THE TAUNTON THESPIANS Registered Charity No. 1189940 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF Accoupirs FOR THE PERIOD 1st SEPTEMBER 2022 to 3tst AUGUST 2023 Pa8e I Page 2-3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7-8 Cover Chairman's Report Independent Examinerfs Report Balance Sheet ststement of Financial Artlvities Notes to the Accounts THE TAupifoN THESPIANS lrnMrfs totheAGM ofTa ans9 io When we sat hèrè 12 months ago we elected a full 11-person committee for the first time ir¢ a while. l think that, in my report for that AGM, I commented about how commtttees can be quite fluid In nature, and $0 It was - to a degree this year. Ray Court took on Productions last year. but stepped back from it in February. I've been managing the role since that point. I'd like to thank Ray and the other nine committee members for all of the considerable amount of w￿k thevve done over the last year. Now I think that iys my turn to Step down ?nd make way for someonè else. when times like this ¢orne about there are. inevitsbly, gap5 that open up. Thankfully, we are in a position of having nominee5 for all roles except publicity, but publicity is obvlously a very important function and so I'rn mentioning it now in the hope that people here can consider whether it is something they feel that thev can contribute ar¢d put themselves fO￿￿tr￿ for when it comes to the election of the committee. One of the first things I'd like to tslk about is sornethin8 alkn￿t which I'm sure some of you have some questlons. We were very fortunate to receive a ¥enerous bequest from our late President. John Meikle. After a consultstion period recommendation report was submitted by a group headed by VP Ron Roberts, which proposed using the bequest to make Significant improvements to the Green Room. The ¢ornmittee agreed wlth the suggestions, but wanted to go further in remodelling the whole west side of the burldin& something we realised would require very substantial additional funding bLFt which we felt VAS a worthwhile aMb￿on, given that it would compliment the Green Room modifications. To further these alms we identified that work would have to be carried out in a particular sequence so that earlier work was not damaged by. or caused h1nderan￿ to. later work. One of the immediate reqU1￿MentS involved the movernent of some of the intemal wall& Nothing affecting the strLlCturdl Integrity of the building, but an it of the Show. and I was very proud of what difector Rachel Buttell wa5 able to mouid that into at the Brewhouse last NovemEer.Iy 5Ènsible. both in tern)s of price and. especially, timÈxalè. It ￿a$ not for the want of trying but was, frequently, for the want of builders who woukl actually show up at an agreed time. After a sustained period of this ksnd of experience we have now decided to mod'fy our arnbitions and work on each of the areas involved.. Green Room, toilets and kitchen, separately. I'm sorry that we haven't been able to deliver what we had originally hoped, but that is not to say that our revised plans w¥ll give you anything le5$ than substsntial improvements over the existing arrangements. Tackling each area separatefy means that one is no longer dependent upon the other and so we have now been able to actually progréss some of the individual elements, starting with the Suspended ¢ellin8 in the Green Room which. I'm told. is scheduled for later this year. I'll be watching to see how this play5 011t. I do. howevèr, fÈèl very lucky to be able to say. in my final report. that ALL of our produrtions over the last year have rnade it into the black, have made a surplus, even if, in one case, it is by the narrowest of marBins. Well In advance of every production we set out a genre pattern to cover the period ahead. This is to ensure that we never becorne trapped ir> a p051tion whereby we offer the same type of fare to our a¢Jdiences over and over again and that we keep flexing our dramatic muscles. The genre for last autun7n was set as 'drama'. Now drama is nèver an èèsy sell, nor is it easy to find the right play. We have to find something worthy. not only that the director artually wants to direct, but also that suits our audience and our abilitie5. We read qutte a few dramas in the lead up to that one. but none quite fitted the bill until we read Pride and Prejudice, and then our way fojward was clear. The launch event for that play had a very plea51ri8 re5FxJnse in term5 of new, young attors who wanted to be a part of the show, and I was very proud of what director Rachel Buttell was able to mould that into at the Brewhouse last November. Comedy, on the other hand, is not only a Thwian strength. it is also a particular forto for Ray Court, so that, when we decided upon eomedy for our spring show at the Tatthi Morris, Ray was an obvlous cholce for director. Raqs preference for the Derek Benfield script Flying Feathers is perhaps not SO 5urprisin8 when one realises how manv tim&s he's put it forward for the summer play readings. Play readings ahead of play selection is a very useful tool, especially for tomedy. Whe￿ ￿aderS live reactions to scripts whilst reading them is an excellent it7dicator, and the feedback for Flying Feathers confirmed it for our choice. The further confirmation of the audience reactions dufing the run both validated the method of choice and filled Ravs wish of just wanting to make people laugh. When Bob Corwin told me that he wanted to prc*Juce a play about the gay scene in 19505 New OrleJn5 1 wasn't qulte SLtre what to make ot it. Bob. however, was quite sure. and certain that this was what he wanted to take to the CoL)nty Drama Festival tn 2023. As prOdU￿r. I watrhed 8$ this one-act play took Sha￿ under his direction, until I too was tonwn¢éd that this was a powerful pl￿ of drama. I stlll think that we produced something worthy of the County Shield that evenin& and so I suppose that I will just ha¥e to agree to disè8ree with that partitular adjudicator. The Taunton Thespian summer tour has kecome a firm stsple of o¥Jr programme with ts¥enty tours comp5eted prior to this season. Much Ado About Nothing became our 21st tour, our 10th Shakespeare tour and Michael Gilberfs 5th stint at tour direction. It is a substsntial undertaking. Everything abo¥Jt it is substsntial, from the set- which has to survlve belng unloaded, assembled, dlsassembled and reloaded at least io times - to the diuying number and complexity of the costume5 and the sheer Mileage covered by all concerned. The weather, as we found a couple of times thi5 yeor, can also have its 53y. In the event we were forced inside only tsvice, altho¢Jgh there were other close candidates for moving indoors. In the end well over 7(MJ people saw a sup*rb display of artinB at its finesL tt Is very easy for me to stand he￿ and say that everythi￿ we've done this year has been great, but I do genulnely mean evefVthinE that I've said. What adds to those words are the multiple awards ftomination5 we've had for each of our main produrtions every single one. A totsl of 16 nominations for the Phoebe Rees awards and four nornlnation5 for the Rose Bowl awards tells me that we are producing qtjality theatre and Presenting not only outstsndin8 actr)rs but top drawer backstage contributions across a range of ro1È5 and functtons. For any awards that we ￿n, well, thavs i¢ing on the cake. The fact that good performances or eontributions have been acknowledged by nomination Should alone tell us we are making good choices. The very best of luck to all those Concemed. But I've always seen this society as far more than a 'machine' for churning out produrtions. It doesn't seem to matter whether we're dolng something social, but practical, like a play readin8. or something just for fun. like the treèsure hunt and barbecue but people turn up. in numters. for the events we put on, and there has beèn no shortag¢ of those in the last year. Since the last AGM we have held 16 play readinBS, the Christmas Din8 Dgn& a lyrical slam, land I do hope that there will ke another). Fab Feb Frolies. an Royal shakespea￿ Company In¢ less) acting workshop, a sk¢ttle evenin& a treasure hunt and barbecue, a directing workshop and an in-house performance. We've also taken part in the Taunton Carnival and the 10 Parishes Fe5knvèl. I love also that wsitors. many of whom subsequently decide to us, consistently talk atQLrt how friendly and wel¢oming the society is. To all of you I say- please keep this up. I'm extrèmely proud of everything we've done this year. Thank you THE TAUT￿ON THESPtANS EPENDENT ￿MINER's REPORT TOThE GENERAL COMMirrEE F THE TAUNTON THESPIANS I report on the Financial Ststements of the charity The Taunton Thespians (Charity No. 8002171 for the perlod I September 2022 to 31 August 2023. whrch are set out on pa8e5 5 to 8. Respertive Respon&bllltles ot General CommÉttee 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 Art 20111.the Charities Art I, and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibiliy to- examine the accounts under sertion 145 of the Charities Act- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Dirertions given by the Charity Commission lunder Section 14515llbl of the Charities Art,. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent Examlner's ststemertt My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Dtrections given by the Charity Commission. Aft èxamination includes a review of the accouftting records kept by the charity arjd a comparison of the accounts presented wlth those records. tt also indude5 consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seekin8 explanations from you as members of the General Committee concefning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not prowde all the eviden￿ that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'tYue and fair view, and the report is1Smited to those matters Set out in the statement below. Independent Examlnerfs Statement In connettlon wlth my examination. no matter has ¢ome to my attention-_ iii which gives me reasonable cause to believe that. in arty material respert. the requirements.. to keep actounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accountin8 record5 and comply with the accounting reouirements of the Charities Att have not been met- or 121 to which. in my opinion. attenlion should be drawn in order to enabk a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 2nd October 2023 Edward Coton LTCL AFAIMIPA TaxAssist Accountants 24 Bridge Street Taunton Stsmerset TAI IUB THE TAUNTON THESPIANS BALANCÉ SHEEr YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2033 2022 12 Months 12 Months Flxed Assets 218.441 86.308 Current Assets Cash at 8ank - TreasureT5 Current Account - Bu5ine5s Bank Interest Account -john Meikle Legarykcount PayPa5 Wallet - Redwood Account Petty Cash held 8ar stock5 atcost ION22 19.719 5.433 29.618 410 27.231 105 179 27,933 106 67 Prepayrnents F￿Ure Shows 1459 Accrued Income Prepaid Subscriptions Prepaid donations Future Shows 462 -53 49 7L916 Credltors.. Amounts F*lin8 Due Vlfthln Oneyear Fyne Court 1001 Venue Independent Examiner 410 -263 -3 -250 D•btors NT MA4N Fyne CourtTicket5a￿s 450 Plet Current A&stts 71.694 64J33 Net Assets 290.135 150.641 Fund$ (all unrestrIC￿dI General Reserve Capttal ReseNe Development Fund 71,691 218,441 64,333 86,308 290.135 150.641 Apwoved bythe General Cornrnittee on 9th Cktober2023 and signed oft thelT behalf by:" Sue Meredith-secretary ft0￿rt Smth-Treasurer The notès on pages 7 and 8fom p•rt ofthese Accounts. THE TAU￿oN THESPIANS srATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcnvmES YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 2023 12 Month5 2022 12 Month5 Incoming Resources Income from stage productyons Subscriptions Interett receved Club artivities Wardrobe & Equipment Hire Donations Letting Income Gift Aid Recewed Government Ciwid grants Theatre Tax Relief Other (John Meikle bequest) 30.331 951 914 1,014 430 109 5,993 129 25.121 882 234 719 183 74 5,705 120 2.667 2.722 10,000 Total Incomln¥ Resources 42.592 45.7fy1 Resources Expended Expenditure on stage produrtions Club activities Cost of premlses 2S.732 1,148 28,210 704 659 2,130 260 742 1.005 3cxJ Rates and water - Repairs and improvements - Safety and security - Heat and I￿ht 1Tr5urance 2.355 1.055 1.051 i.iii 3(*) Warden's Honorarlum Posta8e, statSonery, advertising and telephone Subscrnptions and donations Sundry expenses Marketing aothing sales Independent Examlners Fee Other Professional Fees Ire TheatreTax Rellefj Depreciation PayPal Charges Sumup Charges Write￿ffS 517 515 239 410 74 43 263 250 383 3,339 31 2S 20 Total Resources Expended 35.614 38,929 Net In801n￿(O￿tgOin¥j Resources 6.978 6.TJ5 Accumulated Funds Brgught FoThward 150.641 143,866 Revaluatiot) of Freehold Land & Buildin8S 132,516 Accumulated Funds Carrled Forward 290.135 150.641 THE TAUNTON THESPIANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Afcountlng PIAl¢les General These Accounts have been p￿pared underthe hlstoric cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments, and in accordance with applrcable accountln8 Standards, the CharÉties Act and the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities" Fixed Assets Individual fixed assets Costing £80 or more are capttalised at cost. Depreclation is provided at the following rates, based on the estimated useful lrfe of the fjxed assets and their anticipated residual value-_ Freehold land and buildings 2% straight line to 31108122 From 2022-23 flnandal year thanged to revaluatlon on recornmendatlon of Independent examiner. Technical equipment Office equipment IO% reducing balance IO% reducing balance Flxed Assets Freehdd Land & Bulldln Tethnical 0￿1 ui Cos At 31 August 2022 Additions Revaluation Write-offs 145.716 9,483 59 155,258 69.284 69,284 At 31 August 2022 215,CDJ 9.483 59 224,542 De reciation At 31 August 2022 Charge for the year 63.231 -63,231 5.659 383 59 68,949 2,848 At 31 August 2023 6.042 59 6,101 Net Book Value At 31 August 2023 • 215,( 3.441 218,441 At 31 August 2022 82,484 3,824 86,309 * Initial cost minus totsl depreciation 5how5 rounding error of £1 THE TAUNTON THESPIANS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Funds lall unrestrlcted) General Reserve Reserv Total At I Septembef 2022 Transfers Net ingoinglloutgoingsl for the year Adjustments - Depreciation Adjustments - Revaluation 64,333 86,308 150,641 6.978 383 6,978 -383 132,516 132,516 At 31 Au8USt 2023 71,694 218,441 290,135 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,IJOO. This was reduced by £19,174 in 2013 and was subsequently ￿duced each year to reflect the amount of tangible fixed assets after depreciaton. From the 2022-23 finantial year, the land and l>ulldlnzs have been valued on a revaluation basls. The General Reserve now shows. fairly. the true amount of Current Assets, including the John Meikle bequest of £lO,(KX).