OUT OF CHARACTER THEATRE COMPANY ANNUAL REPORT 2021
SEPTEMBER 2020 - AUGUST 2021
CONTENTS
SUMMARY
page 1
' DIRECTOR S REPORTS Out of Character page 2 In the Moment page 3
ACCOUNTS page 4
This year saw members of Out of Character once again operating under highly unusual circumstances. This was done, as always, with a great deal of creativity, resilience and good humour!
The year began with a hugely anticipated and very welcome return to live sessions for both groups. Unfortunately, these had to pause through a third lockdown.
Undeterred, In the Moment focused their energies on producing a well-received short
Out of Character also continued their valuable work with York University Nursing students through a series of online workshops. The company continued to meet and make online until the summer break Company members were able to contribute to the ongoing development of Out of Character through the company’s AGM.
We would like to thank the Imagine Foundation and the Two Ridings Community Foundation for their ongoing support. Thank you to all the individuals and organisations who have
PAGE 02
OUT OF CHARACTER THEATRE COMPANY
Director's Report
OUT OF CHARACTER (THURSDAY EVENING GROUP) BY PAUL BIRCH (DIRECTOR)
The past year has been both difficult and rewarding. January saw us back into our third lockdown and, coming so swiftly after finally being back together in a live space, was very dispiriting. We had our lowest numbers (averaging around 8) for that season. We were able to stay in touch with the non-participants by other means and it was really encouraging to have many returning people when we came back to campus at the end of the summer term. Prior to that return we concentrated on skills sessions and were privileged to have a visiting creative practitioner, Vicky Ackroyd, work with us for three weeks using fine art approaches to discussion and creativity. OOC member Al and Photograph by Jackson Portraiture another undergraduate student also ran sessions as part of their Performance in Social Context module.
The end of the summer term saw us move from the online sessions back into work on Campus. This was a most welcome move and it was wonderful to have sessions feel close to normal with fuller numbers. Even some members who were understandably nervous about returning to face-toface work made the decision to return and seemed comfortable. We brought in one company member (who had to shield for health reasons) via the company iPad. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it did mean that anyone who wanted to join us was able to. Together we explored Long-Form Improvisation and created 30-minute comedies using Harold, La Ronde and Montage structures.
We are now back into the Autumn Term and we have seen an increase in numbers with an average of 15 artists. We are making a new show, Voices of Reason. It’s a fascinating true story of Bootham’s dark past in the late Georgian period. Whilst we have tackled life in hospitals ( Fresh Visions trilogy) and asylums ( Objects of Terror) this show focuses on how such institutions are reformed. It will be a live audio drama - working with a professional sound designer and a live cellist to bring this hidden world to life. Originally this was planned to open at the new YSJ creative centre which is now not ready. The date for the new launch and opening has been postponed until January (date to be announced) and we still intend to perform the show then. However, we didn’t think not right to not perform the show this term and so we are building a relationship with a new (to us anyway) York venue - Theatre@41 Monkgate. They will host the first show on Friday 19 November and we will repeat the show in Quad South Hall (on Campus) on the 16th December as part of the Converge sharing. The sporadic nature of these performances is not ideal but it was the only solution we could find given the extremely late notice of the Creative Centre’s delay. Members of the I n The Moment have been invited to join the production and we hope to invite other guests to prerecord or perform live cameos as part of the show. They might be past members of the company, mental health professionals and other carers. I am pleased to say that we have also been able to make this offer to a member of the company who wanted to be part of the show but is unable to join regular rehearsals for personal reasons.
The wider workshops have continued throughout on the zoom platform. In particular, we have done two workshops on stigma for the York University Nursing students as well as one on unconscious bias. Next week (as I write this) will see us repeat the Unconscious Bias workshop with the skill and expertise of Mark and Christie. It will be interesting to see if these online workshops gradually disappear or are retained as we move closer to a return to live teaching.
PAGE 03
OUT OF CHARACTER THEATRE COMPANY
Director's Report
IN THE MOMENT (WEDNESDAY EVENING GROUP) BY JANE ALLANACH (DIRECTOR)
Autumn 2020 saw us back in the space enjoying a term of Improvisation skills. Due to apprehension surrounding Covid, our numbers dwindled in November and December, to an average of 4-5 members per session.
The New Year saw us back in Lockdown with a new project – making a film for York’s Festival of Ideas around the subject of Gift Exchange. We looked at other cultures- mythology and traditions from around the world for our inspiration, which culminated in just short of an hour length film. The film can be seen on YouTube and is a light-hearted ‘documentary style’ journey, which aims to answer the question of How can we keep the spirit of the gift alive? Throughout the journey we meet characters from mythology, a puppet called Dora and a very intense professor, alongside an array of characters which tell real life gift stories which the cast had fun collecting and retelling. It was great for the group to have a focus during lockdown and we managed to maintain regular attendance by a core group.
We have returned to work on a new project with Lucy Coleman and Ben Herron as part of a performance (yet to be decided when and where) for Foss Park. Ben has chosen the theme of campfire stories which In the Moment have begun to explore and will continue to do so over the coming weeks.
In August, In the Moment teamed up with Helen Kenwright to make a series of film clips talking about their feelings of attending Converge classes for the first time (the apprehension, excitement, the not knowing), through to the end of the course and how they were changed throughout the experience. The group used their own experiences and also responded artistically to the testimonies of various members of the Creative Writing Course. The videos can be accessed on the Converge Connected Website.
Our numbers average around 10 including two students from last term who have come back to work with us – Peter and Louise. Sadly, we lost Anna this year to primary teaching, which is a huge loss to the group, having been with us since the beginning in 2016. Marie Hillcoat has joined the team as assistant artistic director – Marie volunteered with us in 2016-17 as an A level student, before going to Salford University to gain a degree in theatre. She’s a great performer – including stand-up comedy at Edinburgh Fringe – no mean feat!
We have two members of the group working with Out of Character on their performance - Voices of Reason. I hope to be able to take part also but due to working with Converge on Thursday evenings my participation will be limited.
| Income | Income |
|---|---|
| Imagine Foundation | £5,000.00 |
| Baring | £12,000.00 |
| Arts Council | £695.00 |
| Coop | £716.93 |
| Two Ridings | £1,678.00 |
| Amazon error repayment | £22.23 |
| University of York | £1,800.00 |
| Total Income | £21,912.16 |
1 September 2021- ~~3~~ i1st
| Expenditure | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Artistic directors | £5,977.56 |
| Assistant direction | £1,708.25 |
| Performers | £980.00 |
| Pension payments | £1,274.00 |
| Playwriting | £500.00 |
| Refreshments | £266.03 |
| Design | £540.00 |
| Simulated admin | £73.50 |
| Website | £153.35 |
| General and administration | £191.62 |
| Training | £299.99 |
| Administration | £1,351.50 |
| Technical equipment | £529.73 |
| Independent examination of accounts |
£355.00 |
| Total Expenditure | £14,200.53 |
| Balance to carry | ||
|---|---|---|
| forward | £16,815.96 | |
| Cash in hand | £39.91 | |
| Total Assets £16,855.87 ~~ |
~~ ~~=—li(<a‘asltllLlULLL~~ |
In the Moment in rehearsal at York St. John University
outofcharactertheatre.squarespace.com Registered Charity (1161399)
Out of Character
(Charity Number: 1161399)
Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended
31st August 2021
Out of Character
(Charity Number: 1161399)
| Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st August 2021 |
Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st August 2021 |
Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st August 2021 |
Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st August 2021 |
Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st August 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Events Payments Net of receipts/(payments) Simulated admin Total payments Pension payments Travel & accomodation Performers Training Technical equipment Professional fees Balance brought forward Balance carried forward Artistic directors Assistant Direction Refreshments Design Transfers between funds General and administration Other costs York Theatre Royal show Playwriting Website Total receipts Receipts Grants Donations |
Unrestricted funds £ 20,090 - 1,822 21,912 5,978 1,708 980 1,274 - 500 - 266 540 73 300 530 355 153 1,543 - 14,200 7,712 - 9,144 16,856 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
2021 Total funds £ 20,090 - 1,822 21,912 5,978 1,708 980 1,274 - 500 - 266 540 73 300 530 355 153 1,543 - 14,200 7,712 - 9,144 16,856 |
2020 Total funds £ 28,025 1,687 3,095 |
| 32,807 | ||||
| 9,199 4,191 982 794 5,431 3,105 532 422 350 294 - - - 143 126 596 |
||||
| 26,165 | ||||
| 6,642 - 2,502 |
||||
| 9,144 |
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Out of Character
(Charity Number: 1161399)
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities at: | 31st August 2021 | 31st August 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Total funds £ 9,104 40 |
||
| 9,144 | ||
| 2020 Total Funds £ 280 |
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Out of Character
(Charity Number: 1161399)
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended: 31st August 2021
1. Basis of Accounts
The Trustees have taken advantage of section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
Approval of Accounts for the year ended: 0 The report and accounts were approved at a meeting of the Trustees held on: Date
Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees:
Signature Signature Name Name Position (e.g. Chair etc) Position (e.g. Chair etc) Date Date
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