Company Registration Number 07285741 Registered Charity Number 1146907
ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the year ending 31 March 2023
ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023
The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity Name Eclipse Theatre Company Limited Charity registration number 1146907 Company registration number 07285741 Registered office Mill 2 Mabgate Mills, Leeds, LS9 7DZ
Trustees
For the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, the Board of Trustees is the Board of Directors of the charitable company and is referred to as the Trustees throughout this report.
The Trustees of Eclipse Theatre Company Limited during the period and to the date of signing this report are as follows:
Nicholas Ahad Robert Alderson (Interim Chair) Sade Banks Resigned 2 December 2022 Joanna Chikezie Resigned 27 November 2023 Benjamin Cooper-Melchiors Fiona Joseph Simone Kelly Dr David Linton Resigned 24 November 2023 Maxwell Mutanda Gregory Nash Resigned 2 September 2022 Michelle Carwardine Palmer Resigned 19 February 2023 Paula Rabbitt Resigned 2 September 2022 Bobsie Robinson (Chair) Resigned 2 September 2022 Pam Fraser Solomon Resigned 22 September 2023 Simeon Tubi Resigned 4 July 2023 Company Secretary Jonathan Ennis (to 2 September 2022) Jane Anderson (12 September 2022 – 22 September 2023) Independent Examiner Pete O’Hara FCA, Flat 3, 1 Tankerville Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AH
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Documents
Eclipse Theatre Company Ltd is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 16 June 2010, registered in England and Wales under company number 07285741 and governed by its memorandum and articles of association. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 17 April 2012 under charity number 1146907.
The Directors of the company are also Trustees of the charity.
Eligibility for membership of the charity, and membership of the Board of Trustees, is governed by the Articles of Association. There are no restrictions in the governing document on the operation of the charity other than those imposed by general charity law.
Charitable Purpose
Eclipse Theatre Company Limited’s charitable objects are to advance the arts for the public benefit through the promotion of, in particular, but not exclusively, the art of drama.
Structure and Governance
The charity currently has a Board of nine non-executive Trustees.
The Board meets a minimum of four times per year.
Detailed written Board reports and an agenda are prepared and circulated in advance of meetings.
Recruitment and Appointment of Board of Trustees
Trustees are elected to the Board based on discussions and recommendations offered by Trustees and outside advisors to the organisation, as well as through a range of advertising channels.
2022-23 has been a year of stabilising the senior leadership team and governance, whilst building on and developing a bold new body of work. The team applied and were awarded NPO status for the next 3 years of the Arts Council Let’s Create programme.
The Board appointed Jane Anderson as Executive Director in September 2022. She joined Eclipse with a breadth of knowledge and experience of the creative industry and shared the Joint CEO role with Artistic Director, Lekan Lawal.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (Continued)
Trustee Induction and Training
New Trustees are inducted by the Chair of the Board and Director and are provided with a range of resources and publications to support their understanding of Eclipse Theatre Company Limited activities, including the latest annual report and accounts, a full role description and information on current and past productions. They also have the opportunity to see productions and are kept informed on an ongoing basis around developments in both the theatre and wider charity sectors.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have reviewed the charity's needs for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission.
The Trustees aim to firstly hold a level of unrestricted reserves equal to three month’s operating costs, which enables the charity to have sufficient financial resources to meet various liabilities which would crystallise if Eclipse Theatre Company Limited’s funding were to be withdrawn and/or it were unable to continue operating. At present, the Trustees estimate that the reserves required for such purposes amount to approximately £120,000.
The Trustees then aspire to retain an additional allowance of £50,000 to enable the charity to respond flexibly to issues or appropriate initiatives which might be identified outside of its annual budgeting process. This is at the discretion of the Executive Team to propose and agree with the board.
The optimum level of Reserves held is therefore £170,000.
The charity’s ‘free reserves’ at 31 March 2023, defined as non-designated unrestricted funds, net of the value of Fixed Assets, are £278,760, thereby providing a modest additional degree of contingency.
However, the Trustees are mindful of the need to not hold excessive levels of Reserves and have approved budgets including an excess of expenditure over income for the next 2 years in the region of £98,976 to reduce free reserves to closer to the optimum level and support the re-launch of the charity’s artistic programme and charitable activity following the pandemic.
This policy will be reviewed by the Trustees on an annual basis as part of the charity’s budgeting processes.
Grant Making Policy
The charity does not currently engage in grant-making activity.
The Contribution of Volunteers
The charity does not currently use volunteers within its productions or to support its activities.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Aims & Objectives
Eclipse Theatre Company’s mission is as follows:
“Eclipse Theatre will influence and instigate change that leads to a more diverse and equitable theatrical landscape”.
The Eclipse Mission will be delivered by:
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Producing quality productions : using the Black British experience to create new work to enrich Black British theatre. Creating interesting stories that appeal to a wide-ranging audience, that are entertaining and encourage discussion. Creating productions that are consistently high quality and develop the brand that is Eclipse Theatre.
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Touring Nationally : establishing a touring network of middle-scale venues to offer a more diverse programme of work for their audiences, with a particular ambition to establish a regular presence further North. Firmly establishing Eclipse as a producer of black-led work and ensuring audiences for black work are engaged throughout the year, placing Eclipse firmly in mainstream theatre. Achieving this by touring black theatre classics and new work to smaller-scale venues, including arts centres and repertory studio theatres, allowing the company to develop new partnerships and reach wider audiences.
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Consolidating and Developing Partnerships : Eclipse will continue to work with venues from existing networks that share the organisation’s core values. In addition, the company will seek to develop relationships with new venues, where appropriate using small-scale touring to build relationships and trust, encouraging venues to commit to the company for the period covered by this plan to support Eclipse in delivering its mission.
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Developing Audiences : continuing to develop our audience development framework and encourage engagement in the arts that inspire the next generation of audiences and artists. To keep in touch with the large national network of Cultural Ambassadors and advocates, that Eclipse has built-in working with them and local venues to explore new ways to satisfy the very real appetite for the new Black Theatre. To reach new audiences by a growing digital presence through the ever-expanding Twitter, Facebook and Instagram presence alongside the organisation’s website.
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Providing Employment and Development Opportunities: providing employment opportunities for skilled and experienced Black artists/practitioners combined with development opportunities for early-career Black Artists, particularly writers, directors and actors. Alongside this, Eclipse consistently trains and employs Audience Development Officers, to help engage new audiences around the UK whilst on tour.
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Advocacy and Diversity : working to raise the profile of Black theatre makers and to diversify the workforce of British theatre, determining Eclipse as a national advocate of Black artists across the country, and as a beacon for inclusivity in the regions.
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Building a Legacy : through creating a library of work that will inspire future generations of Black theatre practitioners, through the development of a new body of work.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
Aims & Objectives (Cont.)
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Creating financial stability : by seeking to diversify income for the organisation in securing funding from trusts & foundations and individual giving. Maximising income from touring and through co-productions and keeping tight control on costs.
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Being organisationally robust : by identifying and appointing suitably qualified and experienced core staff members to meet the needs of the organisation. Enhanced and supported by appropriate freelancers and Board of trustees with an appropriate range of knowledge and experience.
Public Benefit
The Trustees understand and have discussed the implications of the provisions of the Charities Act 2006, which state that all charities must demonstrate that they are established for public benefit and have had due regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission. The Trustees believe that the charity meets both of the key principles.
In developing the objectives for the year, and in planning activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
In line with our mission, we contribute towards the creation of an environment in which the experiences of Black British people are articulated in arts forms and media nationally where we are a beacon for the work of Black artists.
Risk Management
The Trustees of the charity regularly review the major governance, operational and financial risks which the charity faces as part of its annual business planning process and confirm that systems have been established to mitigate these risks.
Eclipse Theatre Company Limited has a risk management strategy in place which comprises:
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an annual review of the strategic risks the charity may face via the business plan
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the establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified
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the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
The Trustees are satisfied that appropriate financial systems and controls and employment policies and practices are in place.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
Risk Management (Cont.)
The Trustees have considered the key risks facing the charity and the following mitigating actions have been taken to be as follows:
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Artistic ambition: the risk of not achieving a strong enough national and international profile for exceptional new work. We aim to mitigate this risk through collaborating with exceptional artists, gaining critical feedback, evaluating artistic achievements and shortcomings for every project and creating plans to continually improve artistic practice.
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Financial sustainability : the risk of having insufficient funding to adequately support current activity levels. Our financial model is particularly dependent on Arts Council funding, fundraising revenue, and touring income. This risk is mitigated in many ways, including a four-year business and financial planning process, annual budgeting and monthly management reporting against budget, and our audience development and fundraising strategies.
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Attraction and retention of Staff, Artists, and Trustees : the risk of being unable to recruit and retain staff and artistic/production talent of a calibre required to support our standard of work. This risk is mitigated through artistic and organisational planning and the strengthening of the Board of Trustees improving resilience and Trustee succession planning.
Eclipse’s annual core funding for 2022-23 was through Arts Council England (ACE). Eclipse is a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), and received extended funding to March 2023 following the sectoral impact of COVID-19.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
As the company formed a new senior team in 2022/23 it focussed on developing projects and maintaining new and continued partnerships. Eclipse measures its performance against how it delivers against the key areas identified above, which are designed to enable it to deliver its mission.
Producing and Artistic Programme
2022/23 saw the sector suffering the long terms effects following the Covid-19 pandemic as well as being affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Mid-scale touring companies and venues had to contend with the steep rise in costs associated with the entire production process. Collaborative partnerships took fewer risks and more cautious steps were taken. This has led venues, production companies and associated creative industries having to reassess and tighten their belts, Eclipse, like all other affected arts organisations, have continued to adapt and focused on regrouping and rethinking effective ways to deliver its ambitions. The organisation continued to seek out and develop shows ready for touring in 23/24 and 24/25.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year (Cont.)
R&D took place on the renowned play ‘The Hounding of David Oluwale’ by Oladipo Agboluaje, a new family musical and new play centered around Notting Hill Carnival ahead of anticipated future touring.
The Eclipse Award is an initiative created and supported by Eclipse Theatre and Summerhall, which aims to help UK-based Black and Global Majority artists making boundary-pushing performance work undertake an Edinburgh Fringe Festival run. This year’s expanded Eclipse Award has been awarded to six artists of colour, each of whom will receive a cash award and inkind support, which combined will total up to £50,000. The artists are:
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‘Elvis Died of Burgers’ from Blink Dance Theatre
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‘Kill The Cop Inside Your Head’ by spoken word and performance artist Subira Joy
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‘OommoO’ by vocal artist Lula Mebrahtu
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‘Siapa Yang Bawa Melayu Aku Pergi? (Who Took My Malay Away?)’ Faizal Abdullah’s love letter to Singapore
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Mwansa Phiri’s spoken-word theatre with Zambian oral traditions, ‘waiting for a train at the bus stop’
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The performance installation ‘Weathervanes’ by Journey to East Productions, in association with Summerhall and Tramway.
Consolidating and Developing Partnerships
The company continued to hold conversations with creative sector partner organisations; Leeds 2023, Leeds Playhouse, The Lowry, York Theatre Royal, CAST, The Belgrade, The Unicorn, Stratford East. The organisation regularly participates in conversations with Yorkshire Touring Network, SAIL (Sustainable Art In Leeds) and Producing and Touring Company networks.
Eclipse’s international profile continues to grow, with new partnerships forged during the Artistic Director’s secondment with Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, as part of the Clore Fellowship .
Developing Audiences
Our ongoing commitment to diversifying the cultural offer and experience for our audiences will continue by reengaging dialogue with audiences at a hyper-local level in Leeds and with continued independent evaluations with INDIGO. The company continued its social media presence, increasing our audience engagement online, across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and the organisation’s website.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year (Cont.)
Providing Employment and Development Opportunities
The company employed 32 people during the year, including writers, actors, and core staff with over 50% being from Black and Global Majority communities. As a company, we are consistently striving to identify and support untapped and regional talent across the UK from our home in the North. The organisation will continue to raise its profile and establish and support work of the highest quality.
Eclipse Management
A new staffing structure and resources have been created following the recent changes Eclipse has faced. This has been signed off with the full support of the Board. Eclipse has detailed and formal contracts and job descriptions for all posts, and as part of its Equality Action Plan, is mindful to seek to reflect diversity in its team, as well as employ personnel based locally in the North. Eclipse strives to develop committed and motivated staff and has put measures in place to support this, including identifying staff development opportunities and offering competitive salaries within the sector. Flexible working arrangements are accommodated where these can fit within the needs of service delivery.
Building a Legacy
In acknowledging Arts Council England as a major financial stakeholder, their strategic priorities matter hugely to the future of the organisation and as such, we align our work with their investment principles guaranteeing an ongoing legacy for future generations.
Eclipse’s legacy is further ensured through online archiving, delivery of digital content, and social media engagement with audiences and artists. The company continues to house its 10 by10 short films on the Digital Theatre+ platform, which attracts views throughout the year. Through our social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, we ensure the legacy of our projects through ongoing conversations about what artists and audiences need, enjoy and look for from our work.
Creating financial stability
During 2022-2023, Eclipse Theatre Company had net incoming resources of £33,071 on its general Unrestricted funds which reflected the continuing support of Arts Council England.
Reserves - At 31 March 2023, the charity had positive “free” reserves, defined as unrestricted funds less fixed assets, of £278,760. The Trustees continue to monitor and maintain reserves to a level that can provide some cushion against downturns in income or unexpected expenditure.
Material investments policy - Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the charitable company has the power to make any investment that the trustees see fit.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year (Cont.)
Future developments - The Trustees are continuing their present policy of long-term financial planning allowing for better investment and artistic breadth in its slate of work accounting for risk at the box office, partnerships agreements, and philanthropic income. In 2023 the company will continue to deliver its Arts Council England, National Portfolio agreement for 23-26 detailing plans for future mission and vision.
Fundraising – With the company having appointed new senior leadership and Trustees, it continues to review its Strategic Development Plan and campaigns involving Trusts and Foundations. Fundraising and ongoing work around individual giving schemes remains a shared responsibility across the core team members and the Board of Trustees.
Being Organisationally Robust
Continuing with National Portfolio Organisation funding from Arts Council England, we have been able to re-evaluate and evolve the organisational robustness within our small core infrastructure. We constantly review our working practices to increase resilience and sustainability. We have done this by:
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ensuring capacity is built into delivery where needed through the employment of specialist staff
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engaging a new Executive Director and Joint CEO to manage and lead the business
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ensuring any recruitment processes are rigorous and fair
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continuing to develop partnerships with a range of cultural organisations and pushing the Eclipse brand beyond the theatre sector
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engaging fundraising consultants to support on-going bids for core funding.
We will continue to monitor and evaluate all activities to assess and thoroughly understand our impact, aiming to ensure the work we do is responsive to the needs of artists and audiences involved. We will do this by maintaining regular contact with colleagues across the sector and partner venues encouraging formal and informal feedback and monitoring. We will continue to work closely with INDIGO and the Audience Agency on tours who assist in producing regular reports and updates. Eclipse monitors and tracks the online behaviours of its growing followers across digital platforms.
Financial Review
The out-turn for the year is an unrestricted surplus of £33,071 (2022: Surplus £43,756). The surplus is added to Unrestricted Reserves, leaving a balance on Unrestricted Funds at 31 March 2023 of £282,676.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
Artistic Programme
2023-24 will be an important year of transition and organisational development for Eclipse, shaped by both our new artistic and executive leadership, additional funding and by the challenges and opportunities of the context in which we now operate. Our Artistic plans for this year are also informed by the longer-term ambitions of the next four to five years, as we seek to put in place the resource, skills, capacity and infrastructure, that will enable the Eclipse to deliver on those ambitions in future years.
This process of artistic evolution is important and necessary for Eclipse, for two reasons: the first is to take advantage of the strong artistic vision that Lekan Lawal brings to Eclipse, and secondly because the broader sector is facing multiple challenges.
The external context for our work remains challenging, as outlined below in more detail. Our ambition, with new artistic leadership, remains strong. We will use 2023-24 as a key year for moving ahead with partnerships, launching the new Artistic Programme and developing our longterm goals whilst growing the pipeline of future talent and work.
We will ensure that we put in place the skills, capacity and infrastructure internally to meet our ambitions, and at the same time work hard to nurture the key partnerships that will help support our work and continue to develop sustainable relationships with the communities that we seek to serve, who will both inform and become co-creators of the stories we seek to tell.
Developments for 2023-24 include:
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The embedded leadership team and Board will work together to deliver Eclipse’s purpose with new thinking and ambition.
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We will strengthen our presence and our relationships with audiences and communities at a local, regional, and national level, and sow the seeds for future work on an international platform.
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We will consolidate existing relationships and begin to build new strategic partnerships and models, that will help grow the organisation’s reach and impact.
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The new leadership team will bring a fresh perspective to what performance and collaboration look and feel like, mindful of the creative interface between the live and the digital.
Key outputs for the 2023-24 year include:
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Research and Development (R & D) periods to develop key future programme for the years 24 – 26 inc: a family show; a new musical, a new solo show, dance co-production, revival of an Eclipse production.
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Engaging and co-creating with communities, and building on longer-term relationships
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Working with a cohort of freelance practitioners across multiple disciplines over the course of the year to develop a pipeline of new work for the coming years.
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Developing a hybrid model of live and digital content
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Developing content for a season/festival/programme of work to be presented during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Switching to an interim website to support digital R & D as we develop a bespoke destination website with a focus on housing digital work and overall user experience
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Relaunching the Eclipse Award as an award for multiple Artists
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Undertaking key organisational development and team expansion.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS (CONTINUED)
Our work will continue to place storytelling at its heart, and will be underpinned by our core values, mission and vision.
Produced work
In order to further develop our pipeline of work to be toured at the midscale we will be producing a couple of new works in development at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. One will be a solo show that looks to experiment with form/technology and the other a new music focused show developed by Artistic Director Lekan Lawal.
Eclipse Award - The Eclipse Award aims to help UK based Black & Global Artists making boundary-pushing performance work, undertake an Edinburgh Fringe run.
Fundraising - Eclipse is committed to continually reviewing its fundraising and alternate income generating strategies and policies support the organisation’s ongoing development.
Building a Legacy - As Eclipse was successfully awarded National Portfolio funding (beginning April 2023), it has begun to address Outcomes and Investment Principles set out by ACE which are part of their new “Let’s Create” strategy. These will continue to be developed further towards a more embedded approach for 2023/24 and onwards.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2023
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees (who are also the Directors of Eclipse Theatre Company Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report 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 these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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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 operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees 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.
In preparing this report, the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by Section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
Signed by order of the Trustees
Robert Alderson Trustee/Interim Chair Company Registration Number 06764666
30 October 2023
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
I hereby report to the Trustees/Members of Eclipse Theatre Company Limited (Charity Registration Number 1146907) on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 set out on pages 15 to 23.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s Trustees (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 the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000, your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant 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 or 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 (FRS102)).
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.
Pete O’Hara, FCA, Chartered Accountant Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
Flat 3, 1 Tankerville Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AH
30 October 2023
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
| Note Income Income from Investments 3 Income from Donations, Grants & Legacies 4 Income from Charitable Activities 5 Total Income Expenditure Expenditure on Raising Funds 6 Expenditure on Charitable Activities 7 Total Expenditure Net Income/(Expenditure) Balance brought forward at 1 April Balance carried forward at 31 March 14 |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2023 Total 2022 £ £ £ £ 385 - 385 4 254,092 - 254,092 268,461 11,431 - 11,431 3,870 |
|---|---|
| 265,908 - 265,908 272,335 14,288 - 14,288 - 218,549 - 218,549 228,579 |
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| 232,837 - 232,837 228,579 |
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| 33,071 - 33,071 43,756 249,605 - 249,605 205,849 |
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| £282,676 £- £282,676 £249,605 |
The notes on pages 17 to 23 form part of the financial statements.
All of the activities of the company are classed as continuing.
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION/BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023
| Notes Fixed Assets Tangible Fixed Assets 10 Current Assets Debtors 11 Cash At Bank & In Hand Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year 12 Net Current Assets/(Liabilities) Total Net Assets 13 Represented by: Unrestricted Funds 14 Restricted Funds 14 |
2023 2022 £ £ 3,916 4,618 19,438 5,705 278,628 262,113 |
|---|---|
| 298,066 267,818 (19,306) (22,831) |
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| 278,760 244,987 |
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| £282,676 £249,605 |
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| 282,676 249,605 - - |
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| £282,676 £249,605 |
The notes on pages 17 to 23 form part of the financial statements.
The Trustees are satisfied that for the year ended 31 March 2023 the charity was entitled to exemption under section 477(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees also confirm that the Members have not required the charity to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
(i) ensuring that the charity keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and
(ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.
These financial statements were approved and signed by a Member of the Board of Trustees on 30 October 2023.
Robert Alderson Trustee/Interim Chair Company Registration Number 07285741
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
1. Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Eclipse Theatre Company Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
Income
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Such income is only deferred when the donor or funder has specified that the grant or donation can only be used in future accounting periods or where the donor or funder has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.
Investment income, including interest on funds held on deposit, is recognised on a receivable basis.
Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is recognised when a liability is incurred.
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Expenditure on raising funds are those costs of seeking potential funders and applying for funding
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Charitable activities include expenditure associated with the planning and delivery of artistic productions and associated activities. This includes both the direct costs and support costs relating to these activities.
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Support or Indirect costs are those costs incurred in support of the charitable objectives. These have been allocated to the resources expended on a consistent basis that fairly reflects the true use of those resources within the organisation, such as allocating staff costs by time spent and other costs by their usage.
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Governance costs are those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with the constitutional and statutory requirements.
Irrecoverable VAT
All resources expended are classified under activity headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
1. Accounting Policies (Continued)
Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Depreciation is provided on any fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the assets over their remaining useful lives as follows:
IT & Office Equipment
- 33% per annum straight line
A full year’s depreciation charge is applied in the year of acquisition and no charge is made in the year of disposal.
Financial Instruments
The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind which qualify as basic financial instruments. Such instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Fund Accounting
General Funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Designated Funds comprise unrestricted funds set aside by the Trustees for a specific purpose.
Restricted Funds reflect income received which a funder or donor requires must be spent on a particular purpose or where funds have been raised for a specific purpose. Such income and associated expenditure are shown as Restricted in the Statement of Financial Activities, whilst any unspent balances at the year-end are carried forward as Restricted Funds.
Taxation
Eclipse Theatre Company Limited meets the definition required of a charitable company for UK Corporation Tax purposes. Consequently, the company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively for charitable purposes.
2. Going Concern
The Trustees have reviewed the circumstances of the charity and consider that adequate resources continue to be available to fund the activities of the charity for the foreseeable future. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
3. Income from Investments
| Unrestricted | Restricted |
2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds |
|||
| £ | £ |
£ | £ | |
| Bank Interest Receivable | 385 | - |
385 | 4 |
| £385 | £- |
£385 | £4 | |
| The 2022 total of £4 was wholly attributable to Unrestricted | Funds. |
4. Income from Donations, Grants & Legacies
| Donations Grant Income Arts Council England – National Portfolio Organisation Arts Council England – Sustained Leeds City Council - COVID Leeds City Council – My White Best Friend |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2023 £ 2022 £ - - - 71 254,092 - 254,092 254,092 - - - 4,415 - - - 7,383 - - - 2,500 |
|---|---|
| £254,092 £- £254,092 £268,461 |
Of the 2022 total of £268,461, £261,546 was attributable to Unrestricted Funds and £6,915 to Restricted Funds.
5. Income from Charitable Activities
| ncome from Charitable Activities | |
|---|---|
| Box Office & Other Production Income Other Income Income from Royalties, Scripts & Digital |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2023 £ 2022 £ - - - 2,184 - - - 50 11,431 - 11,431 1,636 |
| £11,431 £- £11,431 £3,870 |
The 2022 total of £3,870 was wholly attributable to Unrestricted Funds.
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
6. Expenditure on Raising Funds
| 6. Expenditure on Raising Funds |
|
|---|---|
| Fundraising Consultancy Fees 7. Expenditure on Charitable Activities Artistic Production/Project Costs Production Costs/Artistic Programme Marketing, Press & PR Salaries & On Costs Support Costs Rent & Office Expenses Recruitment & Training Costs Governance Costs Independent Examiner’s Fees Legal & Professional Fees Book-keeping & Other Accountancy Fees Governance Meeting Costs & Expenses Depreciation |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2023 £ 2022 £ 14,288 - 14,288 - £14,288 £14,288 £- Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2023 £ Total 2022 £ 7,504 - 7,504 29,115 2,065 - 2,065 4,864 131,752 - 131,752 127,224 |
| 141,321 - 141,321 161,203 31,703 - 31,703 17,224 5,494 - 5,494 5,813 |
|
| 37,197 - 37,197 23,037 1,800 - 1,800 1,800 18,340 - 18,340 25,366 15,895 - 15,895 15,415 1,229 - 1,229 197 2,767 - 2,767 1,561 |
|
| 40,031 - 40,031 44,339 |
|
| £218,549 £- £218,549 £228,579 |
Of the 2022 total of £228,579, £221,664 was attributable to Unrestricted Funds and £6,915 to Restricted Funds.
8. Net Income/(Expenditure)
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): Independent Examiner’s Fees – current year Independent Examiner – other services – current year Depreciation of owned Tangible Fixed Assets |
2023 £ 2022 £ 1,800 1,800 350 350 2,767 1,561 |
|---|---|
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
9. Staff Costs & Trustees’ Remuneration
| Gross Salary Costs Freelance Contracts Employer’s National Insurance Employer’s Pension Contributions |
2023 £ 2022 £ 106,979 68,139 16,425 56,900 5,875 1,147 2,473 1,038 |
|---|---|
| £131,752 £127,224 |
No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 during the year (2022 - Nil).
The average number of staff employed during the year, calculated as full-time equivalents, was as follows:
| was as follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| No | No | |
| Artistic Production and Support | 3 | 2 |
Key Management Personnel are defined by the organisation as the Trustees.
No remuneration has been paid to any Trustees/Directors in the year (2022: £Nil).
No reimbursement has been made in the year to Trustees for Travel and Subsistence expenses incurred in respect of their attendance at meetings of the charity (2022: £Nil).
10. Tangible Fixed Assets
| Tangible Fixed Assets | |
|---|---|
| Cost At 1 April 2022 Additions in year At 31 March 2023 Accumulated Depreciation At 1 April 2022 Charge for year At 31 March 2023 Net Book Value At 31 March 2023 At 1 April 2022 |
IT & Office Equipment £ Total £ 18,004 18,004 2,065 2,065 |
| 20,069 20,069 13,386 13,386 2,767 2,767 |
|
| 16,153 16,153 |
|
| £3,916 £3,916 |
|
| £4,618 £4,618 |
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
11. Debtors
| 11. Debtors |
11. Debtors |
|
|---|---|---|
| Trade Debtors Other Debtors Other Taxes & Social Security Costs Prepayments Accrued Income 12. Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year Trade Creditors Other Creditors Other Taxes & Social Security Costs Accruals 13. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds £ £ Fixed Assets 3,916 - Debtors 19,438 - Cash at Bank and In Hand 278,628 - Creditors – Amounts Due Within 1 Year (19,306) - £282,676 £- |
2023 £ 2022 £ 345 337 3,189 1,743 3,561 1,794 2,091 1,537 10,252 294 |
|
| £19,438 £5,705 2023 £ 2022 £ 11,632 6,489 488 359 3,034 2,220 4,152 13,763 |
||
| £19,306 £22,831 Total 2023 Total 2022 £ £ 3,916 4,618 19,438 5,705 278,628 262,113 (19,306) (22,831) |
||
| £282,676 £- |
£282,676 £249,605 |
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ECLIPSE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
14. Analysis of Charitable Funds
| Unrestricted Funds General Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds |
Fund at 1 April 2022 £ Incoming Resources in Year £ Resources Expended in Year £ Fund at 31 March 2023 £ 249,605 265,908 (232,837) 282,676 - - - - |
|---|---|
| £249,605 £265,908 £(232,837) £282,676 |
15. Related Party Transactions
The charity has a close working relationship with Arts Council England which is a registered charity and has provided significant project funding which enables the charity to carry out its charitable objectives. In total, grant funding of £254,092 (2022: £258,507) from Arts Council England was recognised in the year.
At 31 March 2023, £Nil was owing to Eclipse Theatre Company Limited from Arts Council England (31 March 2022: £Nil).
16. Taxation
The company is a registered charity and no provision is considered necessary for taxation.
17. Financial Commitments
No material financial commitments have been made in respect of future financial periods.
18. Company Limited by Guarantee
The charity is incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 and is limited by guarantee, each member having undertaken to contribute such amounts not exceeding £1 as may be required in the event of the company being wound up whilst he or she is still a member or within one year thereafter.
There are currently 9 members of the company (2022 - 11 members).
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