Droylsden Little Theatre
Annual Report 2023/24
We’ve had another busy year at Droylsden Little Theatre during the 2023/24 season. We’ve performed six wonderful productions and had the support of many – from talented directors and actors, to set builders, our technical team and front of house volunteers. Once again, our members and volunteers have been there supporting each play, both on stage, behind the scenes and front of house. As always, we thank all of you for your dedication and continued support.
Highlights of the season – We launched our season with a trip to Australia in ‘Ladies Down Under’ in October and filled 77% of our available seating. This was a great start to the year with audience numbers already exceeding our average audiences last year. Our next production was a festive one - ‘Farndale Avenue Christmas Carol’ in November which played to 81%. Into the new year, next up was ‘The Effect’ in January and we saw our audience numbers dip slightly to 56% with a less known play, although popular with those who did come along. This even won two awards at the GMDF awards night – both the Technical award and Best Leading Actress. Our audience numbers rose again for our fourth production of the season ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ which reached 72% in March. Also in March we were represented as part of Stockport Town of Culture with an additional spooky production ‘Vernon Mill: Stiches in Time’ which was written and produced by our very own Paul Charlesworth. A thrilling night was had by all and it was great to see our theatre represented outside of our home town. ‘My Brilliant Divorce’ followed in May which brought in audiences of 52% - a one (wo)man play which also took home a GMDF award for Best Leading Actress. Our final production, ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’, was again popular in July with audiences again reaching 77%. We once again have an exciting new season ahead of us from October 2024 and the Management Committee will continue to do what we can to ensure our seats are filled at each production, focusing on marketing and promoting our activity on social media and within the local community.
Financial Results – We’ve had a fantastic year this year with an overall profit of £6,872 (2022/23: loss of £2,200) and a healthy reserve balance of £22,888 (2022/23: £16,016). This has returned our level of cash reserves back to the levels we had before lockdowns hit in 2020. A key driver to the profit this year has been the increase in our ticket prices from £9 to £10; and season tickets price increase from £48 to £54. We also received grants from Forever Manchester of £2,000 and a £500 donation from Public Sector Connect which allowed us to invest in equipment for the bar such as new fridges and till drawer; as well as new equipment for our technical team. Our total income levels increased by £5,723 from £36,364 last year to £42,088 this year. Our total costs also came down by £3,349 from £38,564 last year to £35,215 this year. The main reasons for the decrease in costs have been reduced insurance costs due to the previous issues with timing of payments being resolved, royalties costs coming down compared to previous year and electricity costs reducing. As we go into next year we will continue to monitor our costs and look out for available grants, but we will also look to invest in our theatre ourselves given the success we’ve had this year.
Membership – During the pandemic we understood it was a challenging time for everyone and, with the theatre closed, we didn’t chase up membership subscriptions. This led to a reduction in our membership numbers in recent years. Last year our membership was at 68 but we’re pleased to report we’ve seen this rise this year to around 90 individuals. This is still a drop of approximately 1520 since pre-pandemic levels, but it’s great to see this is beginning to go back up. We have had a
number of new members this year and it has been great to see them be actively involved in our theatre. We hope to continue to attract new members, whilst retaining our current loyal members.
Management Committee – It’s always challenging to keep our theatre running – from planning our season, keeping the building safe and compliant, building our sets and supporting our directors and cast members – not to mention volunteering front of house during productions. We are certainly kept busy. We’re excited for the coming season and look forward to working with all of our members, old and new! We’ve had a number of social events this year, with our Season Launch night, Paint and Plonk, a Craftmas Christmas Workshop, a quiz night and the End of Season Awards Night.
As we reach the end of our year, we have a few vacancies to fill on the Management Committee. We’re hoping to appoint some fresh faces at our Annual General Meeting in September. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal members and audiences for your support as we’ve reopened. A special thank you to everyone who has volunteered for front of house roles to ensure our audiences are greeted with a warm welcome. We’re looking forward to the year ahead and the productions we have planned. For now, our focus is ensuring the continued success of such a great and vibrant asset to the Droylsden community.
This report has been compiled by Trudy Collins (Treasurer) on behalf of the Board of Management (the Trustees). The report has been agreed with the Trustees and signed by Trudy Collins on behalf of the Trustees.
Signed:
Date: 8[th] September 2024
Droylsden Little Theatre
Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024
| Opening Balances Current Account Cash Account Floats INCOME Ticket Sales Season tickets Ticket sales Production Income Bar Raffle Other Income Art Commission Grant Funding Membership fees Donations Theatre hire Sale of scripts Social Events Miscellaneous Total Income Total Income + Opening Balances |
1st Aug 2023 to 31st Jul 2024 | 1st Aug 2022 to 31st Jul 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £13,777.99 £1,788.16 £450.00 £16,016.15 £3,077.16 £20,323.86 £23,401.02 £12,275.14 £1,399.71 £13,674.85 £36.27 £2,000.00 £639.53 £724.51 £1,224.47 £20.00 £260.93 £106.00 £5,011.71 £42,087.58 £58,103.73 |
£16,498.29 £1,267.46 £450.00 £18,215.75 £2,489.90 £18,730.51 £21,220.41 £11,437.32 £1,244.78 £12,682.10 £5.89 £0.00 £568.92 £208.04 £1,065.56 £0.00 £359.37 £254.02 £2,461.80 £36,364.31 £54,580.06 |
| EXPENDITURE Production Expenses Scripts Adjudications Set Expenses Costumes Props Furniture Royalties Bar Raffle Printing (tickets, programmes, posters) Utilities Gas Electric Water Telephone / Broadband Premises Expenses Licences, rates, refuse, PPL, website Housekeeping Building maintenance Alarm & Lift maintenance Fire extinguisher maintenance Insurances Other Expenses Accounting Software GMDF / ACT membership fees Stationery, postage & photographs Tools & stage general Social Events Marketing Miscellaneous Capital Expenses Technical purchases Total Expenditure Profit / Loss Closing Balances Current Account Cash Account Floats Total Expenditure + Closing Balances |
1st Aug 2023 to 31st Jul 2024 | 1st Aug 2022 to 31st Jul 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £789.95 £300.00 £404.81 £301.87 £518.61 £138.00 £3,316.86 £5,692.83 £238.22 £1,577.56 £13,278.71 £1,559.60 £4,429.09 £937.65 £1,077.72 £8,004.06 £927.89 £1,220.00 £1,619.82 £440.00 £251.34 £6,491.07 £10,950.12 £393.60 £111.00 £67.03 £50.00 £271.92 £645.58 £92.18 £1,631.31 £1,351.10 £1,351.10 £35,215.30 £6,872.28 £21,002.61 £1,435.82 £450.00 £22,888.43 £58,103.73 |
£1,157.57 £300.00 £628.30 £435.25 £480.66 £0.00 £4,596.80 £4,194.84 £264.26 £1,426.50 £13,484.18 £1,774.57 £6,278.71 £796.96 £971.08 £9,821.32 £1,084.82 £1,364.58 £2,442.08 £50.00 £198.18 £8,382.20 £13,521.86 £398.40 £111.00 £30.65 £94.88 £192.75 £136.80 £203.07 £1,167.55 £569.00 £569.00 £38,563.91 -£2,199.60 £13,777.99 £1,788.16 £450.00 £16,016.15 £54,580.06 |
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