2021-08-31-accounts - Taunton Thespians

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THE TAUNTON THESPIANS

Registered Charity No. 1189940

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD

1st SEPTEMBER 2020 to 31st AUGUST 2021

Page 1 Cover Page 2-3 Chairman's Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Balance Sheet Page 6 Statement of Financial Activities Page 7-8 Notes to the Accounts

THE TAUNTON THESPIANS

Chairman’s Report to the AGM of Taunton Thespians 11/10/2021

My thanks to all of the other eight members of the committee who started with the last AGM. That said the effective size of the committee shrank, at least for the last six months, from nine to seven people, when Andy and Jane Busby moved out of the area to be closer to family. My special thanks therefore to the other six remaining committee members for picking up the slack and keeping us going. They have worked tirelessly to make sure that all of the jobs necessary to us have been completed.

There have been a couple of losses to the society over the last twelve months. Notably our previous President, John Meikle, who was the figurehead of our society for as long as I can remember. John’s contribution to the Thespians, over many decades, is eclipsed only by his contribution to Taunton. He reached the impressive age of 97 and cast a long shadow and I am grateful for everything he did for us. Mike Leach, on the other hand, was taken from us far too early. Mike played a great many roles for us over the years, and I’m fairly sure that the one he most relished was as Jaques in As You Like It. Mike was also a fiercely intelligent person, to such an extent that if there was a quiz (the subject was almost irrelevant) you were either on Mike’s team, or you didn’t win. I’d like to pause for a short while so that we can remember these two Thespians.

Thank you

On the face of it you might be forgiven for thinking that, with the entire country in lockdown and all venues closed, there isn’t a lot to report. Well, of course, there haven’t been any live performances at all, which is unheard of in Thespian history. When the first lockdown started I think many of us thought that, as all-embracing as it was, we would all wait it out for a few months and then it would be done and we could get back to normal. How wrong that thought was. And so, to begin with, we all just battened down the hatches and very little was done in the way of communicating and socialising online. As time marched on, and it became obvious that we were in it for a longer haul, so the advent of digital Thespians grew and we began to do all of the society-type events over Zoom until, in July, we were finally able to meet up again. In fact, in the 12 months since the last AGM we have held a total of 14 play readings, held two quizzes, had two talks by guests, had a digital Christmas party, attended Taunton Live, held an open day and had a member’s barbecue. We even posted a show, of sorts, onto YouTube with a rendition of one of the Arabian Nights Tales.

The thirst for social contact was brought home to us at the Taunton Live event. What was clear was that the people there were ready, eager even, to start face to face contact again. It is, perhaps, understandable, given just how serious the previous 18 months have been, that there are some who are hesitant, but, it seems to me, that there are many, many more who ready for a return to normality. With that in mind we have set out a path ahead.

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It will come as no great surprise that we are starting off by playing to our strengths with, firstly, an Agatha Christie play: The Hollow, followed by comedy in the form of a farce called Holiday Snap. These have been carefully chosen to not only help us show ourselves at our best, but also to give our audiences some light-hearted relief after so long without any live theatre. The plays that we choose to produce, and how we choose to present them to the public are important decisions, to be sure, but they are not so important, I think, as the decision to actually DO them. We could, maybe, sit and worry about whether we will have big enough audiences. Maybe we will and maybe we won’t, and maybe, if we allowed that to dictate our actions, I might be standing here in a year’s time telling you that we still hadn’t put on any shows. Instead, we will do what we do: be a drama society.

The program over the next 12 months is not just about those two Brewhouse shows. In addition we have lined up reintroductions for our Mummers group, under the leadership of Dona Bullion, who are doing their thing in January, our County Drama Festival participation with the denied 2020 entry finally being given its chance in March next year and, by no means least, the Thespians Summer Tour in July. We already have about half of the venues lined up. We also have more play readings coming very soon and more social events

My last message to you all is this: enjoy your society, take part in what it has to offer, but. Above all, have fun.

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THE TAUNTON THESPIANS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF THE TAUNTON THESPIANS

I report on the Financial Statements of the charity The Taunton Thespians (Charity No. 800217) for the period 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021, which are set out onpages 5 to 8.

Respective Responsibilities of General Committee and Examiner

The charity's committee are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's committee consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Charities Act"), and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibiliy to:

s examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
s to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
s to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as members of the General Committee concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:-

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: s to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and s to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Edward Coton LTCL AFA/MIPA TaxAssist Accountants 24 Bridge Street Taunton Somerset TA1 1UB

6th October 2021

THE TAUNTON THESPIANS BALANCE SHEET

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

Note Fixed Assets 2 Current Assets Cash at Bank - Treasurers Current Account - Business Bank Interest Account - CAF Deposit Account - PayPal Wallet - Redwood Account Petty Cash held Bar stocks at cost Prepayments - Future Shows - Repairs & Improvements - Business Rates Accrued Income - Prepaid Subscriptions - Prepaid donations - Future Shows - Clothing orders Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Rates (estimate) Independent Examiner Debtors Net Current Assets Net Assets Funds (all unrestricted) 3 General Reserve Capital Reserve Development Fund	£ £ £ £ 89,648 93,034 2,200 801 22,615 16,613 20,000 20,000 0 10,004 105 115 267 149 244 8 0 0 0 268 -549 -348 -46 -28 -136 -48 0 54,656 37,578 (300) (152) -240 0 102 0 54,218 37,426 143,866 130,460 54,218 37,426 89,648 93,034 0 0 143,866 130,460 2021 12 Months 2020 12 Months	£ £ £ £ 89,648 93,034 2,200 801 22,615 16,613 20,000 20,000 0 10,004 105 115 267 149 244 8 0 0 0 268 -549 -348 -46 -28 -136 -48 0 54,656 37,578 (300) (152) -240 0 102 0 54,218 37,426 143,866 130,460 54,218 37,426 89,648 93,034 0 0 143,866 130,460 2021 12 Months 2020 12 Months

		130,460
		37,426 93,034 0
		130,460

Approved by the General Committee on 11th October 2021

Lorna Evans - Secretary

Robert Smith - Treasurer

and signed on their behalf by:-

The notes on pages 7 and 8 form part of these Accounts.

THE TAUNTON THESPIANS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

Incoming Resources Income from stage productions Subscriptions Interest received Club activities Wardrobe & Equipment Hire Donations Letting Income Gift Aid Received Government Covid grants Other Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Expenditure on stage productions Club activities Cost of premises - Rates and water - Repairs and improvements - Safety and security - Heat and light - Insurance Warden's Honorarium Postage, stationery, advertising and telephone Subscriptions and donations Sundry expenses Marketing Clothing sales Independent Examiners Fee Other Professional Fees Depreciation PayPal Charges Write-offs Total Resources Expended Net Ingoing/(Outgoing) Resources Accumulated Funds Brought Forward Accumulated Funds Carried Forward	£ £ 0 588 155 26 127 64 5,547 217 18,654 0 25,378 0 369 632 3,703 260 431 954 300 30 365 217 448 0 240 635 3,386 2 0 11,972 13,406 130,460 143,866 2021 12 Months	£ £ 22,778 959 166 1,496 607 199 4,139 238 0 0 30,582 22,473 1,066 709 917 332 1,065 894 300 27 648 368 221 0 0 0 3,438 0 0 32,458 (1,876) 132,336 130,460 2020 12 Months	£ £ 22,778 959 166 1,496 607 199 4,139 238 0 0 30,582 22,473 1,066 709 917 332 1,065 894 300 27 648 368 221 0 0 0 3,438 0 0 32,458 (1,876) 132,336 130,460 2020 12 Months

			(1,876) 132,336
			130,460

THE TAUNTON THESPIANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

1. Accounting Policies

General

These Accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Charities Act and the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities".

Fixed Assets

Individual fixed assets costing £50 or more are capitalised at cost.

Depreciation is provided at the following rates, based on the estimated useful life of the fixed assets and their anticipated residual value:-

Freehold land and buildings	2% straight line
Technical equipment	10% reducing balance
Office equipment	10% reducing balance

2. Fixed Assets

Freehold

Land & Buildings £ 145,716 0 0	Technical Equipment £ 9,483 0 0	Office Equipment £ 59 0 0	Total £ 155,258 0 0
145,716	9,483	59	155,258
57,403 2,914	4,762 472	59 0	62,224 3,386
60,317	5,234	59	65,610
85,399	4,249	0	89,648
88,313	4,721	0	93,034

THE TAUNTON THESPIANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

3. Funds (all unrestricted)

At 1 September 2020 Transfers Net ingoing/(outgoings) for the year Adjustments - Depreciation At 31 August 2021		General Reserve £ 37,426 0 13,646 3,386	Capital Reserve Total £ £ 93,034 130,460 0 0 0 13,646 -3,386 0 89,648 144,106	Total
		54,458

The Capital Reserve represents profits which have accrued to the charity from the past sales of freehold land and buildings of £116,943 and from a bequest from a former member of £2,000. This was reduced by £19,174 in 2013 and has subsequently been reduced each year to reflect the amount of tangible fixed assets after depreciaton.

The General Reserve now shows, fairly, the true amount of Current Assets.