Box of Tricks Theatre Company
Company Registration Number:07593599 (England and Wales)
Report of the Directors and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the Year ended 5 April 2024
1
Box of Tricks Theatre Company Information for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
Directors:
Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder Adam James Quayle John Alexander Quayle
Company Type: Private Company Limited by Guarantee
Directors Report for Year Ended 5 April 2024
The directors present their report, together with the financial statements of the company, for the year ended 5 April 2024.
Principal activities
The principal activity of the company in the period under review continued to be the advancement of the arts by the promotion in particular, but not exclusively, of the art of drama.
Box of Tricks 2023-24 activities continued to develop our programme of professional development events and initiatives through our PlayMakers Network and the tour of Billie Collins’ debut play Too Much World at Once – our first studio theatre tour since 2019. The tour was well received with positive reviews and audience reaction, and solid relationships built with new venues.
Over the past 12 months we have grown and developed our PlayMakers Network offering a broad range of initiatives to support Northern playwrights and theatremakers. We have curated live events ( Radical Readers , Creative Jam ), built new networks and artistic communities ( Blood Beats , Accelerate ) and provided free writing and development space for local artists. More than 200 playwrights and theatremakers have engaged with the PlayMakers Network in person over the last year, demonstrating the strength and energy of our artistic community, with 750+ members across the North.
We ran our fifth cycle of our PlayBox early-career writer-on-attachment scheme, and for the second year welcomed four new North West playwrights into the Box of Tricks family. With the additional capacity offered by our Literary Team, we were able to offer each PlayBox playwright a dedicated dramaturg alongside the support offered by Artistic Directors Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder and Adam Quayle. The PlayBox cycle culminated in a very successful PlayMakers Takeover at HOME in January 2024, with over 450 people attending sold-out rehearsed readings and workshops.
In June, we returned to the University of Manchester for a third year to work with their MA Playwriting students for a week of workshops culminating in a public showcase at the Martin Harris Centre at the University. As with previous years, the workshop week and showcase were incredibly positive and several of the playwrights have joined our PlayMakers Network and have continued conversations with the company regarding new work.
2
In November we worked with third year students at the Arden School of Theatre for a second year to produce Winter Tales , an anthology of 6 specially commissioned short plays with a seasonal theme. Our relationships with local drama schools and universities remain strong, providing concrete pathways for graduates to enter into the industry and gain their first professional credits with Box of Tricks’ development projects.
2024 began with the PlayMakers Takeover at HOME, and in February we launched Accelerate - our programme for writers aged 35+. We received significant national press attention for the launch of Accelerate – in both The Guardian and The Stage so not only has it proven to be an invaluable offer for playwrights but it has also raised the profile of the work we do for Northern playwrights and theatremakers.
Financially, this has been another difficult year for the Company, recording our second consecutive deficit in the wake of the recent pandemic. Despite securing core funding from the Backstage Trust, a number of unsuccessful funding bids resulted in having to make the difficult decision to reduce the team and let go of the Literary Team. However, we will continue to employ our team of freelancers on an ad hoc, project-by-project basis as funding allows to ensure that we deliver on our stated aims. We continue 2024 with a reduced capacity but a number of core funding bids and project bids submitted and in progress.
We should like to thank our funders for their generous support of Box of Tricks this year: Arts Council England, The Backstage Trust, Victoria Wood Foundation, Thistle Trust, Leche Trust, Granada Foundation, Garrick Charitable Trust.
For more information, visit www.boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk
The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024:
Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder Adam James Quayle John Alexander Quayle
Political and charitable donations:
No such donations were made during the year.
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006, was approved by the Board of Directors on 11 July 2024 and was signed on behalf of the Board by:
Name: Adam Quayle
Director
3
Box of Tricks Theatre Company Profit and Loss Account for the Year ended 5 April 2024
| 024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note Ref | Current Year | Prior Year | |
| £ | £ | ||
| Turnover | 2 | 109,080 | 179,167 |
| Cost of Sales | 125,116 | 198,499 | |
| Gross Profit | (16,036) | (19,332) | |
| Administrative Expenses | 4,502 | 3,608 | |
| Operating Profit | (20,538) | (22,940) | |
| Interest receivable and similar income | |||
| Interest payable and similar charges | 172 | 138 | |
| Profit before Taxation | (20,710) | (23,078) | |
| Tax on Profits | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Profit or (loss) for the financial year | (20,710) | (23,078) | |
| Note Ref | Current Year | Prior Year | |
| £ | £ | ||
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | 5,587 | 17,610 | |
| Sundry Receivables | 0 | 26,081 | |
| Prepaid Expenses | |||
| Total Current Assets | 5,587 | 43,690 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one | |||
| year | 0 | 37,393 | |
| Net current assets (liabilities): | 5,587 | 6,297 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due after | |||
| more than one year | 4 | 25,779 | 5,779 |
| Prepayments | |||
| Total Net Assets | (20,192) | 518 | |
| Capital and Reserves | |||
| Profit brought forward | 518 | 23,596 | |
| Profit and Loss account | (20,710) | (23,078) | |
| Total Capital and Reserves | (20,192) | 518 |
4
Box of Tricks Theatre Company Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year ended 5 April 2024
1. Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (Effective April 2008)
-
For the year ending 5 April 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
-
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
-
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
-
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective 2008).
2. Turnover
The turnover shown in the profit and loss account (exclusively in the UK) represents revenue recognised by the company in respect of goods and services supplied during the period, exclusive of Value Added Tax and trade discounts.
3. Taxation
The income generated by the Company during this period was wholly exempt from tax.
4. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
The amount shown in this caption represents interest free directors’ loans made partly at the date of incorporation and partly in the previous financial year.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 11July 2024.
SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD BY:
Name Adam Quayle
Director
5
Box of Tricks Theatre Company
Company Registration Number:07593599 (England and Wales)
Report of the Directors and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the Year ended 5 April 2024
1
Box of Tricks Theatre Company Information for the Year Ended 5 April 2024
Directors:
Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder Adam James Quayle John Alexander Quayle
Company Type: Private Company Limited by Guarantee
Directors Report for Year Ended 5 April 2024
The directors present their report, together with the financial statements of the company, for the year ended 5 April 2024.
Principal activities
The principal activity of the company in the period under review continued to be the advancement of the arts by the promotion in particular, but not exclusively, of the art of drama.
Box of Tricks 2023-24 activities continued to develop our programme of professional development events and initiatives through our PlayMakers Network and the tour of Billie Collins’ debut play Too Much World at Once – our first studio theatre tour since 2019. The tour was well received with positive reviews and audience reaction, and solid relationships built with new venues.
Over the past 12 months we have grown and developed our PlayMakers Network offering a broad range of initiatives to support Northern playwrights and theatremakers. We have curated live events ( Radical Readers , Creative Jam ), built new networks and artistic communities ( Blood Beats , Accelerate ) and provided free writing and development space for local artists. More than 200 playwrights and theatremakers have engaged with the PlayMakers Network in person over the last year, demonstrating the strength and energy of our artistic community, with 750+ members across the North.
We ran our fifth cycle of our PlayBox early-career writer-on-attachment scheme, and for the second year welcomed four new North West playwrights into the Box of Tricks family. With the additional capacity offered by our Literary Team, we were able to offer each PlayBox playwright a dedicated dramaturg alongside the support offered by Artistic Directors Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder and Adam Quayle. The PlayBox cycle culminated in a very successful PlayMakers Takeover at HOME in January 2024, with over 450 people attending sold-out rehearsed readings and workshops.
In June, we returned to the University of Manchester for a third year to work with their MA Playwriting students for a week of workshops culminating in a public showcase at the Martin Harris Centre at the University. As with previous years, the workshop week and showcase were incredibly positive and several of the playwrights have joined our PlayMakers Network and have continued conversations with the company regarding new work.
2
In November we worked with third year students at the Arden School of Theatre for a second year to produce Winter Tales , an anthology of 6 specially commissioned short plays with a seasonal theme. Our relationships with local drama schools and universities remain strong, providing concrete pathways for graduates to enter into the industry and gain their first professional credits with Box of Tricks’ development projects.
2024 began with the PlayMakers Takeover at HOME, and in February we launched Accelerate - our programme for writers aged 35+. We received significant national press attention for the launch of Accelerate – in both The Guardian and The Stage so not only has it proven to be an invaluable offer for playwrights but it has also raised the profile of the work we do for Northern playwrights and theatremakers.
Financially, this has been another difficult year for the Company, recording our second consecutive deficit in the wake of the recent pandemic. Despite securing core funding from the Backstage Trust, a number of unsuccessful funding bids resulted in having to make the difficult decision to reduce the team and let go of the Literary Team. However, we will continue to employ our team of freelancers on an ad hoc, project-by-project basis as funding allows to ensure that we deliver on our stated aims. We continue 2024 with a reduced capacity but a number of core funding bids and project bids submitted and in progress.
We should like to thank our funders for their generous support of Box of Tricks this year: Arts Council England, The Backstage Trust, Victoria Wood Foundation, Thistle Trust, Leche Trust, Granada Foundation, Garrick Charitable Trust.
For more information, visit www.boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk
The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024:
Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder Adam James Quayle John Alexander Quayle
Political and charitable donations:
No such donations were made during the year.
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006, was approved by the Board of Directors on 11 July 2024 and was signed on behalf of the Board by:
Name: Adam Quayle
Director
3
Box of Tricks Theatre Company Profit and Loss Account for the Year ended 5 April 2024
| 024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note Ref | Current Year | Prior Year | |
| £ | £ | ||
| Turnover | 2 | 109,080 | 179,167 |
| Cost of Sales | 125,116 | 198,499 | |
| Gross Profit | (16,036) | (19,332) | |
| Administrative Expenses | 4,502 | 3,608 | |
| Operating Profit | (20,538) | (22,940) | |
| Interest receivable and similar income | |||
| Interest payable and similar charges | 172 | 138 | |
| Profit before Taxation | (20,710) | (23,078) | |
| Tax on Profits | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Profit or (loss) for the financial year | (20,710) | (23,078) | |
| Note Ref | Current Year | Prior Year | |
| £ | £ | ||
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | 5,587 | 17,610 | |
| Sundry Receivables | 0 | 26,081 | |
| Prepaid Expenses | |||
| Total Current Assets | 5,587 | 43,690 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one | |||
| year | 0 | 37,393 | |
| Net current assets (liabilities): | 5,587 | 6,297 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due after | |||
| more than one year | 4 | 25,779 | 5,779 |
| Prepayments | |||
| Total Net Assets | (20,192) | 518 | |
| Capital and Reserves | |||
| Profit brought forward | 518 | 23,596 | |
| Profit and Loss account | (20,710) | (23,078) | |
| Total Capital and Reserves | (20,192) | 518 |
4
Box of Tricks Theatre Company Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year ended 5 April 2024
1. Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (Effective April 2008)
-
For the year ending 5 April 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
-
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
-
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
-
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective 2008).
2. Turnover
The turnover shown in the profit and loss account (exclusively in the UK) represents revenue recognised by the company in respect of goods and services supplied during the period, exclusive of Value Added Tax and trade discounts.
3. Taxation
The income generated by the Company during this period was wholly exempt from tax.
4. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
The amount shown in this caption represents interest free directors’ loans made partly at the date of incorporation and partly in the previous financial year.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 11July 2024.
SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD BY:
Name Adam Quayle
Director
5
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report ~~ee~~
Report to the trustees/ members of
Charity Name BOX OF TRICKS THEATRE COMPANY
On accounts for the year ended
5 APRIL 2024
Charity no (if any)
1146483
Set out on pages
1-6
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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 matter has come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *)
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
-
have not been met; or
-
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
-
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed:
Date:
1
March 2012
IER
Name:
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address:
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.
2
March 2012
IER