Simple 8 Theatre Company Company Number: 07307236 (England & Wales) Registered Charity Number: 1139254
Report of the Trustees and unaudited Financial Statements For the year ended 31st July 2024
Simple 8 Theatre Company
Content page For the year ended 31st July 2024
Page 1 Company Info Page 2-5 Trustee's Report Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report Page 7 Income and Expenditure Page 8 Balance Sheet Page 9-10 Notes Page 11-12 Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
Simple 8 Theatre Company
Company Information For the year ended 31st July 2024
| Directors/Trustees | Ms Rosalind Riley |
|---|---|
| Mr Richard Digby Day | |
| Mr Sebastian Fernandez-Armesto | |
| Ms Genevieve Muinzer | |
| Secretaries | Mr Dudley Hinton (appointed 10/11/2023) |
| Mr Christopher Doyle | |
| Company Number | 07307236 - England & Wales |
| Charity Number | 113924 |
| Registered Office | Heath House |
| Lyneham Road | |
| Milton-under- Wychwood | |
| Chipping Norton | |
| OX7 6LW | |
| Independent examiners | SLP Accountants |
| Malthouse Cottages | |
| 126 Wish Hill | |
| Eastbourne | |
| BN20 9HL | |
| Website address | www.simple8.co.uk |
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Trustee's report
For the year ended 31st July 2024
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
MANAGEMENT
Chair & Director: Sebastian Fernandez-Armesto Trustee: Richard Digby-Day Trustee: Genevieve Muinzer Trustee: Rosalind Riley
Secretary: Dudley Hinton Secretary: Christopher Doyle Subscriber: Hannah Emanuel Subscriber: Emily Pennant-Rea Subscriber: Mathew Wandless
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The purposes of the charity is to advance the education of the public in all aspects of the dramatic art and the development of public appreciation such art by presentation of public theatre performances.
Over the last financial year, Simple 8 Theatre Company relaunched their full-scale productions postCovid. They have maintained strong relationships with partners, including Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton, Park Theatre London and Shoreditch Town Hall. The company produced a full-scale adaptation of Moby-Dick, in co-production with Royal and Derngate Theatre, that started in Northampton and toured to 9 further venues across the UK. They secured Arts Council funding for the project, which ran from March - June 2024. This year’s momentum has been kept up because looking forward they are fundraising and preparing for the premiere of their new play The Land of the Free (formerly Sic Semper) about how John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln, to coincide with the US Presidential election in autumn 2024. It will play at Southwark Playhouse in London, and the project will span September - November 2024. The company fundraised throughout the year, including several successful grant applications towards the above-mentioned projects, have a planned Evening With… Dame Imelda Staunton, and has committed fully to its remit of educating and entertaining audiences throughout the UK.
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Trustee's report For the year ended 31st July 2024
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Moby-Dick
Successfully mounted a full-scale tour, in co-production with Royal and Derngate Northampton. In total 73 performances, employing 31 practitioners, with 520 active participants, 10 volunteers, across 10 venues, with 10,392 people seeing it live and over half a million engaged online.
Successful grant applications from Arts Council England, The Charlotte Aitken Trust, The Foyle Foundation and The Garrick Trust.
The production was nominated of an OffWestEnd Award and was critically well-received: “A must see” Beyond The Curtain “Ripe with vivid imagery and humour...an extraordinary adventure” Northampton Chronicle
Our audience development and engagement focused on local communities and removing barriers that create obstacles for communities who rarely visit the theatre. We offered affordable ticketing at all venues with discounts for schools, those on low incomes, multi-generational families and young people. Across the tour we had the very low average ticket price of £17.44 – exceptional value. We took a midscale show for the first time ever to the Isles of Scilly, giving residents access to a first-class and affordable drama (with an average ticket price of £10.27). The audience was made up of 60% residents and 40% visitors, with 92% of audiences saying the show was “outstanding”. Simple8 developed a rich learning and wraparound offer for schools and young people including workshops and education packs. These were sent to schools/youth groups local to all venues, including over 100 primary and secondary schools in London. We delivered 4x Producing Workshops, 3x audience development workshops and 3x educational workshops, all for free.
We offered adapted shows including Audio Described shows with Touch Tours, captioned shows, BSL interpreted shows and a Relaxed Performance, plus Post Show Discussions. Our workforce had gender parity and our casting was representative of racial and physical diversity.
Land of the Free
Fundraising and preparing for a world premiere of a new play.
Achievements Against Objective Set
Across both projects we succeeded in our aims of relaunching the company post-Covid and producing touring drama, especially with large casts and without ‘star’ casting.
PLANS FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES
In terms of future plans, because the current climate in the Arts is perilous, due to a lack of funding, struggle for audience and consequential fear of risk we are considering moth-balling the company until we have a clear direction in terms of projects to mount and an industry that can offer better support.
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Trustee's report
For the year ended 31st July 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position
There was a loss for the year caused by ensuring accessibility to the production of Moby-Dick by offering generously priced tickets. This loss was offset by a ‘creative tax credit’ that made the impact manageable and still maintain reserves to launch Land of the Free going forward.
Amount of reserves held: £37,416
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) are:
Grants/donations/fundraising - £119,395 Productions/sales/royalties - £231,565
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted:
The Charitable Company’s funds are held in an interest bearing current account with the Cooperative Bank. There are currently no funds held that will not be expended within the next twelve months so longer term investment funds are felt inappropriate by the Trustees.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity:
The principal two risks are the viability of productions (can sell tickets) and losing funding in the build up. However the company mitigate against these by maintaining very low admin costs, being run by volunteers and they adjust their work and budgets to suit unfolding events.
The Trustees review the major risks facing the Charitable Company at least once a year. We have a comprehensive health and safety review and a code of conduct and safeguarding policy.
Future plans
There was a loss for the year caused by ensuring accessibility to the production of Moby-Dick by offering generously priced tickets. This loss was offset by a ‘creative tax credit’ that made the impact manageable and still maintain reserves to launch Land of the Free going forward.
Reserves policy
Amount of reserves held: £37,416
The Charitable Company currently operates with limited cash reserves. The Trustees aim to maintain a sufficient balance to meet committed expenditure. Major projects are usually met from separate fundraising activities.
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Trustee's report
For the year ended 31st July 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The governing document of the charity is the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which was adopted in 07/07/2010 on the formation of the Simple 8 Theatre Company as a company limited by guarantee.
The company is limited by guarantee - each director has agreed to contribute up to £10 in the event of winding up.
The methods used to recruit and appoint new trustees, including details of any other person or external body entitled to appoint one or more trustees:
We identify the need for new trustees. Either because vacancies have arisen, or that new trustees with specific skills are needed to help run the charity more effectively. The trustees agree what skills, experience and knowledge are needed. Preferred candidates are identified and invited to join the trustees. The whole board are responsible.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of Smple 8 Theatre Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
30.05.2025 Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
…....................... Sebastian Armesto - Trustee
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Simple 8 Theatre Company For the year ended 31st July 2024
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Simple 8 Theatre Company
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Simple 8 Theatre Company ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's 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 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 Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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
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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.
…..............................
Independent examiner
Sarah Price
SLP Advisory Limited
126 Wish Hill Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 9HL
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31st July 2024
| Note Income Grants and donations Charitable activities 2 Expenditure Charitable activities Fundraising Administration 3 Surplus/(Deficit) for the year Fund balances at 31st July 2023 Transfers between funds Fund balances at 31st July 2024 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 2,833 116,562 119,395 231,565 231,565 2,833 348,127 350,960 - 431,140 431,140 - - - 3,394 (68,076) (64,682) 3,394 363,064 366,458 ( 561) ( 14,937) ( 15,498) 52,591 323 52,914 52,030 ( 14,614) 37,416 (14,996) 14,996 - 37,034 £ 382 £ 37,416 £ 2024 |
2023 £ 3,697 - |
|---|---|---|
| 3,697 | ||
| 3,529 - 978 |
||
| 4,507 | ||
| ( 810) 53,724 |
||
| 52,914 - |
||
| 52,914 £ |
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Simple 8 Theatre Company For the year ended 31st July 2024
BALANCE SHEET At 31st July 2024
| Current assets Cash at bank Debtors 4 Creditors amounts falling due within 1 year Creditors and accruals 5 Net assets FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Restricted income funds Unrestricted funds Total funds |
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds £ £ £ 979 - 979 73,460 77,266 150,726 74,439 77,266 151,705 37,405 76,884 114,289 37,034 £ 382 £ 37,416 £ - 382 382 37,034 - 37,034 37,034 £ 382 £ 37,416 £ 2024 |
2023 £ 50,736 2,628 |
|---|---|---|
| 53,364 450 |
||
| 52,914 £ |
||
| 323 52,591 |
||
| 52,914 £ |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2024.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2024 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 that comply with Sections 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 surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 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 charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:30.05.2025
............................................. Sebastian Armesto - Trustee
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st July 2024
1 Statutory infromation
Simple 2 Theatre Company is an incorporated charity, limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales. The charity's registered number and registered office address can be found in the Report of the Trustees.
2 Accounting policies
2.1 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 note(s) 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 (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011
2.2 Recognition of income
The income of the company is derived from charitable donations, grants, fees and ticket sales from productions in fullfilment of the company's charitable objectives and is recognised when received or when entitlement to the resources are confirmed
2.3 Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS102 SORP).
2.4 Gift Aid
y
Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
2.5 Expenditure and Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
2.6 Support costs
Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.
2.7 Creditors
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts
2.8 Financial Instruments
The charity accounts for basic financial instruments on initial recognition as per paragraph 10.7 FRS102 SORP. Subsequent measurement is as per paragraphs 11.17 to 11.19, FRS102 SORP.
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st July 2024
2.9 Assets
Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
2.10 Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
2.11 Fund accounting
Fund accounting Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
| 3 Debtors and prepayments Prepayments Theatre receipts Tax credit 4 Creditors and Accruals Trade creditors Accruals Taxation 5 Fees for examination of the accounts Independent examiner’s fees Tax advisory fees |
10,767 66,499 73,460 150,726 12,066 90,576 11,647 114,289 - 5,931 5,931 |
2,628 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,628 | ||
| 450 | ||
| 450 | ||
| - - |
||
| - |
8 Directors/Trustees' remuneration
None of the Trustees received any remuneration for servioces to the charitable company. Travel and other expenses properly incurred for the charitable objects of the company are reimbursed. No expenses were claimed in the year (2023 - nil)
9 Company limited by guarantee
The company was incorporated under the Companies Asct 1985 as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. Each member of the company undertakes to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the company in the event of it being woundup while they are members or within one year after they cease to be a member
11. Independent examiners' remunaration
| dependent examiners' remunaration | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fees payable to the charity's auditors for the audit of the charity's financial statements | 2024 350 350 |
2023 - |
| - |
12. Related party disclosure
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2024.
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31st July 2024
| Income and endowments Donations and legacies Donations Gift aid Grants from Government Charitable activities Theatre ticket and associated revenue TOTAL INCOME Expenditure Expenditure on charitable activities Theatre hire and rehersals Artist's fees Production expenses Casting/auditions Company refreshments Costumes Creative accomodation Creative expense other Creative fees Creative travel Education Environmental responsibility Insurance Lighting hires Lighting purchases Marketing Medical Musical instruments Press & PR Production Team accomodation Production Team fees Production Team travel Programme development Programme sales commission Props Researsh Set Stage Management fees Stage Management subsistence Stage Management travel Transport/trucking Venue Poduction team Venue technical staff Rights |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted funds TOTAL 2,833 36,858 39,691 - 3,130 3,130 - 76,574 76,574 2,833 116,562 119,395 - 231,565 231,565 2,833 348,127 350,960 - 16,248 16,248 - 143,969 143,969 - 452 452 - 133 133 - 15,530 15,530 - 6,705 6,705 - 81 81 - 42,650 42,650 - 5,552 5,552 - 689 689 - 464 464 - 2,159 2,159 - 9,650 9,650 - 1,158 1,158 - 21,311 21,311 - 82 82 - 128 128 - 1,874 1,874 - 413 413 - 13,240 13,240 - 2,300 2,300 - 560 560 - 403 403 - 5,133 5,133 - 794 794 - 21,347 21,347 - 31,958 31,958 - 11,110 11,110 - 2,545 2,545 - 14,920 14,920 - 17,326 17,326 - 17,611 17,611 - 22,644 22,644 - 431,139 431,139 2024 |
2023 TOTAL 1,500 2,197 - |
|---|---|---|
| 3,697 - |
||
| 3,697 | ||
| 515 3,014 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
||
| 3,529 |
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Simple 8 Theatre Company
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31st July 2024
| Other expenditure Finance - Accounts preparation Raising Donations and Legacies Theatre tax credit TOTAL EXPENDITURE Net (expenditure)/income |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted funds TOTAL 3,394 4,824 8,218 - 560 560 (73,460) (73,460) 3,394 (68,076) (64,682) 3,394 363,063 366,457 (561) (14,936) (15,497) 2024 |
2023 TOTAL 978 - - |
|---|---|---|
| 978 | ||
| 4,507 | ||
| (810) |
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