## **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**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if**
**not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person**
**(or body)**
**entitled to**
**appoint trustee**
**(ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||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.**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
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
**----- End of picture text -----**
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
**----- Start of picture text -----**
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
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
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
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
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
**----- End of picture text -----**
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