THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 311t AUGUST 2024 Charfty Number 1206353
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 CONTENTS PAGE Legal and Adminislralive Infomialion Truslees, Annual Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Accounts 10 11 Statement of Assets and Liabilities 12
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFROMATION PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 ststus The Actors, Workshop Bristol is a charitab In¢ofporaled Organisation and has been granted charitable status by the Charity CommissKTrn registration number 1206353. Trustees Bryn Hokying {apinted 22 November 2024) Anne Odeke {appoinled 2 January 20241 Stephen Loach lappoinled 2 January 2024) Sian Fisher {2 January 20241 Registered Address The Works Chatterton Street Studio Bristol BS16PR Bankers Virgin Money Iclydesdale Bank) St James Street Branch Independent Examlner Joshua Kingston BSC, ACA Burton Sweet Limited The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1 UR
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 The trustees present their port and the unaudtled financial ststemenls for Ihe period ended 31 August 2024. Structure. Govemance and Managemenl The Actors, Workshop Bristol is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the charity rA)mmission on 2 January 2024 2nd govemed by its (x)nslilution dated 23rd August 2023. Appointment of charity truslees 1. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee musl be appointed for a temi of three years by a resolution passed at a prcoedy convened meeting of the charity trustees. 2. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knOedge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. ObJ¢¢tlve$ The charity's objective is.. to advance the education of thè public, particularly young p8opl&, in thè knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the perfOing arts lincluding, drama, signing and dance and the study and practi of speech Irainingl in particular. bul not exclusively, by thè provision of coutses, tuitn, workshops, classes, rehearsals, perfomancès, and by supporting them for entry to any {UpatIon, trade or profession on leaving any educational establishment. to advan public appreciation of the perfomiing arts. including drama, music, dan and signing by the prc#Juc1n of plays. and by leaching and training artists lo enable them to prcIlu works of a high stsndard. Public bonofit In shaping the objectives for Ihe year and planning aclivilies. the lrtjslees have conSided the Charily Commission's guidan on public benefit, including the guKlance 'public benefi't.. running a charity IPB2)'. Activities The Actors, Workshop Bristol is a unique. independent and natnallY cOgnised Cent of excellence for actor training, with an unrivalled recDrd for getting students into BA and MA courses at accredited UK drama schools. Taught exclusively by eXperiend professional actors, our courses and classes a prid as competitively as possible so thal everyone with the talent. drive and deterninalion lo train can asS them. A recent study conducted by The Sutton Trust reported that six out of ten young people are interested in pursuing a career in perforrning arts come from a family background of higher education or a professional background. The research further showed that those who come from less privileged backgrounds a underrepsentÈd in the perfomiing arts industry, with financial barriers being a significant faclor. The Actors. Workshop Bristol seeks to redress this balan by offering bursariesl discount whenever needed - even if this need arises in the middle of the training year.
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 In tandem with our rigorous training. student welfare and support are hallmarks of our work. We gel to know all our students personally and re passionately about helping them make the best of every step of their creative joumey. CuThently. this includes paying for auditionsllransport to auditions, funding access lo psychotherapy when needed, supporting students who are young carers and embedding life skills lessons in our c#Jrriculum on a weekly basis. Foundation Course in Acting At the heart of our work is our part-time Foundation Course in Acting, which provides rigorous professional training in all the core skills required to pursue the craft al degree level. Though our stunning success rate of around every year speaks for itself, our constantly evolving curriculum is designed not ju* lo leach the professional skills needed lo succeed al audition but to develop each student's creativity and understanding as an artist. The course runs from SepteMr until June, culminating in a professional showcase at a local theatre, with an option to take part in a further Shakespeare production or theatre-in- education project in July. All students audition for UK conseNatoires dvring the UrSe., ea(l) year most are offered places on highly competitive BAIMA courses at top drama schools. Expert careers advi, audilion preparation (including screen acting and self-lapingl and exposure lo professional practitKsners from across the industry enable students to explore the best range of options available and lo tailor their preferences for higher education to maximise success. With a minimum of 12.5 contact hours per week on average, this course has hugely successful outcomes and is cnmpetilivety priced lo allow students lo woth part-lime alongside it. All classes are laught by Irained, eXperiend profeSsn81 actors and the year group is split into training groups of more than 18 students. Our cohort of 34 students on this urse for the academic year 2023- 24 amassed 45 places on BAIMAActing courses al accredite(l UK conservato1$. More Contexl: Many UK conservaloires have full-lime foundation courses in Acting, funded at a cost of £9,250 through the student loan company and accredited by the schools. partner universities. These courses attract students who do not make il through the auditions onto a BA course and hope that, by doing a year's foundation course. they will get in the following year. Sadly, the succes5 rate from these courses IS pitiful (less than 10°A). Despite being huge eamers for the drama schcw)Is. these courses do not adequately serve their students for the following reasons= 1. Because these Level 4 courses need lo meet higher education standards for assessment and reFX)rting and must rK)t (x)nfli¢t wtth the school's BA Acting degree, the curricula are too general and are not geared towards imparting the specific skills lat the specific limel needed lo succ£ed al audition. Moreover. the assessments required to fulfil an academic qualrfication lusually a CertHE) take precious time and are usually irrelevant to the audition process. 2. Because of the high fees and low success rate. the costlbenefit ratFo makes these courses an unwise bet- particularfy given that they consume a year's worth of
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 student funding and create significant extra student debt. Nonetheless, they hook in countless unwitting students. who undertake these courses specifically to get into a BA course at drama schwl. 3. Because the real obpdive of these o)urses is to make money for the school in exchange for a CertHE/diploma, On this has been achieved, students are lefl in the lurch - moslly no closer lo their al goal of getting onto a BA Acting course. In conlrasl, The Actors, Workshop Brislol follows a different model.. 1. Although our work is completely geared lo imparting the skills needed lo SUced at audition, we do not have a written curriculum. Instead, our team of highly experienced tutors are reswnsive to the indiviyual, bringing in relevant elements of the craft and building skills as needed by the current o)hort. This means that time is used incredibly efficiently and with exlIent results. 2. Our course has fewer hours. costs around a quarterof the price of a ftjll-time CertHE and gets more than 80010 of students into BAIMA wurses al UK drama conservatoires every year. Because fees are low and lime is used efficiently, students are able to work alongside the course, emerging without any sludenl debt. 3. We follow through with each individual until they achieve what they want. If a student does not gel into a BAJMA course of their choice, they have the option of reluming and doing our course again, knowing that our reswnsive curriculum will support them al whatever p)inl th8y are in their creative joumey and lake them lo the next level. There are a few part-time foundation o)urses in the UK (none in the 8ristol area, excèpt Bath Academy of Musical Theatre- which focuses on MT and is therefore a complementary entity rather than a competitor.) All these are much rn0 expensive and lack our success rate. We offer scholarships and bursaiyes for all wurses and classes wheVerneeded to widen access and train those 1 the talent, drive and resilience required to succeed, gardless of background orino)me. Onward Journeys: Oxbridge takes roughly 24¥0 of eligible applicants every year. UK drama schools lake around 3%. There are Cun11Y1uSI 300400 plaS available on BAIMAActing courses at UK Conservatoires. With over 10.000 applicants, the audition process is incredibly competitive. Our track Cord speaks for itself. We have established a reputation for excellence and a market niche that attracts students from all over the UK and beyond.. Gemiany. USA, South Africa. Australia. Italy. France to name a few. Students move lo Bristol every year to do our ¢x)ur5e'. with two conservatoires in Bristol and another in Cardiff. there are clear options for onward progression in the area. Our flexible model serves not only students aiming for BAActing courses but also those who have done a degree and want to pursue professional tszining at MA Level.. there is nothing
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 around to cater for this need. We also train students every year who have done foundatKJn courses elsewhere but have failed to get into drama sch)ol. Industry Masterclasses Complementing this offering and extending its. s(x)pe, we run a slate Ofone8Y Masterclasses on Satunlays during temi-time. Led by industry experts, these workshops are aimed both al our own sludenL8 and al the wider public- professional actors (young and old) and teachers who want to extend their skills and deepen their practice. Our one4ay workshops are well-allended and are a valuable Urce of CPD in Bristol for these groups. So far in the 2024-25 academic year. Ihese included Agbo Play {streel theatre from Sierra Leone) Physical Storytelling, Devising. Chekhov. Commedia dell, Arte, Breathwork forActors and Acting for Camera with more planned later in the year. These masterclasses are popular and well-attended. They are significantly cheaper than similar classes run by our mpetItorS le.g. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School) and offer d8ep discounts for students and Equity members. In addition, we always offer fijrther reductionWfree places for those who cannot otherwise afford to attend. Short Courses Last year, we also Introdud Short Courses.. 3-hour sessions on a Wednesday evenSng. Short courses for 2024-25 include Playing Shakespeare, Stage Combat and Improvisation & Devising. All are laughl by experienced. qualified industry specialists. As with the masterclasses, pri8 are below competitors wilh discounts and bursaries available. Dance. Body Condltlonlng and SlngSng We Nn weekly Dance. Body Conditioning and Singing classes for actors aged 18+ during term lime. Taught personally by co4irectors Jennifer Higham (dan/bodY conl and Clara Marullo Isinging) these are very popular with our foundation students and also attract outsiders. Teon Group Our small, selective Teen Group. which ets for three hours on a Sunday afternoon and serves students aged 14-18, provides younger performers who have the drive and d81erminalion to leam their craft wilh dedicated professi)nal Iraining. Most of our Teen students go on to train further with us on our part-ts'me Foundation Course, before doing BA al drama school and entering the industry. The Teen Group, like all our olher courses and classes. is taught by experienced professional actors and offers bursaries where needed to make sure il is accessible lo ALL those with the talent and drive to benefit from the training. Professional Screen Acting This academic year. we have added an eighl-month part-time course in Professional Screen Acting. Aimed at actors at the start of their careers, practical course offers induslry-relevant training for actors who wish lo acquire the technical knoedge and acting skills needed to excel in reen work. At Ihe end of this urse, participants make individual showreels and voice reels to industry sCIfICatIOns. with a celebratory screening al the end.
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Showcases Our Foundation Course students perforn an industry showcase at a major Bristol venue in eady June every year. Aside from being a wonderful public celebration of their achievement, this is also an opportunity for drama conservatoires to observe our sludenls, work,. over the years, several students have been nVed off waiting lists and offered places on BAJMA courses at UK drama St1$ as a result of their showcase perfomiance. Our Teen students also do a showcase for parents and friends at a local theatre every year - normally in April to avoid exam season. Free CPD for Teachers In order to help secondary sch1 drama teachers deliver best practice in the practical components of their curriculum al GCSE and A Level. The Actors, Workshop Bristol offers a series of free workshops for teachers every year. This year, these a on Zoom so that they will be easily accessible to as many teachers as p)ssible. School and Collogo Outreach Regular drama workshops in secondary schoolslFE colleges and stud8nl-facing talks about pathways into the profession. Shakespeare Productlon In July 2023 we produced and directed Twelfth Nwhl and in July 2024. we did Macbeth at the Loco Klub, Temple Meads. Perfomed by graduating members of our Foundation Course, these imaginative, professional productions made Shakespeare accessible and inclusive without compromising the verse. Each year. Ihe run includes a free matinee for schools and local residenls. Theatre4nducatlon Projecl In the summertemi 2025, we are planning lo take a short. devised perfom)anc* and accompanying workshop. on the theme ofglobal wamiing, into local primary schools. This free offering will expose children in Key Stage 2 to live theatre and encourage them to make their own short plays. An accompanying activity pack for teachers will support further in- school work. Activities and achievements After a long applic2tion process, The Actors, Workshop Bristol became a registered charity (CIO) on 2n¢ January 2024, with a wonderful. experienced Board of Trustees drawn tth from our own industry and frorn the business wodd. Charitable status enabled us to accept donations. raise funds. miligale our tax burden and offset business rates - all crucial if we are to wntinue lo develop and extend our work and our Community reach. whilst keeping all fees as low as possible and supporting those who need financial assistance to access our seNices. Once again, our Foundation Course students did extremely well. Our hort of 34 students amassed a total of 45 plaS on BAJMA courses at UK drama schools. This number included
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 all of our scholarshiplbursary students, one of whom was a care4eaver who had been told she would never amount to anything. This lovely young woman is now in her first year of a BAAcling course at the prestigious Rose Bruford Conservatoire. She is making us very proudl Given that upwards of 10,QKIO applicants audition for only 300 plaS on BAJMA courses at UK drama schi)ols. The Actors. Workshop Bristol once again demonstrably changed lives by enabling most of our cohort to access these very o)mpetitive and sought-after degree courses and thus a proven springboard into the profession. As a result of their perfomwns in our showcase at The Mount Without in June, two additional students were moved off the waiting list and accepted onto the BAActing cours8 at Bristol School of Acting. Our small, selective Tgen Group expanded to 17 studenls. of whom one had a fvll scholarship and another a half-fees bursary. One of our Teens is a Ukrainian refugee, who recently slarred in a 8BC Radio 4 drama. Since several of our Teen group were doing GCSE and A Level Drama, we offed them and Iheir classmates free coaching on their performed exam pieces. Our Teen Group showcase at the Bristol Improv Theatre in April 2024 included everylhlng from Shakespeare to contemporary scenes.11 was sold out and very Well- ceived. Parents understand the value of a small group, where students are trained in their craft by seasoned professionals, and the polenlial for onward joumeys Ihis presents. Masterclasses in everything from Clowning and Stand-up Comedy lo Shakespeare and Physical Theatre were well-attended. th by our own students and by members of the local community lal a discounted ratel. We also ran Short Courses (5 or 6 evening sessions each) in Playing Shakespeare, Screen Acting, Devising and Playwriting - all led by industy experts. Freè CPD workshops for secondary school Drama and English teachers in voice, movement, devising and contemporary text were very well reived. Some comments below.. Inspiring, hugely academically and practically credible wothshop which, from the perspeclive of a Head of English, generdted immediately applicable strategies. I was particularly inspired also by the integrity evident in the drive to 3¢h out to the disadvantaged. Some great, concrete ideas to use with our students. I particularfy loved th8 seSSn on fire/water/earth states in the body. Huge thanks forgiving up your time for these workshops and lor being so wel(x)ming and ac(x)mmodating. These sessions have been fantastic, thank you so muchl Great to infom7 my teaching pract1 and to developing students in 8 way th8t is MO purposeful for the industry, as well as challenging them and building l)oth my and my students, confiden. Once their course had finished in June. additionally offered our Foundation Course students the opportunity to audition for our production of Macbeth at the Loco Klub in Bristol,
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 directed by Jennifer Higham and Clara Marullo. Set in Viking l(Eland, the production incorporated a clear environmental message relating to our interaction with the natural worfd, which sparked conversation both wilhin the cast and with members of our audience. This production, which demanded a month of intensive full-time rehearsal followed by three performances, elevated every student's work. It also provided opportunities for them to explore and showcase unique 12lents- e.g. movement, singing. costuming, stage- management, stage combat - and extended their understanding of classical text. Not one student paid a penny to lake part: The Actors, Workshop funded the whole production, with a donation of £1,(XJO from our landlords, Dandara Living. We wanted to provide added benefit to local secondary schools and also to the community around our studio, which sils in the middle of a council eslale. We therefore perfomied a special community matinee for which we offered free ticket5 to local residents and school partiès. Som8 comments b8bw.' Wowl What an incTrdible production. Our Year 10s were buzzing all the way back on the coach. which is not norm811y our experien after 8 trip to see 8 Sh8kespe8re play. They loved chatting th the cast and hearing about pathways into acting. The connection between human actions and environmental cataslrophe was intriguing and sparked lots ol conversation tC4). Thank you. -Charfie Sche. Head of Dr8m8, Downend School, Bristol. Somè general audience f88dback'. Inspiring to S8e a company helping to provide opportunitS to v8ry talented young people 8t the start of their CaerS. Congralulalions to 811 Ihose involved. It was a fantastic perfom7ance and very atnsphenc venue- what a bnlliant gn)up of young actorsl Great to see underprivileged students with talent getting Ihe opportunity to shine. You must be veryproud supporting them like you have. At the end of our academic year. Dandara Living took over direct responsibility for the lease on our current premises on Chatterton Street, BS16PR, allowing us lo remain there for a further year at a greatly subsidised rent. Over the spring and summer, we cruited a new foundation cohort of 34 sludenls, including one student on a full bursary, two paying half fees and tsvo retuming students receiving a third off their fees for the screen acting course. Financial RoViOW The total income generated in the year anKsunted to £74.560 which is mainly generated from student fees and a small amount of bank interest. Total expenditure for the year anm)Unt to £69.443 which is mainly made up of cosls incurred directly from delivery of charitable aclivilies.
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 For its first period ended 31 August 2024 the income over expenditure resulted in a surplus of £5,117. Reserves The charity did not have holding reserves in January 2024. due lo being newly registered. The trustees have now reviewed and approved a reserves policy in line with the guidanc8 issued by the Charity ComMissn (submitted wrlh this doc#Jmenll which will apply from 1 September2024. At the end of August 2024. the level of unrestricted reseeS stood at £5.117. Statement of trustees. responsibililies The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficnt accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial poSitn of the charity and enable them lo ensure that the financial slalemenls mplY with the Charities Act 2011. the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and Ihe provisions of the (xJnstitutKJn. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and delect¥)n of fraud and other irregularits'es. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees on . Apr 16 2025 Bryn Holding Chair of Truslees
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Independgnt gxamin8r's report to the trustees of The Actors, Workshop Bristol. I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of TheActors' Workshop Bristol (the Charity) for the period ended 31 August 2024. Re$ponslbllltles and ba$ls of report As the charity trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act'}- I report in respect of my examination of Ihe Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Dire¢lions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)Ib) of the Act. Indapend8nt examlner's statement I have completed my eXaMinatn. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in conneclion with Ihe eXaMinan giving me cause lo belEve Ihal in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by sèction 130 of the Act: or the accounts do not accLsrd with those records.. or the accounts do not comply wlh the applicable requirements Conrning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Aco)unls and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any qu1ment that the accounls give a 'true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with Ihe examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a propér understanding of the accnunls to be reached. otkkn LL tlfft Josh Kingston ACA Burton Sweet Limited The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1 UR Date.. Apr 16 2025 io
THE ACTORS, WORKSHOP BRISTOL PERIOD ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Unrestricted Restrirted Total Funds Funds Funds 2024 RECEIPTS Chartiable activities Student fees 74,508 74.508 74,508 74,508 Investment Income Bank and other interest 52 52 TOTAL RECEIPTS 74,560 74,560 PAYMENTS Costs of charitable activities Direct costs Wages and salaries Studio, theatre and show costs Support costs Travel and subsistence Printing, postage and stationery Insurance IT and subscriptions Office costs Premises expenses Accountancy Heat and light Advertising Rent and rates Miscellaneous expenses Bank and other charges 52,185 2,218 52,185 2,218 547 318 547 318 600 520 77 73 762 167 3,582 7,919 334 141 69,443 520 77 73 762 167 3,582 7,919 334 141 69,443 TOTAL PAYMENTS 69,443 69,443 Transfers between fund5 NET RECEIPTSI{PAYMENTSI 5,117 5,117 li
THE AcfoRS' WORKSHOP BRISTOL AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 2024 Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand 5,117 5,117 Total Assets 5,117 Liabilities Accruals Accountanry 1,680 Total Llabllltles CASH RESERVES Unrestrlcted fund5 8rought forward Net receiptsllpaymentsl for the year 5,117 Restrlcted funds Brought forward Net receiptsllpaymentsl for the year Total reserves 5,117 Signed on behalf of the Trustees on Apr 16 2025 Bryn Holding Trustee 12