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THE QUAY PLAYERS Charity number: 1147608 (“Quay Players”)

Trustee Report 2024/2025 (the “Report”)

The trustees (as registered with the Charity Commission, together the “Trustees”) shall present this Report at the Quay Players Annual General Meeting (“AGM”). This Report, together with the financial statement for the year, appropriately audited, will be filed with the Charities Commission and we present this information for members of the Quay Players in line with the Trustees’ responsibilities statement, as set out at the end of this document.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Quay Players is managed by an Executive Committee elected at the AGM and consisting of the following officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. These officers are also the Trustees.

The Executive Committee is further supported by additional committee members elected at the AGM or co-opted in the intervening period (together, the “Committee”). All members of the Committee will stand for re-election every year.

Aims and Objectives

The Quay Players was established in 1997 with the aim of producing musical theatre shows in Southwark, London. We continue to remain rooted in the local community whilst striving to create shows of the highest quality. Our objectives are to:

Provide opportunities for the local community to develop their dramatic arts skills and showcase skills onstage and offstage;
Make affordable, quality theatre easily accessible for local residents; and
Educate the community in the dramatic and operatic arts

Public Benefit

We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. A summary of activities undertaken to fulfil these obligations is detailed below.

Activities and Achievements

The Committee is delighted to report on a number of successful endeavours for Quay Players in the past year. These include:

Open Music Night, run by musical director Mark Smith Our annual pantomime, Humpty Dumpty A February cabaret, curated and musically directed by Isaac Bartels Acting through song workshop with facilitator, vocal coach Olivia Ruggerio Improvisation workshops with facilitator, member Ben Hollands Our sensational production of The Witches of Eastwick Open Music Night, run by musical directors Mark Smith and Isaac Bartels The Quay Choir, run by musical director Mark Smith Vocal workshop with facilitator, opera singer and vocal coach Frazer Scott Hosting a stall at the Bermondsey Street Festival and getting up close and personal with our local community Dance workshop with facilitator, member Beth Sillitoe Dance workshop with facilitator, member Bhawanni Kirkland Complete overhaul of the Quay Players constitution Long term investment of monies donated by the estate of a past member

The Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the creative teams for each show. Taking on responsibility for any of our shows is a challenging and complex task, and our production teams worked incredibly hard. We are all very grateful.

We would also like to thank the cast members for all shows, as well as those who have assisted backstage and front-of-house. We are lucky to have such a talented company who are prepared to go the extra mile to support Quay Players’ shows.

There are still plenty of opportunities for all our members to get involved and some roles can easily be combined with acting roles as well. The Committee would welcome any offers of help and support for future shows.

Plans for the future

Moving forward, we have significant plans for the year 2025 - 2026. These include, but are not limited to:

Seeking out potential alternative venues to help staunch the ongoing increasing costs of productions as outlined below
Continuing to improve the financial viability of the group of the whole with additional fundraising opportunities and events
Work hard to retain existing members as well as continuing to recruit new members through a busy and vibrant social media and newsletter output
Increase the social outreach of the group with more opportunities to meet and greet at socials and external events, not just through participation in performance
Continue the ample workshop provision we have established over the coming years, reaching out to members to highlight and showcase their skills as well as hiring professional facilitators from the Arts to help our members constantly improve their craft.

Financial Review

The Quay Players have successfully concluded another remarkable year, continuing a proud tradition of financial stability that has characterised our organisation since 2018. The committee remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the financial sustainability of the Quay Players, even as we navigate the rising tide of operational costs.

Notably, expenses related to our performances at the Greenwood Theatre have continued to surge, with a nearly 300% increase in the past 3 years. Hire costs now exceed £15,000 per show (£5000 in 2022). In light of these challenges, whilst we are diligently striving to keep show subscriptions and ticket prices as accessible as possible, the constantly rising costs of venue and hire equipment is proving increasingly challenging. The cost of the Greenwood theatre is now so restrictive that the committee took the difficult decision to run a Christmas Cabaret in 2025 to be held at St Annes church hall, rather than the usual Greenwood panto with the aim of recouping moneys lost. The committee will continue to review plans for the summer production and are continuing to review more affordable alternative venues In December 2024, our pantomime Humpty Dumpty enchanted strong audiences, and strong budget control yielded a small loss of £270.

Our summer offering, The Witches of Eastwick, faced escalating costs, resulting in a reported loss of £7929 (although we are still awaiting a late invoice which will make this a loss of £9,687.41).

On a brighter note, our cabarets continue to make a strong profit with the March cabaret generating a profit of £2045. Membership is strong and whilst free workshops for members meant a loss of £200, membership fees generated £1828.

In 2023 we reported that we were humbled to learn that QP founding member Shirley Hayward had bequeathed a 10% share of her estate to The Quay Players. In 2023 we received an interim payment of £33,000 and in 2024 and 2025 we were payed the balance of £38,252. An overall donation of £71,252. The committee are keen that this generous donation is used to future-proof the group for the foreseeable future and have transferred £50,000 to a savings account with a 3-month notice period which will generate a good return of annual interest.

Our financial journey this year began with a balance of £54,784 and culminated with an ending balance of £84,155, reflecting a profit of £29,372, however without the generous donation we would have seen a loss of £8,880

For a more comprehensive examination of our financial performance, please refer to the detailed accounts attached to this report. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the Quay Players as we look to continue our legacy of artistic excellence and financial stability.

2015-16: loss of £5000 2016-17: loss of £4000 2017-18: profit of £692 2018-19: profit of £5861 2019-20: profit of £6938 2020-21: loss of £552 2021-22: profit of £4104 2022–23: Profit of £30,654 (£33,000 of which was a one off donation) 2023-24: Profit of £2,353 2024-25: Profit of £29,372 (£38,252 of which was a donation)

The Quay Players have running costs outside of our shows including our NODA membership fee, insurance, costume cupboard storage and website costs. The Quay Players continue to pay increasingly high costs associated with the rehearsal space and the Greenwood Theatre and therefore must reduce costs in other areas wherever necessary.

Related Party Disclosure: Payment to Quay Players’ Trustee

During the production of the Witches of Eastwick, The Quay Players paid Mark Smith a fee of £800 for his services as Musical Director which is below the rate that we have paid to MDs for previous shows. Payment for a Musical Director is in the normal course of activity and common practice for community theatre shows. This service is something that Mark provides in a professional capacity at a higher fee for other organisations outside of his involvement as Trustee of The Quay Players and so has the relevant experience to provide this service for Quay.

Risk Management

The Quay Players have in place policies on health and safety, safeguarding, child protection and guidelines for show week. These are available to all members and those participating in shows are expected to abide by the guidance. The Committee is planning to review all documents, including the constitution, over the course of the next year and will bring all suggestions to the members as a whole.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing this Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under charity law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:

● select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

● observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

● make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

● state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

● prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees of the Quay Players 2024-2025

Chair: Mark Smith Vice-Chair: Charlotte Murray Treasurer: Nicki Plews Secretary: Emma Bowker This Report is also supported by all the committee members currently serving.

cat	The Quay Players	SUMMARY	SUMMARY	SUMMARY	SUMMARY	SUMMARY	SUMMARY	SUMMARY	Opening position 54,784 24/25 income 93,369 24/25 costs 63,997 Closing position 84,155 25/26 income 254 25/26 costs -246 Closing balance 84,164 Uncleared 18.36 Monies Held 2025-09-21 Bank balance 83,882 Cash box balance 300 Total Held 84,182	Opening position 54,784 24/25 income 93,369 24/25 costs 63,997 Closing position 84,155 25/26 income 254 25/26 costs -246 Closing balance 84,164 Uncleared 18.36 Monies Held 2025-09-21 Bank balance 83,882 Cash box balance 300 Total Held 84,182	Opening position 54,784 24/25 income 93,369 24/25 costs 63,997 Closing position 84,155 25/26 income 254 25/26 costs -246 Closing balance 84,164 Uncleared 18.36 Monies Held 2025-09-21 Bank balance 83,882 Cash box balance 300 Total Held 84,182
	Financial Report for the year ending 31st A	ugOpening position	18,134	Opening position	22,238		Opening position	52,892	Opening position	54,784
		21/22 income	37,349	22/23 income	70,697		23/24 income	58,088	24/25 income	93,369
		21/22 costs	33,246	22/23 costs	40,043		23/24 costs	56,196	24/25 costs	63,997
		Closing position	22,238	Closing position	52,892		Closing position	54,784	Closing position	84,155

									25/26 income	254
									25/26 costs	-246
									Closing balance	84,164

									Uncleared	18.36
									Monies Held 2025-09-21
									Bank balance	83,882
									Cash box balance	300
									Total Held	84,182

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 21a 21b 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33	Year Opening balance Show INCOME Tickets subs raffle/progs/adverts/Bar gift aid donations/grants sale of costumes/set COSTS venue hire Hall Musical director band licence & materials Set costumes/props/tech Printing & publicity/bar paypal fees/Stripe misc	2021-22		2022-23			2023-24		2024-2025
		18,134		22,238			52,892		54,784		NB : Invoice of £1758 yet to pay
		Red (postponed) 7,616 5,215 0 0 0 0	Shrek 14,950 4,880 250 0 250 0	Little Red 5,555 2,050 1,087 0 0 0	Pippin 10,702 6,879 1,867 0 0 0	Saucy jack 1,366 779 1,421 0 0 0	Robin Hood 17,642 7,164 2,092 75	Spongebob 12934.69 6440 1987.07 626.56	Humpty 15482.19 5780 1489.98	Witches 15086.31 5720 3583.55
		12,831	20,330	8,692	19,449	3,567	- 26,973.12-	- 21,988.32-	- 22,752.17-	- 24,389.86-
		1,543 1,879 830 850 0 1,180 621 114 0 40	5,661 1,483 2,000 2,295 3,508 1,200 5,425 215 0 89	5,097 1,225 1,000 1,053 0 1,129 197 239 0 0	10,564 1,740 2,250 2,568 2,873 1,128 605 371 0 60	481 0 0 0 289 0 634 0 912	10,800 2,564 1,200 1,182 0 2,047 1,118 597 137	13900 2147.25 1000 3600 3571.18 1972.6 2386.08 1354.68 1132.69	15000 1647 1200 1090 2668.79 904.53 464.5 47.55	15600 2511 1380 2833 3902.67 3561.05 1399.4 800.65 331.5
		7,057	21,877	9,941	22,159	2,316	19,645	31,064	23,022	32,319

	Surplus/Deficit for show	5,775	-1,547	-1,249	-2,710	1,250	7,328	-9,076	- 270.20-	- 7,929.41-
	Non-show INCOME Cabaret Events DVD Grants / Donations Non-show Membership Misc Workshops Non show COSTS Insurance NODA hall storage admin & running costs Equipment Website redesign/web hosting Stripe Fees Quaynix events Sound for MID Workshops Cabaret Misc		2,938 180 26 0 8 1,037			4,278 760 27 33,100 825		5,922 337 595 1,870 403		4666.45 501.49 140 38635.59 1827.89 78.16 377.31
			4,188			38,990		9,127		46,227
			771 235 1,520 0 0 92			326 218 960 1,307 94		400 245 1,110 460 2,080		341.26 260 880 589.6 749 1216.27
			0
			0 0 120 1,574			92 718 1,912		115 1,046 31		598.44 575.5 2621.26 824.38
			4,312			5,627		5,486		8,656

	Surplus/Deficit fornon-show		-124			33,362		3,640		37,571

	Surplus/Deficitfor year		4,104			30,654		1,892		29,372
	Post year end adj Year end closing balance
	Year end closing balance		22,238					54,784		84,155

CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examiner's report on the FOR ENGLANO ANO WALES | accounts Indopand•nt Examln•r'$ Report Report to th• trust8 Quay Players On accounts for the yoar V3110812025 ended Charity no (If any) 1147608 Set ovt on pagos I feport lo the Irusiees on my examination of the acrnunts of the above charity I"Ihe TnJst"I for the year ended As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act"). Responslbllltles and bas1$ of report 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 1495Xb) of the Act. Independent examiner's Statement URde app1w. Delete l ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination £otheA di6GloWhich 9ives 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 nol accord with the accounting records.. or the accounts did not comply with Ihe applicable requirements concerning the fom and content of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 olher than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, vi8w which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinalion. I havè no cor)¢erns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslanding of th8 accounts lo be reached. Please delete the words in Ihe brackets if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: zots Name.. LikJ5 Relevant professional qualificalion(s) or body NIA IER Oct 2018

Ilf any): Addr•ss: FLqt 9, Gabrlol House Okd Par8di8e Street SE11 6AL S•ctlon B Dl•closur• Only complete it the examiner neer15 10 triiuliliyiil iii¢il¥iioi iii&ll¥fS 1 LL4S1¢**111 (S CC32, Independent gxaminatson of charity accounls.. directions and guidance lor oxaminersl. Glv• h•r0 be1 details of any Items that th• exarnlnèr w5shes to d18clo80. ocke& . pq) S Oct 2018 IER

2025-08-31-accounts