GOLDEN TOAD THEATRE COMPANY Report and Financial Statements
Year ending 31 March 2021 Charity number 1183754
Overall objectives and activities
The charitable purpose of Golden Toad Theatre Company is to advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of drama. This is carried out through the creation and production of musical theatre of the highest quality for children, young people and their families, and the commissioning and production of related educational/enrichment resources. Workshops, resources and activities are made available to the public free of charge, with specific targeting in low arts access areas. Where appropriate Golden Toad works with local authorities and schools to bring performances to low income families at a subsidised rate.
Mission statement
We create and stage imaginative, vibrant, musical theatre of the highest quality for children and families.
Core beliefs
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All children and their families deserve access to high quality theatre • The best theatre provides the opportunity for its audience to explore their beliefs, desires, impulses and understand their place in the world we inhabit.
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Education and entertainment are not mutually exclusive!
Aims
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We want to develop new musical theatre work of the highest quality for children and families
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We want our work to reflect and explore the feelings and concerns of our audiences
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We want to inspire all children and their families, regardless of location or family circumstances
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We want our audiences to investigate the themes of our work outside the theatre
Objectives
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A. We will develop shows for children and family audiences with the same time, care and attention that adult musical theatre receives (Aim 1)
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B. We will work with talented professional creatives with a proven track record in their area of expertise (Aim 1)
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C. We will work on stage adaptations of books and stories that are relevant to our audiences (Aim 2)
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D. We will not underestimate the potential of our young audiences to understand and grapple with complex ideas and emotions (Aim 1+2)
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E. We will create work that is not reliant on solely traditional theatre spaces (Aim 2+3)
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F. We will tour our work across the UK to a variety of venues encompassing both traditional and non-traditional theatre spaces, community venues and schools (Aim 3)
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G. We will build relationships with international theatres and companies with a long term view to international touring (Aim 3)
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H. We will work with schools, councils and theatres to actively promote access to our work for all. (Aim 3)
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I. We will develop activities, workshops, supplementary materials and apps that explore the stories and themes in our work (Aim 4)
Objectives & achievements for 2019-20
| Objective | Achievements against objective |
|---|---|
| 1. Apply for emergency ACE funding in light of the COVID 19 Pandemic and cancelation of 2020 touring (overall objective B,E,H,I) |
• £11,842 was awarded to Golden Toad May 2020 by ACE |
| 2. Use emergency ACE funding to create online content (overall objective B,E,H,I) |
• We created 3 Errol's Garden activity videos and 1 music video following our songwriting contest. Joe Griffiths-Brown and Courtney Stapleton recorded vocals. |
| 3. Begin to rebook ERROL’S GARDEN summer of 2021(overall objective A,B, F, H) |
• Booking began for 2021 touring, which would include traditional venues, schools, community spaces and outdoor venues |
| 4. Book an experienced creative team with relevant experience for ERROL’S GARDEN (overall objective B) |
• Relevantly qualified and experienced creative team appointed with the exception of sound designer. |
| 5. Commission from Sutton Heritage to create Springtime Adventures using character Millie the Mouse April 2020 (A, B, E, H, I) |
• We created singalong music video: Millie the Mouse, recorded by Kat Kleve, as well as a craft video and helped create the digital scavenger hunt in Whitehall Historic House |
| 6. Explore and set up local partnerships to increase access to ERROL’S GARDEN from non-traditional theatre audiences (overall objective H) |
• £1,000 awarded by Arts Network Sutton to subsidise access to ERROL’S GARDEN to Sutton residents (grant postponed to 2020-21 financial year due to COVID) • Partnership formed with Sutton Community Dance to bring Errol's Garden to their studio space • Partnership made with Sutton Heritage, Whitehall Museum to host Errol's Garden workshops |
| 7. Book our gardening workshop at schools/community venues and offer our supplementary educational materials to schools and parents(overall objective I) |
• Workshops booked by Callum Finn. Shaunna Duffy hired to lead workshops. • Educational materials offered to schools during booking process and made available on our website, free of charge. |
| 8. Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green to continue writing/composing Michael Morpurgo's Mudpuddle Farm (overall objective A, C, D) |
• Workshop-ready draft completed |
Performance report
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the Errol's Garden 2020 tour was canceled. We were determined to continue with our company aims in light of the lockdown, which led us to apply for Emergency Arts Council funding. We received this funding and used it to develop online activities for children while also employing creatives who were out of work due to the lockdown.
We have invested greatly in Sutton, Surrey, as this is a low arts access area with a large population of families. Sutton Heritage commissioned us to help develop an online version of their Springtime Scavenger Hunt which included us creating an original song for the venue's mascot: Millie the Mouse, as well as a craft video and map through the digital hunt.
Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green obtained development rights and carried on with the writing the stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's Mudpuddle Farm, knowing that further, in-person workshops would become possible after the end of lockdown.
Our rebooking for the 2021 tour began, with the expectation of being able to provide a socially-distanced, Covid-friendly tour.
Trustee Sevcan Hensall stepped down.
In the financial year 2019-20, Golden Toad Theatre was funded by a grant from the Buchanan Foundation, Arts Council England project funding to support the development of Errol’s Garden, and was awarded a grant from Arts Network Sutton to subsidise and support access to ERROL’S GARDEN within the Sutton.
Financial Review
Golden Toad ended the financial year in a strong position, with over £20,000 remaining at the end of the period. £13,500 of this is Arts Council project funding restricted for the production of ERROL’S GARDEN, and will be held until it is possible to mount the production in a COVID-secure manner. Total cash funds at year end were £23,572. This is higher than anticipated as production on ERROL’S GARDEN was paused in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The trustees have set a reserves policy of 5% of income. Administration and central office costs for the financial year 2019-20 were 1% of total expenditure.
The trustees are aware that the coming years will be extraordinary times in the arts world due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and are working with the directors to regularly review risk mitigation from both an operational and financial perspective.
Golden Toad’s activity is currently funded through a combination of project grants (e.g. Arts Council England), charitable grants, and ticket/box office & merchandise income.
Structure, Governance and Management
Golden Toad Theatre Company is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) and governed by its constitution dated 12 August 2019. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Trustees are appointed by the existing trustees, having regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of Golden Toad Theatre. The trustees are keen to increase the diversity of the board, particularly in terms of gender, age and ethnicity. The maximum number of trustees is 12.
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name: Golden Toad Theatre Company Charity number: 1183754 Registered address: Kemp House, 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
Trustees:
Caroline El-Semman (Chair 2019-2021) Gemma Baxter Hannah Cleaton-Roberts (Treasurer) Sevcan Henshall Matthew Carter
Directors:
Jen Green Caroline Wigmore
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Full name: Matthew Carter Position: Chair Date: 25.01.2022
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