Leamington and Warwick Musical Society
Annual report for the year ended 31 May 2025
Governance & administraCve details
Leamington and Warwick Musical Society (“LWMS”), is a Charitable Incorporated OrganisaBon (“CIO”), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales with registraBon number 1200030. It succeeded an unincorporated associaBon of the same name, itself renamed from Leamington and Warwick OperaBc Society, originally founded in 1921.
The CIO has three Trustees responsible for its legal obligaBons in accordance with its Governing Document (the “ConsBtuBon”). Day-to-day management is delegated to a Management CommiPee (the “CommiPee”), which operates in accordance with the CIO's bye-laws and policies, as agreed by the Trustees. The Chair of Trustees is also the Chair of the CommiPee, and all Trustees are members of the CommiPee. The CommiPee rouBnely meets monthly, while the Trustees meet as required. Trustees and CommiPee members are elected from the membership of the CIO at an Annual General MeeBng, or co-opted as required, in accordance with the ConsBtuBon.
The Trustees are responsible for preparing this Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulaBons in England, and the ChariBes Statement of Recommended PracBce (SORP FRS 102).
Trustees
Dr Nicholas S Kaijaks, Chair of Trustees Mrs Sarah R Phipps
Mr Samuel J Henshaw
Registered address
9 Lime Avenue, Leamington Spa CV32 7DE
ObjecCves
The Object of the CIO is to promote the advancement and improvement of general educaBon in relaBon to all aspects of the art of drama and musical theatrical performance for all in the local community in and around Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick.
The Trustees are saBsfied that the work of LWMS in this period has enabled members to experience training and performance opportuniBes in the theatrical arts, and provided public benefit by enabling the local community to experience live theatrical art performances, in line with its Object. The Trustees have taken the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance into account when making relevant decisions.
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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AcCviCes, achievements & performance
In the year to 31 May 2025, LWMS produced Shrek The Musical in a six-performance run at the Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa. Open audiBons were held in Leamington Spa, in September 2024 and, as anBcipated in last year’s report, were extremely popular, with 88 adult registraBons, and 62 actually aPending audiBon. It made for an excepBonally difficult process, and the audiBon panel and CommiPee regrePed that they were unable to cast a number of loyal members. It was a challenge due to both available backstage space and, for Shrek in parBcular, of costume and parts – almost all available roles are either named characters or dance team members. A cast, of 38 adults and 4 children, was assembled, of whom 13 adults were new members to LWMS. The cast received voice, dance and acBng training and support during rehearsals from September 2024, and performed to a audience of 2,863 people from 11–15 March 2025 (86% of capacity), providing public benefit to the local area. The audience reacBon was highly posiBve, with an encouraging family aPendance. The CommiPee has secured the theatrical rights to perform My Fair Lady in 2026, with audiBons planned for September 2025, and LWMS looks forward to staging this for the public in March 2026 at the Royal Spa Centre.
Financial review
This report covers the period of operaBon of the CIO from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025. Income for the year consisted of charitable acBviBes (primarily Bcket and programme sales) and donaBons through membership fees and fundraising. The Trustees anBcipate that the principal source of funds will conBnue to be the CIO's charitable acBviBes.
With a few to further improving the public benefit of LWMS, the CIO retained its approach of limiBng Bcket price increases below consumer inflaBon in spite of increasing costs, and by maintaining a much discounted rate for children. With the posiBve sales performance and the prudent management of the CommiPee, the CIO is pleased to report a surplus over the past year. The Trustees aim to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level that provides sufficient funds to cover operaBonal costs and that will allow the CIO to respond to any emergency funding requirements which may arise from Bme to Bme. Current reserves are £65,533 as detailed in the statement below.
The CIO currently has no fixed assets, stocks, or investments, and no pension assets or liabiliBes. No remuneraBon was paid to the Trustees or members of the CommiPee during the current or previous year. The CIO has no employees. No expenses were paid to any Trustee by the CIO. No funds are held as custodian trustee on behalf of others, and all funds are considered to be unrestricted. All income is paid into such bank or building society accounts in the name of the CIO as the CommiPee directs.
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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The principal risk faced by the CIO is that Bcket sales for producBons do not provide enough income to cover expenditure. This is miBgated by prudent management of promoBon, pricing, and costs. There are related risks in availability of theatrical rights for works which align appropriately with the CIO's Object, are appropriate for the profile of its membership, and are likely to be financially viable to produce in the locality. This is miBgated by care in show selecBon. There is a risk of changes in the membership, its skill and experience profile, and the availability of appropriately skilled people to engage in producBon. These are miBgated by promoBon and conBnued engagement with the membership and local community. A final risk is the potenBal unavailability or financial non-viability of our normal rehearsal or performance venues. This is miBgated by seeking to secure faciliBes as early as possible. The Trustees consider that none of these risks cast significant doubt on the CIO's ability to conBnue as a going concern.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Dr Nicholas Kaijaks Chair of Trustees 16 June 2025
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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Leamington and Warwick Musical Society Independent examiner's report to the Trustees
Period ended 31 May 2025
I report to the Trustees on my examinaBon of the financial statements of Leamington and Warwick Musical Society (the “CIO”) for the year ended 31 May 2025.
ResponsibiliCes and basis of report
The CIO’s Trustees are responsible for the preparaBon of the financial statements. The CIO’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year (under secBon 144(2) of the ChariBes Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examinaBon is needed.
The CIO’s gross income exceeded £25,000 but was less than £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examinaBon by being a Fellow of the InsBtute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examinaBon. I confirm that no material maPers have come to my aPenBon in connecBon with the examinaBon giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounBng records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by secBon 130 of the Act; or
-
the financial statements do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other maPers in connecBon with the examinaBon which aPenBon should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ioanna Savvidou Montana ICAEW Membership # 1351552 23 The Greswoldes, Radford Semele, CV31 1TP
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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Leamington and Warwick Musical Society
Statement of financial acCviCes, year to 31 May 2025
| Current year 2024–25 Unrestricted funds £ |
|
|---|---|
| Income DonaBons Charitable acBviBes Total income |
|
| 4,617 64,750 |
|
| 69,367 | |
| Expenditure Charitable acBviBes Total expenditure |
|
| 61,491 | |
| 61,491 | |
| Total net income/(expenditure) | 7,876 |
| ReconciliaCon of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
|
| 57,657 | |
| 65,533 |
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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Leamington and Warwick Musical Society
Balance sheet, as at 31 May 2025
| Current year 2024–25 £ |
Previous year 2023–24 £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets Total fxed assets |
||
| 0 | 0 | |
| Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets |
||
| 65,533 65,533 |
57,657 | |
| 57,657 | ||
| LiabiliCes Total liabiliBes |
||
| 0 | 0 | |
| Total net assets/(liabiliBes) | 65,533 | 57,657 |
| Funds of the charity Unrestricted funds Total charity funds |
||
| 65,533 65,533 |
57,657 | |
| 57,657 |
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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Leamington and Warwick Musical Society
Breakdown of financial acCviCes, year to 31 May 2025
| Current year 2024–25 £ |
|
|---|---|
| DonaCon income Membership Fundraising Total donaBon income |
|
| 2,670 1,947 |
|
| 4,617 | |
| Charitable acCviCes income Theatre receipts Programme sales Programme adverBsements Total charitable acBviBes income Total income |
|
| 62,928 1,427 395 |
|
| 64,750 | |
| 69,367 | |
| Expenditure for producCon acCviCes Venue hire Venue commission and transacBon fees Performing rights Music hire ProducBon team fees Orchestra Costume hire Scenery Stage expenses Publicity Performing rights deposits AudiBon & rehearsal expenses Programme producBon Total expenditure for producBon acBviBes |
|
| 14,917 5,051 7,636 2,713 4,805 6,618 4,481 3,131 2,819 1,609 788 4,379 760 |
|
| 59,706 | |
| Expenditure for administraCve acCviCes Insurance NODA membership StaBonery, postage etc AGM expenses Total expenditure for administraBve acBviBes Total expenditure |
|
| 1,155 505 111 15 |
|
| 1,785 | |
| 61,491 |
LWMS – Registered Charity 1200030
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