Partington Theatre Club Ltd (A company limited by guarantee) 

Trustees Annual Report 

Year ending 31 July 2024 Charity Number: 1178767 Company Number: 08955608 



## **Partington Theatre Club Ltd** 

## **Report of the trustees for the year ending 31 July 2024** 

The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 July 2024 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. 

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Companies Act 1985, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by  Charities (SORP 2005). 

## **Chair’s report** 

I am very pleased to report that Partington Theatre Club Limited is going from strength to strength and we feel very positive about the future of the charity. 

The charity is continuing to fulfil its charitable objects. 

We continue to run a very successful amateur dramatics society, putting on 6 plays a season.  We are part of the Greater Manchester Drama Federation and were successful in their full length play festival securing several nominations and gaining 3 awards. 

We have a thriving Youth Theatre, who are given the opportunity to take part in the season’s plays, providing them with an education and insight into all aspects of live theatre. 

As well as the season’s plays, we offer a range of arts activities throughout the year for people to get involved in, such as collaborating with a local writing group, performing their scripted monologues, murder mystery evenings, improvisation classes, performances of new plays by local playwrights. 

The venue is hired out to local community groups, and we have a wealth of visiting theatre companies, local performance groups, musicians, and dance groups (both professional and amateur) who use the facility. 

Our volunteer pool has grown significantly, and we offer training sessions to our volunteers, such as Front of House training. 

The building is maintained to a safe standard, and we strive to raise funds for much needed renovation work on this Grade II Listed building.  This year, we were fortunate to gain a grant towards much needed roof repairs and for equipment to enhance the acoustics in the clubroom. 

The organisational structure within the company is improving as we create more specific teams of people to oversee departments, such as the newly formed finance committee, programming committee and the Partington Players (amateur theatre) committee. 



Whilst we sadly lost a few Trustees last year we are beginning to co-opt new Trustees onto the board, who can offer a range of skills. 

I have been involved with this society all my life and it has been in existence for 70 years. This is a huge achievement, considering that we have, in the main, been self-funding. Many changes are taking place as we embrace our charity status, and we are now actively seeking financial help in the form of grant-funding, sponsors and donations.  Partington Theatre is becoming more widely known with Glossop and the wider community, which helps to bring more people into the building and attract new members. 

I am hugely optimistic that Partington Theatre Club Limited is moving in the right direction and the successful work that is being carried out by our wealth of volunteers will ensure its longevity. 

Helen Josephine Warhurst 

Chair of the Board of Trustees 

## **Our purposes and activities** 

The purposes of the charity are: 

- A.  to advance the education of the public in the performing arts by establishing and operating a community theatre company in Glossop Derbyshire 

- B. to advance the education of the public in the arts in particular but not limited to the provision of a community arts centre 

The vision that shapes our annual activities remains the promotion and fostering of knowledge and the appreciation of the arts by the provision of facilities for the education and recreation of the public in the field of the performing arts. The charity also has the general aim of contributing to the quality of life of the people of Glossop and the surrounding areas by expanding their horizons through the provision of exciting, challenging and accessible professional and community drama and arts events. 

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the objects of the charity, as set out in the articles of association. The theatre relies on the income from fees and charges to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of fees, charges and concessions, the trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility of the theatre for those on low incomes. 

The strategies employed to achieve the charity’s aims and objectives are to: 

- present a broad range of theatre productions and musical events for the enjoyment and education of our local community 

- offer opportunities for a broad range of people to get involved in arts activity exploring their own creative powers 

- provide facilities for amateur artists to develop 



- concentrate on involving young people in the arts to help encourage a culture in which different age ranges play a complementary part 

Putting these strategies into action we have three major areas of activity which are: 

- Stage Performances (both theatrical and music based) 

- Educational Programme (Youth Theatre) 

- Venue Hire for community use 

Our programme of activities described below focus very much on bringing the arts to the community of our town and wider area. As our strategy makes clear we endeavour to encourage all within our community to take part in our activities and to attend our theatre. The drama and music we provide is to be enjoyed by all from those attending local schools through to our programmes with particular appeal to our season ticket holders. Affordability and access to our programme is important to us and is reflected in our pricing policy set out in detail later in this report. 

## _**The stage performances and music events**_ 

We seek to combine amateur community events, including our Partington Players amateur dramatics society’s annual season of 6 plays, alongside professional events including touring works such as Watson: The Final Problem by Tim Marriott and Deep is the Night by Alan Stockdill. The programme this year has trialled a mix of the arts to suit a range of public tastes with an emphasis on maintaining a popular programme which underpins the viability of the theatre combined with an exploratory and innovatory programme which reaches out to the community. Similarly, the musical events have ranged from local talent Salford Angels and Raintown Seers to Opera from around the world and internationally renowned tribute acts to attract a wide-ranging audience, reaching out to a new generation of potential visitors to the theatre, and to the arts. We also host a One-Act Play Festival of our own after the season’s plays. This provides further opportunities for our youth and acting members to be involved as well as bringing other societies to our theatre. 

## _**The educational programme**_ 

Our active youth theatre works with young people from the age of 8 to 18, developing skills in all aspects of drama and performance. 

## _**Visiting artists**_ 

An activity that currently produces less income than our in-house productions but is of equal importance in the life of the charity is the visiting of artists and touring companies. We are building our connections and have been delighted to welcome several companies. Overall, these touring companies enable the people to see professional works and gain an insight into the performing arts. 

## _**Our volunteers**_ 

The charity is very involved in the community and relies on voluntary help. Besides those amateur performers and artists who display their talents at the theatre, over 40 volunteers assist with stewarding events and performances, enabling lower staff costs than would otherwise be the case. Not all volunteers are members. 



## _**Our artistic values**_ 

The Partington Players season’s plays are chosen by a selection panel which represents a cross section of our membership in terms of age and theatrical interest/skill.  We aim to put on a varying programme of plays in a range of genres. Some of the plays are chosen for audience appeal being well known, classic plays whilst others are more diverse, in terms of the content.  We always include our annual pantomime which is generally a sell-out, and we include a play for our younger actors to take part in. 

Alongside the season’s plays we have a dedicated programming team, who work hard to ensure that we have a varied programme of external events at the theatre.  This year has been no exception, and this is adding greatly to raising the profile of the theatre within the locale and beyond. 

We are aware that artistic tastes are not the same for everyone and that when addressing some of the more challenging themes the productions might give rise to offence. We take the views of our audiences very seriously and without compromising the integrity of the programme we seek to respect the diverse ethnic, faith, sexual orientation, and lifestyles of our community and audience. 

At the end of each Players production, we provide a feedback form to the entire production team. These are reviewed by the Players’ Committee, alongside the verbal and written feedback received from our audiences. The information gained from this feedback is very important in helping us to improve upon our practice and learn from any mistakes, whilst also celebrating our successes. 

We are members of the Greater Manchester Drama Federation, Partington Players have entered their full length play festival this season. Most of the Players season’s plays are adjudicated and we use the written critique in the same way as the feedback forms. Entering this competitive festival provides the opportunity not only for feedback, but also to be given the opportunity to be nominated for the various awards on offer.  This year we received 12 nominations and won 3 awards. This process is both rewarding not only for the individuals involved but for the society and the theatre as a whole. 

## **Achievements and performance** 

While the number of performances taking place have dropped from the previous year there has been a concerted move towards focusing on the likes and desires of our patrons. The programme has been designed to reflect those likes. The result has been a smaller upturn in sales that we had hoped. However, combined with the ticket price increase at the start of the season, this has proved a successful year. 

|2022/2023<br>2023/2024|
|---|
|Number of Performances<br>58<br>50<br>Ticket Sales  (seats)<br>4386<br>4431|
|(income)<br>£37,892.42<br>£45,770.41|





## **Financial review and pricing policy** 

## _**Our pricing policy**_ 

Our pricing policy reflects our strategy of enabling all within our community, whatever their means, to take part in our activities, to attend our theatre. Ticket prices vary where we have no control over visiting companies. 

Full ticket prices to our theatre and music performances vary between £12.50 and £20 with concessions being available for specified categories. Our Partington Players Season plays are discounted on Monday nights to £7, with flexi pricing available to a minimum value of £3. We are no longer able to absorb the cost of ticket administration, as thus the booking fees are now passed to the customer. Our pantomime tickets are prices separately to our regular shows. 

To view our programme, or to e-book, visit our website www.partingtontheatre.org.uk. 

## _**Reserves policy**_ 

Reserves are needed to cover unplanned emergency repairs and other expenditure. The trustees consider that the ideal level of reserves as of 31 July 2026 would be £30,000. The reserves have been reduced to zero over recent years due to additional annual expenditures, however the trustees have a plan in place to rebuild the reserves to at least this level. 

While the reserves are currently low the charity is in the fortunate position to own the building and as such no rent is payable on the main venue. 

## **Plans for future periods** 

The strategic plan envisages that continued renovations and refurbishment will need to take place over the next 10 years to ensure the longevity of the building. The total of this work has the potential to run to a five-figure sum. The trustees are conscious that as we build reserves the non-urgent work is put on hold. Until financial circumstances have improved any capital investment is under scrutiny. Historically the charity has not been regularly in receipt of external sources of funding. However, the charity is moving to a position where grants are being successfully applied for to aid in various projects, most notable this year grants from High Peak Borough Council for necessary roof works and for acoustic improvements to the Clubroom. Both projects have been successfully completed to the benefit of the charity and its patrons. Having survived for over 65 years on mostly ticket income and membership the charity is looking to the future and the creation of donor and sponsorship programmes. These are expected to be in place by the end of the next Season. 



## **Reference and administrative details** 

Charity number: 1178767 Company number: 08955608 Principal Office: Partington Theatre, Henry Street, Glossop, Derbyshire. SK13 8BW. 

## _**Our advisers**_ 

Auditors/Accountants Clarity Accountancy, 107 Lees Rd, Oldham. OL4 1JW Bankers Lloyds Bank Plc, 98 Victoria Street, London. SW1E 5JL 

## _**Directors and trustees**_ 

The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: 

Partington Theatre Club Ltd nominated chair: 

K Price (stepped down 14 November 2024) H J Warhurst & A Skogen (appointed 14 November 2024) Elected trustees: H J Warhurst (elected 25 October 2023) A Skogen (elected 25 October 2023) K Price (elected 25 October 2023) D Wilson (retired 14 November 2024) P Dudman (retired 14 November 2024) B Sharpe (retired 14 November 2024) D Nurse (retired 14 November 2024) Co-opted trustees: L MacAlinda Company Secretary: Z Bowers 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

## _**Governing Document**_ 

Partington Theatre Club Ltd is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 31 March 2015. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. 

Anyone can become a member of the Company and there are currently 153 members, 112 adults and 29 junior members (under 18 years of age), each of whom agrees to contribute £10 in the event of the charity winding up. 

## _**Appointment of trustees**_ 

As set out in the Articles of Association the chair of the trustees is nominated by the Board of Trustees at the first meeting of the Trustees after the AGM each year. The Board of Trustees is nominated by the membership at the AGM, with a third of the current board members retiring each year, with those serving the longest retiring first. The trustees have the power to co-opt further members as required. All members are circulated with invitations to nominate 



trustees prior to the AGM advising them of the retiring trustees and requesting nominations for the AGM. When considering co-opting trustees, the Board has regard to the requirement for any specialist skills needed. 

## _**Trustee induction and training**_ 

New trustees are required to read and understand the Charity Commission guidance on being a trustee and the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. 

## _**Organisation**_ 

The board of trustees administers the charity. The board meets monthly and there are sub-committees covering finance, programming and the Partington Players Amateur Dramatics Society. A Theatre Administrator is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Theatre Administrator has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and artistic performance related activity. 

## _**Risk management**_ 

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises: 

- an annual review of the risks the charity may face 

- the establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan 

- and the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise 

## **Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** 

The charity trustees (who are also the directors of the Partington Theatre Club Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law and the law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the 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 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 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to 



ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985, the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

By order of the trustees 

H J Warhurst (Chair) 30th May 2025