## July, 2025
## Report to the Charity Commission 2024-25
The Charity’s activities at the beginning of April 2024 were focused on completion of the musical arrangement and libretto for the production of “Happy Birthday, Gregory Bellings !”, scheduled for November, 2024. During 2024 OCO staged several fund-raising events that also raised awareness for the production of ”Happy Birthday, Gregory Bellings!”
## Production and Preparation for “Happy Birthday, Gregory Bellings!”
The plot was fashioned from a storyline that utilized the themes generated by the compositions entered for the song competition held in November 2023. All the soloists and the chorus were amateurs, recruited locally, some of whom hoped to pursue a career in music. Roger Simmonds led the band from the keyboard and Rachel Cave excelled in her debut role as joint Artistic and Musical Director. The refurbished space of St Mary’s Church, Wheatley proved to be an excellent choice of venue. From an artistic and musical perspective “Happy Birthday, Gregory Bellings!” was very successful and enjoyed four full-house performances. This success was due in a large part to the imaginative libretto written by Bafta award winning scriptwriter Gerard Foster.
## Planning for the 2026 Season
The planning for OCO’s next production in 2026 will be focused on a production of one of Roger Simmonds’ earlier operas, “The Poet and the Plumber”. The story is inspired by village politics, human nature and vicissitudes of amateur productions. This new production will benefit from full orchestration and a professional cast of young singers.
The Trustees are pleased to confirm that the Charity’s funds are in credit for the forthcoming productions and events planned for 2025-26.
David Keene Chairman of Trustees
37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044
http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org info@oxcontemporaryopera.org
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## OXFORDSHIRE CONTEMPORARY OPERA
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2024 – 25 (31 March, 2025)
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37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044
http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org info@oxcontemporaryopera.org
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## Oxfordshire Contemporary Opera
Statement of financial activities in FY 2024/25 (31 March 2025
**----- Start of picture text -----**
||||
|---|---|---|
|Note|FY|FY|
|2023/24|2024/25|
|£|£|
|Income|
|Brought forward from FY 2022/23|2,113.25|
|Brought forward from FY 2023/24|2,216.23|
|Donations|7,020.00|1,011.03|
|Gift Aid|1,637.50|87.50|
|Ticket sales|2|630.00|
|Raffle ticket sales|2|100.00|
|Ticket sales (2)|4 2,300.00|
|Bar and programme sales|4 436.00|
|Ticket sales (3)|6|210.00|
|Bar and raffle tickets sales|6|415.89|
|Ticket sales (4)|7|6,232.00|
|Bar and programme sales (2)|7|1,074.15|
|Sale of HBGB T-shirts|75.98|
|________ ________|
|Total income|14,236.75|11,322.78|
|Expenditure|
|Squarespace|506.40|501.60|
|OCO Insurance|1|96.00|
|Google|279.86|297.00|
|Parchment Print|132.20|
|Hire of Holton Village Hall|2|110.00|
|Musician Fees|2|400.00|
|Advertising|2|40.80|
|PayPal/SumUp/Stripe costs|2|3.77|
|Hire of Holton Village Hall (2)|3|119.00|
|Hire of Wheatley Park Academy|3|150.00|
|Hire of St Mary’s, Thame|3|394.00|
|Travel Expenses (Fame & Envy)|4|606.53|
|Artistic Director Fees|1,000.00|
|Stage Designer Fees|300.00|
|Soloist Fees|4|4,500.00|
|Musicians Fees (2)|4|1,700.00|
|Thank you|4|30.00|
|Rehearsal food|3|70.00|
|Advertising (2)|4|416.56|
|Costumes and props|4|538.14|
|37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ|http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org|
|Registered charity number 1178044|info@oxcontemporaryopera.org|
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**----- End of picture text -----**
Piano Tuning 125.00 Parchment Print (2) 184.68 Bar costs 4 199.77 PayPal/SumUp/Stripe costs (2) 4 27.97 Strategy meetings 141.26 148.29 Song competition prizes 5 238.48 Bar costs (2) 6 241.74 Musician fees (3) 6 100.00 Musician fees (4) 7 2,800.00 Scriptwriter fees 7 1,000.00 Production of scores 7 64.40 Hire of St Mary’s, Wheatley 8 702.00 Hire of Merry Bells 8 37.50 Hire of URC 8 200.00 Rehearsal food 8 279.11 Costumes and props (2) 7 668.07 Stage preparation 7 133.76 Lighting and sound 7 889.12 Programme production 7 45.00 Artwork, advertising and signage 7 392.00 Bar costs (3) 7 534.87 Temporary event notice 7 21.00 Thank you (2) 7 154.98 SumUp transaction costs 7 54.82 _________ _________ Total Expenditure 2,471.37 9,361.26 Funds At April 2024 2,216.23 Net Movement of Resources in the Year 102.98 _________ At 31 March 2025 1,961.52
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure are derived from continuing activities.
Notes 1. Insurance was re-instated on 16[th] April, 2023 2. A fund-raising concert was held on 28[th] April, 2023 3. Space for rehearsals and performances of _Fame and Envy_ 4. The performances of _Fame and Envy_ were held on 16[th] and 17[th] June, 2023 37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044
http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org info@oxcontemporaryopera.org
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5. A song writing competition was held at Wheatley Primary School on 18[th] November, 2023.
6. A fund-raising concert was held on 22[nd] June, 2024.
7. The performances of _Happy Birthday, Gregory Bellings_ ! were held during 14[th] to 16[th] November, 2024.
8. Space for rehearsals and performances of _Happy Birthday, Gregory Bellings!_ .
http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org info@oxcontemporaryopera.org
37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044
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