of the Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company who served during the year were:
Megan Ashbrook Katie Fisher Lauren Ricketts Derek Swain Jill Thomason-Stewart Katy Thomason-Stewart Steve Sheppard (left July 2022) Bradley Snelling (left January 2023) Rashana Sweiden Vigerstaff (left January 2023)
Bankers: Royal Bank of Scotland, 27 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AB
Independent Examiner: CJD McPake, 22 Oriental Square, London, NW9 0FR
Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company following a request from members to look at the possibility of rebranding. The committee contacted the Charity Commission and a General Meeting was held to approve the resolution to change the name. The Charity Commission confirmed the new name would be used from November 2011 onwards. The Alderley & Wilmslow Amateur Operatic Society was registered as a charity on 7th January 2009. The charity continues the activities which were previously under the auspices of the unincorporated body Alderley & Wilmslow Amateur Operatic Society which has been in existence since 1947.
Objectives and activities
The objects of the Society are to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts.
Each year the Society aims to produce two shows. The main production is staged in November and the minor show is put on in May. The main show runs for a week with two performances on the Saturday and the minor show runs for days. For each show there is a producer, musical director and choreographer. Auditions are open to anyone, and are run to select the lead, supporting and chorus roles. Successful auditionees become members of the Society. Rehearsals start about twenty weeks before the main show and twelve weeks before the minor show. These can be up to three times per week, depending upon the schedule drawn up by the producer, musical director and choreographer. Behind the scenes members of the Society are involved in arranging the wardrobe, staging, lighting and sound, producing the programme, which also involves the sale of advertising space, and doing all they can to promote the forthcoming show so that tickets and programmes will be sold and the production will be well attended.
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Public benefit
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The Society relies on subscriptions and ticket sales to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of subscriptions and ticket prices, the trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility offered by the Society both to potential members and the wider general public.
Achievements and performance
The Company is run by the membership who are volunteers and receive no payment.
In the year in question the Company celebrated its 75[th] anniversary, with a reception held at our sponsor’s venue, Suburban Green, where guests were entertained with a performance and speeches. The Trustees would like to thank Suburban Green for their hospitality in hosting the event and providing refreshments for all attendees.
The Company staged its main production of “A Christmas Carol” in November 2022. Whilst artistically and critically successful, this unfortunately proved to be a financial loss, attributed to lower than anticipated ticket sales alongside reduced sundry item sales.
The Company staged a production of “75” in May 2023. This was a review show featuring songs from each decade of the society’s existence. For this production the Company ventured to Congleton to perform at The Daneside. As a purpose built theatre, this offered the Company the opportunity to significantly reduce the costs of staging a performance. Unfortunately ticket sales, along with sundry item sales, were lower than anticipated and the production represented a small financial loss.
Financial review
This has proved a challenging year for the society financially, with the production of “A Christmas Carol” losing £16,500 and the production of “75” losing £600. Due to the efforts in various fundraising activities and securing donations, this represents an overall loss to the society of £12,000 for the year. The Company maintains a financial reserve for the forthcoming year’s productions.
This year has highlighted the risk of relying on general fundraising and grant applications to support the cost of staging a performance at The Evans Theatre, with the highest expenditure continuing to be for the hire of sound and lighting required due to the absence of appropriate equipment in situ at The Evans Theatre.
The Trustees are cognisant of the increased cost of living impacting the publics’ ability to attend artistic performances, as shown with reduced ticket and sundry sales. The Trustees have experienced increased challenges in securing advertisers and sponsors, due to global financial challenges impacting business, and the increase in companies utilising online advertising.
Due to these challenges, the Trustees are focused on reducing the costs in staging performances for the Company, with consideration given to ensuring that productions move towards being self funding, therefore reducing the risk profile.
The Company is aiming to stage their next production of “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. It should be noted that as of December 2023, the Company were informed that the venue booked for this performance would be closed indefinitely due to the confirmed presence of RAAC (“Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete”). The Trustees are in the process of securing an alternative venue for this production and remain hopeful that this will go ahead in 2024.
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The Company has maintained memberships with ACT and NODA, whilst ensuring that appropriate insurance is in place.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Name: Jill Thomason-Stewart
Date: 7 February 2024
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
for the year ended 30 June 2023
I report on the accounts of the Charity (registration number 1127394) for the year ended 30th June 2023, which are set out on pages 5 to 9.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Name: Cameron James Davenport McPake
Date: 25 October 2024
Qualification: Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) Address: 22 Oriental Square, London, NW9 0FR
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ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30 June 2023
| Statement of Financial Activities Notes Incoming Resources Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income Activities for generating funds Investment income Incoming resources from charitable activities Total incoming resources 3 Resources Expended Costs of generating funds: Costs of generating voluntary income Charitable activities Governance costs Total resources expended 4 Net movement in funds Fund balances brought forward Fund balances carried forward |
Unrestricted Funds £ 7,868 950 79 26,784 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - |
Total 2023 £ 7,868 950 79 26,784 |
Total 2022 £ 3,133 2,262 7 12,734 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35,680 | - | 35,680 | 18,136 | |
| 804 46,822 450 |
- - - |
804 46,822 450 |
871 16,748 369 |
|
| 48,076 | - | 48,076 | 17,988 | |
| (12,395) | - | (12,395) | 148 | |
| 22,433 | - | 22,433 | 21,680 | |
| 10,038 | - | 10,038 | 21,828 |
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ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY Balance Sheet As at 30 June 2023
| Balance sheet Notes Current Assets Debtors and Prepayments 8 Cash at Bank Total current assets Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 9 Net liabilities/assets Funds of the Charity Unrestricted Resticted Total Funds |
Unrestricted Funds £ 596 9,894 |
Restricted Funds £ - - |
Total 2023 £ 596 9,894 |
Total 2022 £ - 22,433 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,490 | - | 10,490 | 22,433 | |
| 1,634 | - | - | - | |
| 8,856 | - | 8,856 | 22,433 | |
| 8,856 - |
- - |
8,856 - |
22,433 - |
|
| 8,856 | - | 8,856 | 22,433 |
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ALDERLEY & WILMSLOW MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 30 June 2023
1 Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005), with Accounting Standards and with the Charities Act 2011
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year.
No changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
2 Accounting Policies
Incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
| the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
| the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
| the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Where incoming resources have related expenditure, the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable.
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Governance costs include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
Incoming resources, from charitable activities, together with their associated expenditures are accounted for in the period in which the relevant performance takes place.
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.
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| 3 Analysis of incoming resources Voluntary income Subscriptions Collection Buckets Donations - PayPal Donations - Ticket Source Scrap Metal Collections Tea & Coffee Donations Amazon Smile Easyfundraising Evans Arts Trust Grant Wilmslow Town Council Grant Total voluntary income Activities for generating funds Fundraising events Sponsorships Advertising in programme Branded Clothing Sales Total activities for generating funds Investment Income Bank Interest Total for investment income Incoming resources from Charitable Activities Ticket sales Programme sales Sundry income Total incoming resources from Charitable Activities Total Incoming Resources |
Unrestricted Funds £ 3,288 - 35 59 396 23 33 34 2,000 2,000 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - |
Total 2023 £ 3,288 - 35 59 396 23 33 34 2,000 2,000 |
Total 2022 £ 2,735 - 5 39 276 49 13 15 - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,868 | - | 7,868 | 3,133 | |
| - - 550 400 |
- - - - |
- - 550 400 |
- 1,005 260 997 |
|
| 950 | - | 950 | 2,262 | |
| 79 | - | 79 | 7 | |
| 79 | - | 79 | 7 | |
| 25,203 433 1,148 |
- - - |
25,203 433 1,148 |
11,779 531 424 |
|
| 26,784 | - | 26,784 | 12,734 | |
| 35,680 | - | 35,680 | 18,136 |
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| 4 Analysis of resources expended Costs of generating voluntary income Branded Clothing Purchases Tea & coffee supplies Fundraising event - stock purchases Fundraising event - TEN Total costs of generating voluntary income Charitable activities Stage costs - sound, lighting and set Orchestral and production team costs Theatre hire Royalties, scores and scripts Wardrobe Printing, stationery and postage Rehearsal rooms Insurance Designer Publicity Sundries NODA and ACT subscriptions Stock for Concession Sales Total charitable activities Governance Costs Website Fees Meeting Venue Hire Card Payment Handling Fees Card Payment Terminals Mabel Evans Cup - Additional Band and Engraving Total governance costs Total Resources Expended 5 Details of certain items of expenditure Remuneration received by Trustees Number of Trustees who had expenses reimbursed Total amount of expenses reimbursed |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2023 £ Total 2022 £ 272 - 272 865 - - - 6 511 - 511 - 21 - 21 - |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2023 £ Total 2022 £ 272 - 272 865 - - - 6 511 - 511 - 21 - 21 - |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2023 £ Total 2022 £ 272 - 272 865 - - - 6 511 - 511 - 21 - 21 - |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2023 £ Total 2022 £ 272 - 272 865 - - - 6 511 - 511 - 21 - 21 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 804 | - | 804 | 871 | |
| 18,819 - 18,819 8,487 7,200 - 7,200 3,590 7,344 - 7,344 400 4,273 - 4,273 - 3,736 - 3,736 - 637 - 637 438 2,777 - 2,777 850 529 - 529 504 - - - 555 877 - 877 1,127 123 - 123 569 215 - 215 229 292 - 292 - |
||||
| 46,822 | - | 46,822 | 16,748 | |
| 163 - 163 152 - - - 153 31 - 31 64 106 - 106 - 150 - 150 - |
||||
| 450 | - | 450 | 369 | |
| 48,076 | - | 48,076 | 17,988 | |
| 2023 2022 £NIL £NIL 3 2 £850 £279 |
||||
| £NIL | £NIL | |||
| 3 | 2 | |||
| £850 | £279 |
The expenses relate to items purchased by trustees for and on behalf of A&WMTC. These were for website fees, costumes, online advertising, tea & coffee supplies, makeup and staging
Fees paid to the independent examiner during the year £NIL £NIL
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6 Paid Employees
During the period to 30th June 2023, the Society had no paid employees, as was the case for the period to 30th June 2022.
7 Donations
| Donations were received during the period to 30th June 2023, via PayPal and Ticketsource 8 Debtors and Prepayments Royalties, scores and scripts Society Ticket Exchange ACT Award Event Total debtors and prepayments |
94 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 596 | - | 596 | 463 |
These amounts represent payments made in advance for productions to be staged in the next financial period, and outstanding ticket fees for society social events due for payment
| 9 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Royalties, scores and scripts Total charitable activities |
1,634 - 1,634 - |
1,634 - 1,634 - |
1,634 - 1,634 - |
1,634 - 1,634 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,634 | - | 1,634 | - |
These amounts represent excess payments made and due for refund during the next financial period
10 Endownment or Restricted Funds
During the period to 30th June 2023, A&WMTC had no endowment or restricted income funds, as was the case for the period to 30th June 2022.
11 Related Parties
A&WMTC made no transactions with related parties during the periods to 30th June 2023 and 30th June 2022
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