STAN'S CAFE THEATRE Registe Number 03095751 (England and Wales) Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 March 2025 Illllllllllll :. "AECSW917* 30109r2025 COMPANIES HOUSE A39 Chj '.
srAN'S CAFE THEATRE Contents of the Financial Statements Company Inform8tv)n Trustees Annual Report Directors. Repjrt lThYependent Exaninef5 Rep)rt Statement of Financial ActMt*s 4-11 12 13 14 Profit and LossA(xount 15 Balance Sheet 16 17-19 Notes to the Finanryal Statwrwts
STAN'S CAFE THEATRE Company lnfonnats.on for the year from. 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Directorn BIDDULPH. Maya BLACKVI)OD, Hugh Sergio. Mister BOOTH. JacquelineAnne MISTRY. Sanjay NarottwTr OBW Simi OVVEN, Judy RPur, Dharmesh AL. Rochi RIV. Alan Callander SMITH, Clare Louise Company S•crotsry sEoN. David W "Registered Addres8 20 lfyhe*sheaf R¢)ad Birmingham 816 ORY Regi8tsred Number 03095751 (England aNI INalesl
Trustees Annual Report Introdurtlon 2024- 25 was an extraordinarily prolific year for Stan's Cafe. It introduced audiences to multiple shows. new and revived. all encouraging us to see our world in remarkable new ways. Performances were concentrated around the West Midlands but spread across En'gland. to Jersey. the USA and Egypt. They were often free and if not free almost always at low ticket prices. students from primary to university level collaborated with us on Creative Leaming projects. All these projects were made bespoke. developing a wide range of skills and addressing a variety of curriculum needs. The learningfrorn and memories of these extraordinary projerts can be expected to stay with the students for the rest of their lives. More subtly. behind the scenes. Stan's Cafe ha5 been developing talent and supporting artists, diversifying its range of collaborators and through its headquarter5 - Our Facility- holding space for Birmin8ham's artists and arts educators. That all.this has been achieved on standstill fundin& in a cost of living crisis. with rising costs whilst keeping company finances in a good state is testimony to the hard work of a small but . dedicated staff team. supported by strong governance and a wide range of talented associates. Alan Rivett Chair Strurture. 8overnance and management Stan's Cafe Theatre was formed in 1992 as a not for profit organisation to promote and aid the advancement of and education in the arts without distinrtion of physical ability. race. colour. gender, sexual orientation. or of political. religious or other opinions and in particular to promote and carry on business as a theatre company through live performance. in the elertronic media. through film. publication and installation works. The company gained formal charity status in 2022 and the Board of Trustees ha5 a maximum membership of ten with two additional young trustee places agreed at the last AGM.
Our Board ofTrustees meet quarterly following the Finance and Risk Committee which makes recommendation5 and reporting on management of the company. The Board meetings must have at least 4 trustee5 present to be quorate and the Annual General meeting normallytakes place in the Autumn. Each year we hold a Board Away Day to update on gov.ernance best prattice. offer trainin8 and discuss the strategy of the company moving forward. Day to day management of the charity is delegated to five members of staff led by the Artistic Director/CEO. Risk overview and str*egy The Finance and Risk Committee and Board see each company's risk register at each meeting and the F&R committee formally review it at ast once each year. Our main funder. Arts Council England also risk assesses the company quarterly and these reports are included in the Board papers. Our risk level remains consistently low. The companrfs major risks are standstill or reduced fundin& plus industry wide challenges of a contrarting market for touring theatre. Our mitigations include a diverse offer of shows in different markets. alternative touring models, plus work in education from primary to university level. Objectives and activities Legally Stan's Cafe is a charity established wÈth a mission to= "advance the art5 for the public benefit by the promotion in particular, but not exclusively. of the art of drama. through live performance, in the electronic media. through film, publication and installation work5-. Put more succinctly. our mission is to be the best theatre company in the world. We want to achieve this by working collaboratively. By being brave and ambitlOU5. playful and fun, thoughtful and serious. always open to new interpretations of what 'being the best theatre company in the world. might mean. We believe that to achieve our mission we need to engage with partners who bring to Stan's Cafe a wide range of skills and experiences. Mixing long term relationships with fresh input and ideas- treating everyone, including audiences, with full respect and consideration.
We believe in generosity of spirit and hard work. We believe.in honesty and transparency. We believe our actions always speak louder than our words. We believe in the power of theatre to make the world a better place. Achievements and perf0MnCe 2024- 25 witnessed a busy and varied artistic programme including a remarkable six brand new produrtions. Community Service was a midscale touring show with INe music paid for through a mix of fees. ticket sales and investment of reserves. The Many Lives Of PET #I was a community tour and education programme commissioned entirely by Birmingham Plastics NeOrk. Bi8 Brother Macbeth was commissioned by Bath Spa University and performed by their third year acting students. River Tours.. The Severn toured venues close to the riverfs course. In A Heartbeat was a micr(Fproduction exploring fresh ideas and developing new collaborators performed at Our Facility {our home basel. Behlnd Beneath Here. a photographic Series was commissioned by West Midlands National Park (Birmingham City University) and exhibited in the Library of Birmingham From our portfolio of existing shows. Of All The People In All The World toured to venues in Jersey. Brighton. Cairo and Charlston15outh Carolina) and The Commentators performed in Gloucester, Hanley and Birmingham as well as streaming coverage of thé General Election count. Rlver Tours: The Lune was retoured to community venues and public spaces by Lancaster Arts. The audiences totalled 11,063. We collaborated with students of a variety of a8es. focusing on a range of topics,. Most are 8rowing up in economically deprived areas of the West Midlands. Year 8 at Saltley Academy performed Romeo & Juliet at school and Shakespeare's New Place in 5tratford-upon-Avon. Year 7 at Wheelers Lane Technology College devised Sami Small Pulls A Bus, a performance of physics and music. Year 5 at Croft Academy devised The Coming Of The Canals. a local history project. Year 2 at Woods Bank Academy devised Sister Dora. another local history project. Year 4 at Kln<s Rlse Academy devised a philosophy song cycle. Additionally one off lectures and workshops for universities took place along with The Many Live5 Of PET #I delivering science workshops and this 'revision performance. to Year 10 students at eight schools acro55 the region. Our Creative Learning Projects reached 2,693 school children and students.
Our Facility The Edwardian school buildin& which has been our base since the pandemic continues to develop. Additional rehearsal space has been freed up along with a communal area for meeting. relaxing and eating. We welcomed 20 arts and education companies or artists with gUlar repeat bookings for meetings. trainin& rehearsals and set building. We were also able to give access to space as in-kind support for early career artists. Our long temi ambition is to develop Our.Facility to offer affordable tenancie5 as well as accessible rehearsal spa5 and a base for our own work. To this end the building has been recognised as an'Asset of Community Value, and we have quested permission to apply for . a Community Asset Transfer having gained support from the West Midlands Cabinet memberfor Culture, our Local MP. Head of Culture and development atthe West.Midlands Combined Authority and the Head of Culture at Birmingham Council. In 2024-25 shows created by hirer5 reached an audience of 5165 and employed 73 artists and support stsff. Equality. Diversity and Indusion We continued to demonstrate our belief in equality of opportunity through our actions. across our program and working methods. This year we produced CommunfLy Service. the story of a black police officer and musician. brought to us by a black audience member. co-directed with black collaborators. devised bv an almost exclvsively black team, including backstage where we used additional budget to support an emerging black costume designer. We work hard to keep our recruitment open, inclusNe, widely advertised to target under- represented communities. Our community tours and much of our portfolio work takes theatre to non-traditional venues and non-theatre audiences. often this work is free to attend. We continue to explore lW to thake our work more widely accessible. To this end we invest in BSL interpretation of performances and use digital technologies to communicate elsewhere. We will continue to develop this area of our practice.
Environmentsl Emergen¢y Performance is an open ended series of Acts through which Stan's Cafe delivers its environmental responsibilities. It opened in Wlarch 2024 with ACT I: The Many Uve5 of PET #l teaching aUdIenS about the global plastics crisis. Art 2: Hall Of Fame highlights our policy of reusing materials from show to show across the years. Act 3: The Book is our ethical procurement policy. Further Acts are planned. Choosing to address environmental policy as an artistic enterprise ensures it is always at the heart of what we do, receiving the best efforts that we have to offer. We remain active mernbers ofsustainability Arts West Midlands and work with the wider West Midlands environmental networks to share and develop good practice. Finanaal over¥iew The company used reserves of £21,or) to support a new work. Community SeICe, and Theatre Tax Relief of over £56.OIX) helped support the artistic programme which included three new produrtions. After a series of long tenn creative leaming funding streams concluded. the programme would reduce over the next 12 months so the post of Creative Learning Producer becarne redundant. Plans for raising funds in that area have since been strategically reviewed and an Heritage Lottery Fund application will be undertaken later in 2025 to try and secure fundin8 for an 18 month project in Walsall. Theatre Tax Relief remains an important element to enable the creation and tours of shows offering 40% or 45% relief against protection costs for ticketed performance5. Thi5 year's claim will be £56,556. The Finance and Risk Committee and Trustees are satisfied wfth the financial and risk management of the organisation. The company continues to react swiftly to challengeg and find alternative solutions and income streams with ingenuity and resilience. Fundraising for projects and additional core funding remains a challenge but the support from universities in 24-25 has provided a different route to create new work with fees or commissions. Donations are reiVed"throUgh our Scheming Friends initiative and through additional support on top of the ticket price or collections a community shows. Most of this income is eligible for gift aid and this year the total donation income was £2418. Fundraising for core costs remained challenging but we received fundingfrom The Barry Jackson Trust for the school workshops and community tour of The Many Lives of PET #I.
The University of Birmingham commissioned the work supported by Lenovo, the Royal Society of Chemistry. Chemist's Community Fund and The Royal Society. The tour of Of All The People In All The World to Cairo's DCAF Festival was sUPPOrted by the Bfitish Council. ReseNes policy and use Stan's Cafe's reserves are purposeful. they are held both to offer the company security in times of crisis and to be invested in ambition. This ambition will primarily be artistic, but can cover organisation development. which will in turn have a positive impact on the company's mission. The companrfs reserves indude restricted and unrestricted funds. Unrestricted funds may be nominally allocated to future projects in order to remind us they are purposeful. Reserve levels and allocations a reviewed annually by the Finance and Risk Committee and presented to the board for approval. In 2024- 25 the Board agreed to support a large'rscale. new work. Community Service employed 8 performers/musicians. several technical. including mentoring a young black costume designer and toured to larger studi05 and mid5cale venues. It offered the sUPPOrt needed to get this production off the ground which resulted in a successful and well received production. Small reserve investments were also made in tourin& stsging and commissionin8 a new partner in Nigeria, Egija Naija to write River Tours: The Niger. Staff and Artists We restructured the small staff team during 2024- 25. The end of various funding streams for Creative Learning meant the post of Producer in that area was redundant. When our long term Administrator left to pursue her own freelance artistic career we created a new early career Administration Assistant role offering a wide range of training and this has .worked well. We increased training and development opportunities significantly throughout the organisation and continue to look at ways to increase resources in this area. We employed 30 freelance artists across the year on various projects and regularly offered advice and support to emerging artists and companies in the region. We are part ofthe Culture Central Mentoring proeramme and the Artistic Director often runs workshops and seminars for university students.
Future strate We will continue to mix creating new productions with re-touring popular works from our portfolio. • We will seek commissions. particularlyfor our Community Touring productions for which we will look to collaborate with universities. • As Arts Council England's National Portfolio funding has been extended from 3 to 5 years with a real terms Cut in fundin& we will engage specialist fvndraising support to raise money from trusts and foundations. • We will experiment in extending our reach. artistry and income via hybrid performances. • We will continue to pursue bespoke work with schools and apply to large funds to support multiple schools in extended projects. We will continue to lobby Birmingham City Council for a Cornmunity Asset Transfer so we secure our tenancy and develop Our Facility as an arts hub. We will strengthen governan by recruiting trustees with expertise to offer support in areas required for the companrfs future development. Trustees responsibilities ststement The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees. report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and Untted Kingdom Accounting Standards {United KingdomGenerally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wale5 requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources. of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to: • selert suitable accountin8 policies and then apply them consistently- observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charitles SORP: make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent: state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements- • prepare the finanaal statements on the 80in8 concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume • that the charity wjll continue in business The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the tharity's transacti<$ and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any 10
time the financial position of the charTty and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with thecharities Act 2011. the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations. and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees, annual report was approved on 16 September 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Alan Rivett Chair
srAN'S CAFE THEATRE Directors, Report .The directors present their rep)rt and the financial Statements ofthe crfJmpany for the year ended 31 March 2025. The directcrfs who served during the year were as folloK.' BIODULPH. Maya BLACKWOOD, Hugh Sergio, Mister (A4>[Inted 10 SepternLw 2024) BOOTH. JaequelineAnne MISTFIY, Sanjay Narottam OBRA, Simi (Appointed 26 Febwary 20251 OWEN..Judy (Appointed 13 December 2024) RAJpuf, Dhamiesh RAMPAL, Rochi RIVE. Alan Callander SMITH, Clare Louise CLIFfoN, Johanne Mica (Resigned 25 February 20251 JERVIS-HILL. Sarah (Resigned 20 June 2024) Principal a¢tivity The company's principal actiwty during thg year con"nued to be theatre production. Small companies regirn• The report of the directors has been prepared tsknng adwantage of the small compans exemptths of Section 4154 of the Companw Acl 2(th. By order of th• Immfd: RIVETh." Alan "Director 16 Seplefflber 2025 12
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT stans Cafe Theatre For the year ended 31 March 2025 Independent Examiner's Reportto theTru5teesof Stan's Cafe Theatre I reportto thecharity trusteeson myexarninaiion oltheaccountsolthecharityforthe perityjended 31 March 2025 which are setout on pages 14 to 19. kesponsibilities•nd b•sis•lreptyt Astheeha¥ity'Strvsteesyou are respongbleforthe prepatn oftheaccwntsin accordance wtth the wuivements ofthe Charitie5 Act20111'theAct'l. i port in respecr of myeXaminati oFthetharity'saccounts(arried wt undersectw)n 145 of the Actand in carryingoutmy exafflinatioTh I havefollijwed all theapplicabledtrecti0Th58i¥en by the chty(OMMiSOn under section 1451Sllbl of the Act. lndewndentexarnlnerfsstatennt I have completed myexamination. Iconfirm thatno matrrial maner5ha¥e cometo myattention in cnectIonwitht examination vIng eUSet0 believethatin anymaterial respect 11 ¥countin8recordswere rtkePtIn rWofthe ch¥itya5required bysection 13oftheActr or 21 the aCCnts do notaccord those records. 31 theaccountsdo not comply with theapplicable reqU1mentoncern1ngthefo1M and content ofaccovnts set out in the Charities IA(counts and Reports) Regulaiions2008 otheTthan any requirementthat the accounts yve a'trueand lairview. which 15 not a mattercon5idered as partofan independent exary¥natiOn. I have noconcern5and have comeacross no other matier5in connection th theexarniThation to which attention should be drawn in this report inorderto enablea properlmderstandingolthe accounts to bsreached Signed.. Sarah Powell ACCA Ansell Munden A5sociate5 Limited Suite I Point North Park Plaza Heath Hayes WS12 20E Datv. 16 September2025 thp&rdèntEtsmlnersRew . StansCaf*TWe ' 13
Fund5 Tota Funds Oryear Income DonatKJns charle Actwdties Otherrradin 2.118 404.802 13.48B. 2.418 404.802 13.488 S.795 E 308.778 4.862 Investmen15 8.OZ3 .023 91 Other Totsl Incorr 428.731 428.731 £ 320.327 Funds CharitableAciiv]be5 Govemance C05 Other Ex To1 725 122.97 122.91P 768 £ 263.141 £ 307.750 249.ni 372.638 249.ni 372.638 let Movement Fur&b S6.093 12.571 14
STAN'S CAFE THEATRE Profit and Loss Account for the year from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Notes 2025 2024 Tuinover 260.957 137.440 1185.3941 169,798> 75,563 67.642 (242,4111 1250,666> 167.230 181.996 891 Cost of sales Gros¥ profit Administrative expenses Other operating inco Other interest receivable and similar income Irttet payable and similar tharges Loss before taxation 11,3851 1459 56.552 56,093 {2641 {401) 12,978 12,577 Tax Profit for th• ygar 15
srAN'S CAFE THEATRE Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 2025 2024 Fixed assots Tangible assets 1.251 1.251 804 804 Current assets Debtors 119.176 213.705 332,881 101,671 227,778 329,449 Cash at bank and on hand Cr•ditor8 amounts falling du• within ono year Net current assets (liabilities) Total a8sets1088 current liabllitles (54.1881 128.3081 278,693 279,944 301,141 301,945 301,945 Net assets 279.944 Capital and reserves Called up share pItal Other reserves 223.849 56,094 279.944 289,367 12.577 301,94S Profit and loss wjunl The ¢ornpany was entrtled to exemptM from audrt for this repcKling peri under section 477 of the Componie$Act 20C6 relating to 5maH companies. . The members have not required the C1panY to cA)lain an audit in accd with section 476 of the CompantesAcl 20CE. The Directors acknowkdge their responsitx.lities for comptying with the requirements of the Act with re5Fe¢t to acttjunting records and the preparation of acctsunts. These accounts have been Fvepared in accordance with the w)Mwons applicable to eompanies subject lo the small companres regime_ The directors have"thosen to nol fik a copy of profft and loss a¢Unt under seciion 44415A) Companies Act 2cl6. The members have agreed to the preparation of abrw accou1 for this accounting perKJ in a¢¢ordan¢e with section 44412A). The financial statements were approved arKI authoriJ for issue by the Board of Llirectors on 16 September 2025 arKI are signed on its behaw by.. RIVETT, Alan Diroctor Reglstered Company No. 03095751 16
STAN'S CAFE THEATRE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 Accounting policies Statutory infomiation The company is a private company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales. The company's registered nurnber and registered clfice address can be found on the Company Information page. Statement of cornpliance The finanoal ststements have been prepared in oyrwiance with FRS 102 Sectiortr 1A as il applies to the financial statements for the period and Ihere were no material departures from the reporting stsndard. Turnover policy Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration reIved or receivab. net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover indLHles revenue eamed from the sale of and from the rendering of servIs. Turnover from the sale ol g(KJds is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the good5 h8ve transferred to the buytsv. Turnover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the slage of completson of the contract. The sla9e of complelion of a ontract is measured by comparing the costs incufred for work perfomied lo date io the lotsl estimated contract costs. Revenue from sale of goods Turnover from the Sa of 0d5 is recogntsed when the signfftant risl(s al rewards of ownership ol the gothys have transferred lo the buyw. Tumover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of compkb.on of the contracL The stage of completn ol a contract is measured by comparing the costs Inrred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs. Employee benefits .Contribulions to defined contrTbution plans are exFensed in the lo which they relate. Foreign currency translation Transactions in foreign currenues are initialty reCognd at the rate of exchange ruling at the dale of the transaction. Al the end of each pOrting penod fore currency monetary items are translated al the dosing fate of exchange. Non-monetary items that are measured al historical cost are translated at the rate ruling al the date of the transaction. AJI drffenCe$ are charged lo profil or bss. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fed assets are stated at cost or valuat*)n less depreciaknn. t)epreciatK)n is provided on 811 tangible fixed assets as fofkAvs". Straight line lyearsl Fixtures and fitting$ 17
STAN'S CAFE THEATRE Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025 Investments Investments in subsidiaries, a$slateS and joint ventures are measured 8t cost less any accumulated impaimienl losses. Listed investments are measured al fair value where the drfference beiween cost and fair value is material. Unlisted investments afe measured at fair value unless the value cannot be measured relsabty. in which case they are Measu al t))st any accumulated impaiThnent losses. Changes in faif value are induded in the Pfofit and loss account Average number of employees 2025 2024 Average number of empbyees during the year 3. Tangible fixed assets Total C08t or valuation At 01 April 24 Addib'ons 145,955 At 31 March 25 146,861 D8prgciation and impairni•nt At 01 April 24 Charge fof year At 31 March 25 145,151 459 145.610 Net book valu• At 31 March 25 1,251 At 31 March 24 804 le
srAN'S CAFE THEATRE Notes to Ihe Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025 Further information regarding the company's financial position Debtors 39,804- Trade debtors 8,052 -Accrued income 1,789 - Prepayments 69,531- Theatre tax relief 119.176-Tolal Creditors 22.881 - Accruals 11',000 - Deferred Income 3.620 -Taxation and SecJJrity 1.314 - Pension Fund 11.736-VAT Liability 1,884- Credit Card Liabilty 1,753- Trade cditOrS 54,188-Totsl Other ReservesAnatyg's 30,000- Unrestricted bul designated - Bach IhybrHd show 2) 35,000 - unStricted bul designated - Building Caprtal Fund 90,LIOO- Unreslricled bul designated - Close Down Costs 30,1)00 - UnreslTiCted bul designated - In A Heartbeat 25.000 - Unrestricted but designated- Landing In IhybrKI 11 5,0Tr) - Unrestrthd but desonaled- Microproduclion 25126 {Lancbng Inl 5,000- Unresthcted but desonaled - Microproduthon 26127 5,000- Unrestncted but deSnated - Paratheatriral 25r26 (Around The World} 5,000- Unlestrled but destgnated - Paratheatrical 26r27 (J4saw) 10,000 -.UnrestrKled bul designated - Portlolio Investrnent 116,151}- untricted - Free ReseF¥es 223.849-Totsl 19