2023-08-31-accounts - Progress Theatre

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/09/2022 To 31/08/2023

Charity name: Progress Theatre

Charity registration number: 1182798

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To promote the education of the general public in Reading and elsewhere in the performing arts
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Presented a season of theatrical productions to the general public: 11 shows across the season including our Open Air production in July 2023, and continued our partnership with Jazz in Reading. We sold 5,141 tickets during the season - a 45% increase on 2022/23. The Progress Youth Theatre delivered drama education to groups of local young people aged 8-18.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	All trustees read the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charities Commission and considered this when exercising their powers and duties at trustee meetings.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making

Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Our theatre is run entirely by volunteers, aside from one part-time employee. We rely on our membership to fill a variety of roles, from Front of House to maintenance, from Trustee roles to backstage! Our membership numbers are generally around 100-120, varying slightly throughout the year, and in 2020 we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	PROGRAMME This year we continued our journey of recovery from the pandemic, staging our first full season of non-reduced capacity productions since 2019. A season with commercial appeal, while still staying true to Progress’ penchant for the weird and wonderful, saw us welcome over 3,500 audience members to our building, with a further 1,300 joining us for our Open Air production in July. The following productions were staged: Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense The Pride

16th Annual WriteFest
Progress Premieres: Liar’s Teeth
Progress Youth Theatre: Life is a Dream
The Welkin
The Lonesome West
Dinner
Silver Lining
The Silence of the Sea
Open Air: Twelfth Night
Reviews, both from press and public, were
very positive, and we were proud to receive
a number of district awards from the National
Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA):
- Owen Goode received the Comedy
Award for his performance as Jeeves
in_Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect_
Nonsense
- Adam Wells won Best Male
Character in a Play for his
performance as Oliver in_The Pride_;
- _The Welkin_was named Best Drama;
- The Innovation Award was presented
to Progress for our production of_The_
Silence of the Sea, which was
performed in France as well as in our
theatre - a trip and performances
which were all organised by the
production team on top of the in-
house production;
- Imogen Lilley won Best Female
Character in a Play for her
performance as Viola in_Twelfth Night_
On top of our theatrical programme, we
continued hosting monthly Jazz in Reading
performances, and were once again a venue
for the Whiteknights Art Trail.

OUTREACH AND ACCESS In the community, we created and performed a Potted Panto for two groups of Reading Mencap service users, and were delighted to welcome many of these participants back to our relaxed performances, which we were able to deliver for a selection of our productions this year. This trial has been very successful and we look forward to programming more relaxed performances in future years. We also programmed at least one socially distanced performance per production this year, as some audience members continued to shield and experience anxiety in larger groups following the pandemic. After surveying audiences towards the end of the year, we took the decision to merge these with our relaxed performances, ensuring we still offer a smaller capacity performance while protecting our potential ticket sales income. We continue to offer Come As You Are Nights during every production. YOUTH THEATRE Membership numbers continue to slowly rise following the reinstatement of PYT after the pandemic. This year we benefited from funding which allowed us to offer full and half bursaries to ensure money is not a barrier to attendance. Alongside this year’s PYT production of Life is a Dream, many youth members were also involved across the rest of the programme, both on and offstage, and continue to be a vital and valued part of what makes Progress so special. MEMBERSHIP This year, we developed a Code of Conduct for members to encourage a safe and inclusive environment for all at Progress. We also began work on updating our membership structure to reflect the many

and varied ways that people can and do get involved with Progress. SUMMARY Progress continues to be a vital part of not only the cultural ecology of Reading, but of many of our members’ lives. This year, as every year previously, new friendships have been forged, people have stepped onto the stage for the very first time, learned new skills, taken up volunteering and found “their people” in our little 97 seat home. While rising costs and increasing pressures on our members’ time continue to challenge us, the Trustees and management committee remain dedicated to learning from each year and ensuring that Progress will continue to be a going concern for many years to come.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41

Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Receipts exceeded payments by £15,182.89, largely due to returning audiences and a large season. Reserves are still below target but are growing and sufficient for the continued running of the venue, and reserves-building plan is currently in action.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Our policy is to retain 12 months of running costs as reserves. This is to ensure that we can maintain the building and continue to pay staff in the case of emergency building closure or dissolving the organisation.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£51,117.13
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	n/a
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	n/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	n/a

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Ticket Sales Membership and Progress Youth Theatre fees External Hire arrangements Individual donations Grants
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46

Para 1.46 A description of the principal risks facing the charity Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		n/a
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution and rules
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	All Trustees must be Members of the Theatre. Up to four Trustees will be elected by the Members at the Annual General meeting on a rotational basis according to the length of service of the current Board. These are: i. Chair ii. Treasurer iii. Secretary iv. A non-executive Trustee If necessary, further Trustees may be co- opted by the elected Trustees if this serves the best interests of the Theatre. A new Trustee shall be elected by the members at the next Annual, or at a Special, General Meeting of the Society, or at any other Members Meeting, provided that the Secretary has given members a minimum of ten days notice that such an appointment is proposed.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and

training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Progress Theatre
Other name the charity uses	n/a
Registered charity number	1182798
Charity’s principal address	Progress Theatre The Mount Reading RG1 5HL

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Alison Carroll	Chair
Carole Brown	Treasurer	from 12 October 2022
Megan Turnell	Secretary
Marc Reid
Kate Whiting		from 6 January 2023
Peter O’Sullivan
Anthony Wernham	Treasurer	until 12 October 2022

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets

held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

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Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Megan Turnell Willett
Position (eg Chair
Secretary, Chair,
etc)
Date
29 June 2024
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to thè trustees PROGRESS THEATRE On accounts for the year ended 31" August 2023 Charity no (if any) 1182798 Set out on pages 3,4and5 tmember to Includèth8 pag8 numb8r8 of additional sh8et$l I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust.) for the year ended 31108 12023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 l.the Act.) I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement app08 Delete [ ] ifnot appliGabl8. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination dk¥joS"} which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chartties Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a rnatter ¢onsidered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding ofthe acGounls to be reached. ' Please delete the words in the brdckets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: o.E. Relevant professional qualificationls) or body IER Oct 2018

(if any)". Address: 'EI£¢tANt IL Se¢tion B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of Gonrn (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examinerwishes to dlsclos8. IER Oct 2018

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PROGRESS THEATRE ACCOUNTS Page 1
For the period 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023
01.09.22- 31.08.23 01.09.21- 31.08.22
RECEIPTS Nom Ledgr £ £ £ £
Seat sales
Box Office (Cash) 4302 1,519.83 1,078.00
(Card) 4304 4,017.68 1,916.00
(Online) 4305 68,365.67 47,748.50
Seasons passes 4303 1,903.00 75,806.18 2,477.00 53,219.50
Subscriptions
Members 4401 4,502.50 4,682.50
Friends 4402 110.00 110.00
Adult workshops 4403 0.00 -
Youth Theatre fees 4406 12,779.00 17,391.50 11,820.00 16,612.50
Front of House
Bar & confectionery (Sales) 4201 16,310.45 8,067.43
Tea & coffee 4202 427.11 121.92
Ice cream 4203 547.99 125.77
Programmes 4204 515.08 546.59
Merchandising 4205 200.00 18,000.63 460.50 9,322.21
Hiring charges
Costumes 4101 175.00 -
Props 4900 0.00 -
Equipment inc chairs 4102 0.00 -
Premises 4103 60.00 235.00 - -
Miscellaneous receipts
Advertising 4000 0.00 -
Donations 4902 6,544.31 2,312.55
Legacy Payments 4911 5,000.00 2,312.55
Commission & Referral 4910 166.23 87.88
Grants 4903 2,000.00 11,917.00
Fund raising 4904 25.11 2,708.15
Sponsorship 4905 0.00 126.94
Bank interest 4901 1,172.24 692.77
Gift aid 4906 0.00 2,743.60
Art sales commission 4907 267.40 251.00
Equipment sales 4908 0.00 -
Jazz at Progress 4909 2,358.16 17,533.45 1,607.83 22,447.72
Total Receipts 128,966.76 101,601.93
PAYMENTS
Productions
Audition notices 7601 0.00 61.99
Royalties 7602 4,210.80 6,523.20
Scripts 7603 754.28 558.21
Rehearsal space 7604 2,975.08 4,088.27
Costumes,wigs & make-up 7605 2,756.33 5,539.95 -
Equipment & special effects 7606 0.00 -
Furniture & props 7607 2,760.47 2,376.58
Lighting & sound 7608 0.00 -
Set building materials & paint 7609 2,595.38 3,098.72
Special expertise 7610 0.00 -
Cast & crew food 7611 0.00 16,052.34 - 22,246.92
Bar & confectionery (Purchases) 7007 7,766.93 7,766.93 4,662.99 -
PPC production planning 7701 0.00 -
Special Projects 7801 0.00 -
Training 8041 0.00 0.00 - -
Expenditure on the building
Buildings Inspections & surveys 7501 0.00 936.00
Maintenance,repairs & wages 7502 678.50 1,029.85
Improvements 7505 3,456.71 111,843.75
Planning fees & expenses 7503 0.00 4,135.21 - 113,809.60
c/fwd 27,954.48 140,719.51
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Progress Theatre accounts (1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023) Page 2
01.09.22- 31.08.23 01.09.21- 31.08.22
Payments contd. Nom Ledgr £ £ £ £
B/fwd 27,954.48 140,719.51
Expenditure on building contd.
Cleaning
Wages 7521 2,761.87 3,912.66
Janitorial supplies 7522 150.27 116.27
Rubbish disposal 7523 999.43 621.23
General expenses 7524 - 3,911.57 - 4,650.16
Tools & equip. Purchase, repair & hire 7531 219.98 219.98 144.00 144.00
Fire
Maintenance & testing 7541 204.00 -
Repairs & replacements 7542 414.19 618.19 - -
Insurance
Open Air Shakespeare 7551 - 224.00
Theatre including Open Air 7552 4,567.41 4,567.41 4,181.69 4,405.69
Kitchen
Equip.purchase & repair 7561 26.98 -
Consumables - not F o H 7562 4.50 31.48 21.58 21.58
Security
Maintenance & call-outs 7571 1,275.00 1,093.20
Telephone monitoring 7572 396.00 378.00
Repairs & replacements 7573 - 1,671.00 - 1,471.20
Storage Calcot 7581 500.00 500.00 500.00 500.00
Utilities
Electricity 7591 2,517.04 2,468.66
Gas 7592 4,773.71 1,668.36
Water 7593 248.95 482.63
Telephone & Internet 7594 902.42 1,104.26
Non-domestic rates 7595 102.40 8,544.52 245.76 5,969.67
Bldgs sub-total 24,199.36 130,971.90
Venue costs - Open Air 6000 28,146.84 28,146.84 25,512.56 25,512.56
Associations
LTG & NODA subscriptions 6031 300.00 270.00
Conference & delegate fees 6032 55.40 -
Publications etc. 6033 135.00 490.40 135.00 405.00
Front of House
Box office costs 7004 - 154.26
Displays 7005 189.50 216.95
Clothing and other expenses 7006 - 189.50 189.85 561.06
Licensing
Bar & theatre 7101 376.00 376.00
Performing Right Society 7102 228.73 421.74
Phonographic Performance 7103 284.02 888.75 362.29 1,160.03
Lighting & sound
Maintenance & repairs 7151 17.81 214.47
Equipment purchase 7152 371.21 389.02 98.47 312.94
Marketing
Mail-outs & show advertising 7201 2,107.95 889.06
General season's publicity 7202 - 80.10
Flyers & posters, design & print 7203 2,095.37 1,644.27
Banners, displays & T shirts 7204 1,186.45 670.18
Leaflet distribution 7205 360.00 390.00
Web site costs 7206 - -
Other marketing inc Library 7207 1,609.43 7,359.20 1,400.99 5,074.60
Employment
Wages (PAYE) 7520 4,790.00 5,960.00
Employment overheads 7504 360.28 5,150.28 468.00 6,428.00
c/fwd 90,632.62 197,336.00
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Progress Theatre accounts (1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023) Page 3
01.09.22- 31.08.23 01.09.21- 31.08.22
Payments contd. Nom Ledgr £ £ £ £
B/fwd 90,632.62 197,336.00
Membership
Curtain Up & Newsletters 7301 - -
General expenses 7303 - - - -
Office costs
Web site expenditure 7306 - -
Loan interest 7350 2,592.51 647.04
Bank charges & interest 7351 493.64 647.04
Gifts & donations 7352 - -
Equipment purchase & repair 7353 362.96 242.40
Computer supplies & software 7354 - -
Postage & carriage 7355 - 13.57 -
Travel, mileage & parking 7356 249.71 778.27
Stationery 7357 9.24 -
Legal fees 7358 - -
General expenses 7359 109.60 113.09
Computer software & subs 7360 1,385.24 1,430.14
Hire of premises (not rehearsals) 7613 222.59 5,411.92 84.46 3,295.40
Progress Youth Theatre
Leaders & assistants fees 8061 17,405.70 14,476.50
Incidental expenses 8063 243.74 17,649.44 267.34 14,743.84
Wardrobe
Costumes (non-specific) 8051 9.99 -
Dry cleaning and washing 8052 - -
General expenses 8053 79.90 122.83
Facilities improvement 8054 - 89.89 - 122.83
Accounting Written-off 8100 - - - -
Total Payments 113,783.87 215,498.07
Excess of receipts over payments 15,182.89 - 113,896.14
BALANCE SHEET @ 31st August 2023
BANK 01.09.22- 31.08.23 01.09.21- 31.08.22
CAF Bank Current a/c 29,314.90 21,264.05
CAF Bank Deposit a/c 10,086.74 -
Big Issue Loan 37,128.51 -45,000.00
Cambs. & Counties Bank 120 day notice 40,472.41 50,000.00
Monmouthshire Building Soc Deposit 11,060.43 10,945.55
Paypal account - 180.36
CURRENT ASSETS
Petty Cash in bar and box office 512.36 471.67
Bar stock at cost 1,003.77 726.41
LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable 4,204.97 2,617.55
DEBTORS
Accounts Receivable - - 36.25
92,450.61 41,333.48 38,551.79 2,617.55
NET ASSETS £51,117.13 +£15,182.89 £35,934.24
BANK RECONCILIATION SUMMARY
31/08/2023 CAF Bank current a/c £29,314.90
Plus Outstanding Payments Expense claims £26.99
Total Outstanding Payments £26.99
Less Outstanding Receipts none £0.00
Total Outstanding Payments £0.00
31/08/2023 Statement Balance £29,341.89
EQUITY 01.09.22- 31.08.23 01.09.21- 31.08.22
Current Year Earnings £15,182.89 +£78,298.46 -£63,115.57
Retained Earnings £35,934.24 £212,945.95
TOTAL £51,117.13 -£98,713.25 £149,830.38
Tony Wernham & Carole Brown November 2023
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