Company number: 00556251 Charity Number: 233801 

## Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 




Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Contents 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

Reference and administrative information  ..................................................................................................... 1 Trustees’ annual report  ................................................................................................................................ 3 Independent auditor’s report  ...................................................................................................................... 17 Consolidated statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)  ............... 22 Balance sheets  ............................................................................................................................................ 23 Consolidated statement of cash flows .......................................................................................................... 24 Notes to the financial statements  ................................................................................................................ 25 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Reference and administrative information 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

Company number 00556251 – incorporated in the United Kingdom Charity number 233801 – registered in England and Wales Registered office and Gerry Raffles Square Operational address Stratford London E15 1BN Trading name Theatre Royal Stratford East Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: The Rt. Hon. Dame Margaret Hodge, Chair Joy Adeogun (resigned 17 July 2023) Cllr Rohit K Dasgupta (resigned 2 August 2024) Cllr Joshua Garfield Dr Elizabeth Glyn Patricia Hamzahee Simon Haynes Christopher Hird Francesca Hutchin Franceca Moody (appointed 10 December 2023) David Olaniregun Martin Pilgrim MBE Bryan Raven Paula Roberts Peter Wilson (resigned 4 September 2023) Robert Whiteman (appointed 19 September 2023 

Artistic Director Nadia Fall Executive Director Eleanor Lang Bankers Natwest Bank plc, 1 Stratford Broadway London E15 4DX 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Reference and administrative information 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

Auditor Sayer Vincent LLP Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane LONDON EC1Y 0TG 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## Chair’s Statement 

2023-24 has been an excellent year for Stratford East. Both on our stage and with our learning & participation work, we have seen people return to the theatre. We continue however to face tough challenges, with spiralling inflation, no increase in Arts Council support and a difficult environment for fundraising. 

In keeping with our best tradition, our shows during the year aimed to tell important stories, stories that were entertaining, moving and challenging. Our work included Village Idiot, the final production from the Ramps on the Moon partnership, Tambo & Bones, Beautiful Thing, The Big Life and, of course, our annual pantomime – which this year was Jack and the Beanstalk. 

Our Learning & Participation work continues to have a profound local impact. Our new adult drama programme has been popular, as has our community social programme. But our main focus remains with young people, with the Young Company, Young Techs and Technical Insight Days all contributing to our offer. We launched our Community Ambassador’s scheme this year and have a brilliant team of volunteers helping us to reach more people in Newham. Our Freelance Royalty Scheme also continues to grow, attracting over 1000 members this year, as we provide free support to local freelancers. 

On behalf of the Board I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the whole team, led by Nadia Fall, Artistic Director, and Eleanor Lang, our Executive Director, for all their hard work and dedication.  Both Nadia and Eleanor are now leaving us and we are immensely grateful to them for their contribution to Stratford East. At the same time injecting a new artistic and executive lead provides us with an opportunity to find new creative thinking and energy to lead the theatre over the coming period.  The year ahead will be a year of change, but we remain confident that the theatre is in a strong position. I would also like to extend my thanks to the trustees, who have provided important advice and support to the organisation and who give of their time freely. 

The trustees are grateful to Arts Council England and the London Borough of Newham for their continuing funding, as well as to all our supporters who have supported the work we do both on and off the stage. 

Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP Chair 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## TRUSTEE REPORT 

The trustees present their report and the audited group financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with current statutory requirements; Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS I 02) (effective I January 2015). 

## Objectives and activities 

The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes. 

The objects of the charity as set out in the Articles of Association are: 

to promote, maintain, improve, and advance education, particularly by the production of educational plays and the encouragement of the Arts, including the arts of drama, mime, dance, singing and music, and to formulate, prepare and establish schemes therefor provided that all objects of the Company shall be of a charitable nature. 

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set. 

## Structure 

Pioneer Theatres Limited (trading as Theatre Royal Stratford East) is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended 18th November 2015. In the event of the charitable company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charitable company. 

Pioneer Theatres Limited has two wholly owned subsidiaries. The results of Stratford East Trading Limited are consolidated into these financial statements. Stratford East Productions Limited is a dormant company. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

Our aims 

Stratford East has six key aims: 

• Produce bold, exciting and outstanding theatre 

The quality of the work on the stages is vital to the success of Stratford East, and it is crucial that the economic impact of the pandemic does not prevent us from taking creative risks and working with industry talent. 

## • Grow our audiences 

The pandemic has set back our audience growth and disrupted the positive upward trajectory we were on. We are in a more uncertain environment in terms of audience confident and appetite. Growing our audiences is a priority for Stratford East over the next few years. 

## • Develop creative talent 

We want to grow our talent development work, ensuring that the industry remains diverse and that barriers to working in the industry are reduced. We will work with young people and artists in East London to provide development and support. We want to centre this work and to be a flagship for talent development. 

Three further aims underpin our organisational values and will be integral to the delivery of the first three aims. 

• Embed Representation, Belonging, and Justice in our organisation We want our organisation to reflect the community in which we work. We want the programming on our stage to speak to the people who come to the theatre. We want everyone who works with us to feel empowered and supported, and we want our theatre to feel accessible to anyone, no matter their background. 

• Reduce our environmental impact 

Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity. We want to ensure that we work in an environmentally responsible way, from how we make productions, to how we work in the office, and ensure that all decisions consider the environmental impact and how to reduce it. 

## • Ensure we are resilient for the future 

The pandemic has inevitably challenged our finances, and we need to ensure that our financial position and business models ensure we are resilient for the future. We need to make sure that the choices we make and the work that we do balances risk, with ability to protect the charity long term. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

ACTIVITY IN 2023-24 

## Public Benefit 

Over the course of the year Stratford East has fulfilled its charitable objectives through continuing to engage with the widest possible audiences. The year saw the slow reopening of theatre, with our live work gradually replacing digital interactions. In 2023-24: 

- 72,582 people saw our work on stage 

- 8 productions with 225 performances 

- 15 nights of music and comedy 

- Engaged with 9,384 young people 

- Worked with 2179 adults in our community work 

- Screened our pantomime in London hospices, hospitals and care homes 

- • Provided 3 artist residencies 

- Hosted 6 artist scratch nights 

- Employed 174 freelancers 

- Provided 14 free workshops for our freelance network 

- Gave away over 800 hours of free space for artists to use 

- Engaged 1114 freelancers in our freelance network 

## Artistic Programme 

The programme during the year included: 

Village Idiot: Samson Hawkin’s audacious comedy had its Stratford East run. Directed by Nadia Fall, this production was the last of the Ramps on the Moon consortium productions and the only new writing piece in the seven-year partnership. 

★★★★ "Outrageously funny" The Times 

Ballet Black: Pioneers: Ballet Black returned to the theatre with their new double bill. ★★★★ "An uplifting tribute" The Guardian 

Tambo & Bones: the UK premiere of Dave Harris’ satire of the commodification of black culture. Directed by Matthew Xia, this funny, provocative and challenging show was a huge critical success, in partnership with Actors Touring Company. 

★★★★ "Clever, prickly, elaborate, challenging and delivered with great skill" Financial Times 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

here here here: A collaborative approach to storytelling, fueled by the connections we’ve already made, and the ones we are yet to dream of. Written by Guleraana Mir, inspired and performed by our Young Company. 

Beautiful Thing: A thirtieth anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s classic love story, set on a south-east London estate. Co-produced with Leeds Playhouse and HOME, Manchester and directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike 

★★★★★ “a very human story that defies you not to leave the theatre wrapped in a warm, nostalgic glow” The Telegraph 

I, Daniel Blake: tiny dragon Productions and ETT’s stage adaptation of the critically acclaimed film came to Stratford East for a week. A glimpse behind the headlines and the stark reality of what happens when the political system is stacked against you ★★★★★ "Feels more relevant than ever” The Stage 

Jack and the Beanstalk: This year’s annual pantomime was set in Splatford where ordinary boys can learn to do extraordinary things. Written by Anna Jordan and Robert Hyman, a classic story with a Stratford twist. 

★★★ “warm-hearted, forward-thinking and genuinely reflects the community” Whatsonstage 

The Big Life: 20 years after the original, The Big Life returned to our stage with an updated script by Paul Sirrett and Tameka Empson, with music by Paul Joseph. A joyful and uplifting ska musical, where the story of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost meets that of the Windrush generation. 

★★★★ "Infectious, heart-rendering and... achingly resonant" Time Out 

Alongside our main theatre programme we restarted our ‘One nighters’ a series of music and comedy evenings on the main stage. 

## Learning & Participation 

July 2023 our Young Company performed here here here on the main stage, written by Guleraana Mir and directed by Katie Greenall. Young Company, youth theatre and junior youth theatre all ran through to summer 2023, and new cohorts started in Autumn 2023. 

We ran Young Creators from January – March 2024, which culminated in a take over night, The Big Night, around The Big Life. We ran our 3[rd] cohort of young techs, this year partnering with RADA and Backstage Niche. We also developed paid work experience for the 22-23 cohort. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

We continued to expand our adult programme, holding four popular community socials. We also developed Community Meet Me After sessions, linked to three shows, allowing Newham-based community groups to explore themes of each show. We launched our Community Adult Company this year and ran two six-week pilots of drama sessions which were well attended. 

Our schools work continued this year, and running Your Move again, our long-term schools project with two schools. We ran three Technnical Insight days and ran our work experience week for 14 people aged 16-17. We worked with the London Borough of Newham on their Cultural Enrichment Programme, bringing year 7s to pantomime, and creating a resource pack and teacher CPD around the programme. 

In January 2023 we launched our Community Ambassador’s scheme recruiting 9 volunteers to help bring new local people to the theatre. 

In June 2023 our Freelance Royalty Scheme, celebrated its first anniversary. The scheme gives freelancers who live or work in East London support. The scheme gave away over 180 free tickets and over 800 hours of free space use, hosted three artist residencies and four scratch nights along side 14 free workshops. The scheme has over 1100 members at 31 March 2024. 

## Trading Subsidiary 

The bar continues to be very dependent on the performances for trade, but with the increase in performances this year, we have seen the bar continue to be in profit. We are still operating on reduced opening hours, with the bar only open during the day on Saturdays and matinees. 

## Representation, Justice and Belonging 

Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of Stratford East’s way of working, and is championed throughout the organisation. We have continued substantial strategic work in this area: Representation: Stratford East works to reflect the community of East London – in the make up of its Board, staff, freelancers, participants and audiences. 

Justice: Stratford East works to create an equitable environment, where everyone working with us is empowered and supported to speak out against any injustice. 

Belonging: Stratford East is at the heart of its community. We work to ensure that every person who walks through our door feels like they belong. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

Closing the Gap, our task force led by people from the Global Majority have continued to provide a space for conversation through their Spice Up Your lunch initiative, as well as providing peer to peer support for staff of the global majority. 

Our Ramps on the Moon consortium came to an end this year with our production of Village Idiot marking the end of the seven year project. We remain committed to continuing the work, ensuring that disabled and neurodivergent people are part of our work on stage, our staff team and our audiences. Our staff working group, RADAR, are looking at what our new areas of focus for this work are. 

During the run of Tambo & Bones we held our first Blackout Night, which aimed to have one night with a majority black audience. The initiative was part our work to create equity in theatre for underrepresented groups. While not the first theatre in the UK to hold a Blackout Night, we received a high level of backlash from the right-wing press. However, the night was a huge success. 

## Building 

There are number of areas of the building that do need capital investment, including our Heating and Ventilation system, as well our lighting and sound systems. We have carried out a full review and are now working on the first stage of a capital replacement programme. 

## Staffing 

Staff turnover has reduced this year, but is still high, as roles within the industry remain hard to fill and industry-wide staff shortages has made recruitment hard. We ended our contract to run Stratford Youth Zone this year, with a number of staff transferring to the new operator under TUPE. 

## Fundraising 

During the year £248k was raised through Trusts and Foundations, Corporates and individuals, a reduction of £95k from the amount raised in the previous year. Income from individual and corporate donors decreased from £209k in 2022/23 to £183k a decrease of £26k. 

During the year £199k was spent on fundraising costs, or 80% of the funds raised. This compares with £202k (59% of funds raised) in the previous year. 

The Trustees take their responsibilities under the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 seriously and have considered the implications on their activities. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

There is a dedicated permanent fundraising team at Stratford East, which in 2023-24 was led by a Development Director. The Development Director is support by a Development Committee, which was formed in May 2019. The committee has a remit to advise and support on all fundraising activities. There are no commercial participators used. 

Stratford East closely follows the Code of Fundraising Practice and stays up to date with all compliance and regulation around fundraising. 

Stratford East is careful to protect the data of our supporters and is fully GDPR compliant. Stratford East has not received any complaints about our fundraising activities. We do not approach members of the public to ask for charitable support. 

## FUTURE PLANS 

While we are back into a more traditional rhythm of producing shows, during 2023-24 we did not return to announcing a full year of work ahead. We followed The Big Life with visiting show Cheeky Little Brown and a new commission from Lanre Malaolu, Now I See. Summer 2024 saw a mixed programme of one off events along side two visiting productions: Black in the Colour of My Voice and Birthmarked. 

Our Learning & Participation team have ambitious plans for the year ahead with our Young Company performing a new piece on the main stage in July 2024, and the continuation of our Young Techs, our youth theatres and our adult programme. 

The loss of our London Borough of Newham grant has led to a reduction in our programme and in our staff team, impacting the amount of work we can deliver through our learning & participation programme and our Freelance Royalty Scheme. We will continue to focus on areas that have the most impact. 

December 2024 will see our 140[th] Anniversary and we have received funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund for an extensive programme of work celebrating our history. We will announced the 140[th] season of work in September 2024, which will be a bold and exciting programme appealing to a wide range of audiences. 

The 2024-25 year will also see change, with the departure of our Artistic Director and Executive Director and the recruitment of their successors. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## FINANCIAL REVIEW 

## Review of financial performance 

TRSE continues to be in receipt of annual funding from Arts Council England of £1,125k. 

Overall, income for the year was £4,496k, 5% up from £4,297k in 2022/23.  Income from productions increased from £1,176k in 2022/23 to £1,735k in 2023/24. Income from the trading subsidiary also increased to £396k compared to £262k in 2022/2023. Theatre Tax Relief, at £463k, was also a slight increase from £455k recorded in 2022/2023 reflecting increased activity on the stage as well as a stable enhanced TTR rate of 45% (50% touring relief) on all productions during the year. 

Total resources expended in the year were £4,647k (2022/23: £4,410k). The growth reflected the increase in the number of in-house productions and on stage activity in general as well as a high annual inflation rate affecting costs across the board. Overall, group net deficit for the year to 31 March 2024 was £150k (2022/23 Deficit of £114k) resulting in funds carried forward decreasing to £2,098k (2022/23: £2,248k) at the end of the year. 

## Principal funding sources 

Stratford East was successful in its re-application to the Arts Council of England for National Portfolio Funding in 2022. The current agreement runs until March 2026. 

Stratford East receives an annual grant from the London Borough of Newham of £256,500 per year. In February 2023 the London Borough of Newham confirmed that this grant would end during the 2024-25 year. 

## Reserves 

The Trustees believe the company should hold in reserve a sufficient cushion of funds to enable it to continue to exist through a period of reduced income and, should it be necessary to, wind up in an orderly fashion. Please refer to Note 17a in the Financial Statements for more details. The trustees consider the desirable level of reserves for these purposes to be £500k, approximately equal to three months running and production costs. 

As at 31 March 2024 the group restricted reserves amounted to £0 (2022/23: £63k).  The reserves balance relates to grants made during the year for projects beyond March 2024. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

As at 31 March 2024 the group unrestricted reserves amounted to £2,098k (2022/23: £2,185k) of which £1,293k are designated for the following purposes: 

- The Building Fund of £170k is allocated for the purpose of setting aside funds for essential major building repairs. 

- The Operational Fund of £500k  represents the amount required to cover liabilities and operating costs in the event of an orderly wind-up of operations if that situation were to arise. 

- The Production Fund of £100k  represents the amount required to cover costs of production to allow TRSE to plan for ambitious work on our main stage. 

- The Fixed Assets fund represents the net value of Fixed Assets £523k  at the end of March 2024. 

The current funds position shows restricted funds £0 (2022/23: £63k), designated funds of £1,293k (2022/23: £1,436k) and general unrestricted funds £805k (2022/23: £749k) 

## Going Concern 

The Trustees are confident of the charity’s abilities to continue as a going concern due to the historical evidence of support from the local authority, Arts Council England and other donors, and believe that this support is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. TRSE is adapting its models in light of pandemic. 

## Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

The major risks can be broken down into these categories. 

Box office: Audiences have been slow to return to theatre for drama and forecast for the next few years are likely to be lower than normal. To mitigate this risk, programming choices reflect audience demand together with rigorous marketing campaigns & monitoring of sales. 

There is also risk around box offices if cancellations happened again, and if artists are off sick.  This is considered low risk, and for shows with higher box offices understudies are cast. 

Fundraising: We are enormously grateful to many of our donors who have supported us through our closure and continue to sort us. The climate for fundraising is tough and we will need to balance ambition with realism in our targets and approach.  To mitigate this risk, the charity has invested in staff; as well as support from Board, regular meetings with the 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

Development Board and other key individuals. Realistic fundraising targets have been set in the budget. 

Economic Climate: The economic climate remains a difficult one, while inflation has reduced, there is still above inflation cost increases and audiences are still feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis.  Budgets have been adjusted with inflation taken into account on all cost centres.  The Board and senior team continue to consider other income streams. 

Building Fabric and equipment: Much of our plant and equipment is now more than 20 years old and reaching the end of its working life. Substantial investment will be needed in the future to sustain it.  Ongoing maintenance happens throughout the year and monitoring of building management systems, fundrasing planned around these needs. 

Staff Change: With two major changes at the top of the Senior team there is a risk of loss of institutional knowledge and the impact of the transition time. The charity has a strong senior leadership team with shared vision and commitment. Proactive appraisal and increased offer of professional development together with regular benchmarking of salaries. 

## GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 

## Appointment of trustees 

New trustees are elected to the Board by existing members. Annually, a third of the Board must retire and trustees may be eligible for re-election up to a maximum of nine years’ service. 

The Board regularly reviews the skills mix of the trustees and considers whether it adequately represents the community which it serves. Various methods are then adopted to identify and recruit potential trustees, if required. 

## Trustee induction and training 

All new trustees receive the support of staff and existing members of the Board during an induction period, as well as receiving key organisational documents. 

## Organisation and key management 

The Board is responsible for the strategic management of the charitable company and the setting of policy. It has ultimate responsibility and control of the charitable company which it exercises through quarterly meetings of the Board and a Finance Committee. The key 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Trustees’ annual report 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

management is considered to be the Chief Executive and the Executive Director. The Board sets the pay and remuneration of the Chief Executive, informed by a benchmarking exercise of industry peers. The Chief Executive sets the pay and remuneration of the Executive Director, based on industry peers. 

## Charity Governance Code 

The Board has adopted the Charity Governance Code for larger charities (the ‘Code’). The Code encourages charities to publish a short narrative in their annual report explaining their use of the Code. 

## Related parties 

The charitable company has a wholly owned subsidiary, Stratford East (Trading) Limited, which provides the bar and catering facilities at Stratford East. It has a dormant subsidiary Stratford East Productions Limited, which is to be used in the case of commercial productions. It also has a related charity, Theatre Workshop Trust, which owns the freehold of the Theatre. 

## Auditor 

Sayer Vincent LLP was re-appointed as the charitable company's auditor during the year and has expressed its willingness to continue in that capacity. 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

Trustees’ annual report 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES 

The trustees (who are also directors of Pioneer Theatres for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company or group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently 

- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 

- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements 

- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation 

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In so far as the trustees are aware: 

- There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware 

- The trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information 

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at year end 

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Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

Trustees’ annual report 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

date was 12 (2023: 12). The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity. 

The trustees’ annual report which includes the strategic report has been approved by the trustees on 18 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by 

Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP Chair 

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Independent auditor’s report 

## To the members of 

## Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Opinion 

We have audited the financial statements of Pioneer Theatres Limited (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the consolidated and parent charitable company statement of financial activities, the group and parent charitable company balance sheets, the consolidated statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion, the financial statements: 

- Give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of the group’s and parent charitable company’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended 

- Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 

- Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 

## Basis for opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the group financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## Conclusions relating to going concern 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Pioneer Theatres Limited’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

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Independent auditor’s report 

## To the members of 

## Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## Other Information 

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report other than the group financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the group financial statements does not cover the other information, and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the group financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the group financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

- The information given in the trustees’ annual report, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements 

- The trustees’ annual report, has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements 

## Matters on which we are required to report by exception 

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- Adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- The parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

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Independent auditor’s report 

## To the members of 

## Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

- Certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or 

- ● The trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ annual report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. 

## Responsibilities of trustees 

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 

We have been appointed auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and section 151 of the Charites Act 2011 and report in accordance with those Acts. 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below. 

19 



Independent auditor’s report 

To the members of 

## Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities 

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, 

including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following: 

- We enquired of management, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the group’s policies and procedures relating to: 

   - Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; 

   - Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud; 

   - The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or noncompliance with laws and regulations. 

- We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. 

- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the group operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the group from our professional and sector experience. 

- We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. 

- We reviewed any reports made to regulators. 

- We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. 

- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business. 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation.  This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. 

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

20 



Independent auditor’s report 

To the members of 

## Pioneer Theatres Limited (Theatre Royal Stratford East) 

## Use of our report 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Judith Miller (Senior statutory auditor) 

Date: 25 September 2024 for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG 

Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006 

21 



## Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Consolidated statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 

|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br><br>£<br>1,687,933<br>2,345,658<br>-<br>395,550|Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>67,155<br>-<br>-<br>-|2024<br>Total<br>Funds<br>£<br>1,755,088<br>2,345,658<br>-<br>395,550|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>1,890,366<br>1,749,461<br>170<br>262,071|Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>394,575<br>-<br>-<br>-|2023<br>Total<br>Funds<br>£<br>2,284,941<br>1,749,461<br>170<br>262,071|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|4,429,141|67,155|4,496,296|3,902,068|394,575|4,296,643|
|198,840<br>3,993,578<br>324,110|-<br>130,155<br>-|198,840<br>4,123,733<br>324,110|202,528<br>3,394,876<br>481,490|-<br>331,575<br>-|202,528<br>3,726,451<br>481,490|
|4,516,528|130,155|4,646,683|4,078,894|331,575|4,410,469|
|(87,387)<br>(1.00)|(63,000)<br>-|(150,387)<br>(1.00)|(176,826)<br>-|63,000<br>-|(113,826)<br>-|
|(87,388)<br>2,185,124|(63,000)<br>63,000|(150,388)<br>2,248,124|(176,826)<br>2,361,950|63,000<br>-|(113,826)<br>2,361,950|



All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 17 to the financial statements. 

22 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Company no. 00556251 

## Balance sheets 

## As at 31 March 2024 

|As at 31 March 2024<br>Balance sheets|As at 31 March 2024<br>Balance sheets|As at 31 March 2024<br>Balance sheets|Company no. 00556251|Company no. 00556251|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|2024<br>2023<br>Notes<br>£<br>£<br>Fixed assets:<br>10<br>533,580<br>543,889<br>11<br>-<br>-<br>533,580<br>543,889<br>Current assets:<br>15,493<br>11,211<br>13<br>777,519<br>560,776<br>1,345,466<br>1,866,509<br>2,138,478<br>2,438,496<br>Liabilities:<br>14<br>(574,322)<br>(696,760)<br>1,564,156<br>1,741,736<br>2,097,736<br>2,285,625<br>15<br>-<br>(37,501)<br>2,097,736<br>2,248,124<br>17a<br>-<br>63,000<br>1,293,323<br>1,436,115<br>789,472<br>781,561<br>14,941<br>(32,552)<br>Total unrestricted funds<br>2,097,736<br>2,185,124<br>2,097,736<br>2,248,124<br>Total funds<br>Investments<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>Tangible assets<br>Group<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within one year<br>Net current assets<br>Net assets<br>Creditors: amounts falling due after one year<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>Charitable funds<br>Non charitable trading surplus/(deficit)<br>Designated funds<br>Total assets less current liabilities<br>Stock of goods for resale<br>Debtors<br>Funds:<br>Restricted funds|||2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>523,323<br>536,115<br>2<br>2<br>523,325<br>536,117<br>-<br>-<br>836,722<br>642,365<br>1,243,718<br>1,772,016<br>2,080,440<br>2,414,381<br>(520,970)<br>(669,822)<br>1,559,470<br>1,744,559<br>2,082,795<br>2,280,676<br>-<br>-<br>2,082,795<br>2,280,676<br>-<br>63,000<br>1,293,323<br>1,436,115<br>789,472<br>781,561<br>-<br>-<br>2,082,795<br>2,217,676<br>2,082,795<br>2,280,676<br>Charity||
||533,580<br>15,493<br>777,519<br>1,345,466|543,889<br>11,211<br>560,776<br>1,866,509|523,325<br>-<br>836,722<br>1,243,718|536,117<br>-<br>642,365<br>1,772,016|
||2,138,478<br>(574,322)|2,438,496<br>(696,760)|2,080,440<br>(520,970)|2,414,381<br>(669,822)|
||1,564,156|1,741,736|1,559,470|1,744,559|
||2,097,736<br>-|2,285,625<br>(37,501)|2,082,795<br>-|2,280,676<br>-|
||2,097,736|2,248,124|2,082,795|2,280,676|
||-<br>1,293,323<br>789,472<br>14,941|63,000<br>1,436,115<br>781,561<br>(32,552)|-<br>1,293,323<br>789,472<br>-|63,000<br>1,436,115<br>781,561<br>-|
||2,097,736|2,185,124|2,082,795|2,217,676|
||2,097,736|2,248,124|2,082,795|2,280,676|



Approved by the trustees on 18 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by 

Dame Margaret Hodge 

Chair 

23 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Consolidated statement of cash flows 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

|Note<br>£<br>£<br>Net income for the reporting period<br>(150,387)<br>(as per the statement of financial activities)<br>Depreciation charges<br>57,885<br>(Increase)/decrease in stocks<br>(4,282)<br>(Increase)/decrease in debtors<br>(216,744)<br>Increase/(decrease) in creditors<br>(122,438)<br>Net cash provided by operating activities<br>(435,966)<br>-<br>(47,576)<br>-<br>(37,501)<br>(85,077)<br>(521,043)<br>1,866,509<br>a<br>1,345,466<br>Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Cash flows<br>£<br>£<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>a<br>Total cash and cash equivalents<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>Total<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year<br>Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year<br>2024<br>Cash flows from operating activities<br>Net cash (used in) investing activities<br>Cash flows from investing activities:<br>Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets<br>Purchase of fixed assets<br>Proceeds from sale of investments<br>Bank loans|Note<br>£<br>£<br>Net income for the reporting period<br>(150,387)<br>(as per the statement of financial activities)<br>Depreciation charges<br>57,885<br>(Increase)/decrease in stocks<br>(4,282)<br>(Increase)/decrease in debtors<br>(216,744)<br>Increase/(decrease) in creditors<br>(122,438)<br>Net cash provided by operating activities<br>(435,966)<br>-<br>(47,576)<br>-<br>(37,501)<br>(85,077)<br>(521,043)<br>1,866,509<br>a<br>1,345,466<br>Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Cash flows<br>£<br>£<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>a<br>Total cash and cash equivalents<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>Total<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year<br>Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year<br>2024<br>Cash flows from operating activities<br>Net cash (used in) investing activities<br>Cash flows from investing activities:<br>Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets<br>Purchase of fixed assets<br>Proceeds from sale of investments<br>Bank loans|Note<br>£<br>£<br>Net income for the reporting period<br>(150,387)<br>(as per the statement of financial activities)<br>Depreciation charges<br>57,885<br>(Increase)/decrease in stocks<br>(4,282)<br>(Increase)/decrease in debtors<br>(216,744)<br>Increase/(decrease) in creditors<br>(122,438)<br>Net cash provided by operating activities<br>(435,966)<br>-<br>(47,576)<br>-<br>(37,501)<br>(85,077)<br>(521,043)<br>1,866,509<br>a<br>1,345,466<br>Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Cash flows<br>£<br>£<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>a<br>Total cash and cash equivalents<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>Total<br>1,866,509<br>(521,043)<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year<br>Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year<br>2024<br>Cash flows from operating activities<br>Net cash (used in) investing activities<br>Cash flows from investing activities:<br>Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets<br>Purchase of fixed assets<br>Proceeds from sale of investments<br>Bank loans|£<br>£<br>(113,826)<br>63,453<br>(6,436)<br>(212,023)<br>(128,630)<br>(397,462)<br>-<br>(102,391)<br>-<br>(10,000)<br>(112,391)<br>(509,853)<br>2,376,362<br>1,866,509<br>Other non-<br>cash changes<br>At 31 March<br>2024<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>1,345,466<br>-<br>1,345,466<br>-<br>1,345,466<br>2023|£<br>£<br>(113,826)<br>63,453<br>(6,436)<br>(212,023)<br>(128,630)<br>(397,462)<br>-<br>(102,391)<br>-<br>(10,000)<br>(112,391)<br>(509,853)<br>2,376,362<br>1,866,509<br>Other non-<br>cash changes<br>At 31 March<br>2024<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>1,345,466<br>-<br>1,345,466<br>-<br>1,345,466<br>2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||(435,966)<br>(85,077)||(397,462)<br>(112,391)|
||At 1 April 2023<br>£<br>1,866,509||Other non-<br>cash changes<br>£<br>-||
|||(521,043)<br>1,866,509||(509,853)<br>2,376,362|
|||1,345,466||1,866,509|
|||Cash flows<br>£<br>(521,043)||At 31 March<br>2024<br>£<br>1,345,466|
||1,866,509|(521,043)|-|1,345,466|
||1,866,509|(521,043)|-|1,345,466|



24 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 March 2024 1 Accounting policies The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows: a) Basis of preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. b) Public benefit entity 

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. 

- c) Statutory information Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East”  is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address and principal place of business is Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note. 

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below. 

d) Consolidation 

The Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) and Balance Sheet consolidate the financial statements of the charitable company and its subsidiary, Stratford East (Trading) Limited. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis in accordance with FRS 102 - section 9 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - section 24. 

These financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly-owned subsidiary Stratford East (Trading) Limited on a line by line basis. Transactions and balances between the charity and its subsidiary have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Balances between the two entities are disclosed in the notes of the charity's balance sheet. 

Details of Stratford East (Trading) Limited are given in note 12 of the financial statements. 

A separate statement of financial activities for the Charitable Company has not been presented because the Charitable Company has taken advantage of the exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. 

e) Going concern Detailed financial projections have been prepared for the period of 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements which indicate that the charitable company and group will have sufficient financial resources to continue to be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The trustees have carefully considered these financial projections, level of funding and other matters relevant to TRSE and believe that it is appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis. 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 

- f) Incoming resources Incoming resources are included in the Statements of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. 

Income from theatre admission fees is included in incoming resources in the period in which the relevant performance takes place. Income related to productions or lettings in a subsequent period is treated as deferred income. 

Income from commercial activities is included in the period in which the group is entitled to receipt. 

Income from donations and grants, including capital grants, is included in incoming resources when these are receivable unless the donor has specified that the donation or grant relates to a future period or that certain pre-conditions must be fulfilled before use. In these cases amounts received are recognised in the relevant period or when the pre-conditions have been met and until then treated as deferred income. Donations and grants for particular purposes are included in incoming resources as restricted funds. 

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably. 

25 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

- 1 Accounting policies (continued) 

- f) Incoming resources (continued) Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. 

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met. 

g) Interest receivable Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. 

- h) Resources expended 

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. 

Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income to support the activity of the theatre, and costs incurred in commercial trading activities to raise funds. 

Charitable activity costs include all direct expenditure associated with the staging of productions and educational programmes together with support costs allocated to those activities. 

Support costs are the costs of central and administrative functions, which are allocated to activity cost categories on the basis of time spent by staff on those activities. Governance costs are those costs associated with the governance arrangement of the charitable company including costs associated with strategic management and constitutional and statutory requirements. 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings: 

- Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charity in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose, including costs incurred by the trading subsidiary. 

- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of running the theatre and its productions, and other educational activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs 

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. 

i) Cost of new productions The cost of materials, creative team fees and other related set up costs of a new production are carried forward and written off when the production is first performed to a fee paying audience. Ongoing labour and related production costs which occur throughout the life of the production are expensed as incurred. Where production set up costs have been incurred prior to the year end, but the production has not yet opened to the fee paying public, the set up costs are carried forward at the balance sheet date as deferred production costs until such time as the production opens. 

j) Allocation of support costs Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. Support and governance costs are re-allocated to each of the activities on the following basis which is an estimate, based on the direct costs per activity as a proportion of total direct costs, of the amount attributable to each activity 

- Raising funds 5% 

- Theatre costs 84%  Education & Workshops 11% 

k) Taxation The charitable company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph I Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charitable company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part II Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes. 

- l) Fixed asset investments 

The Statement of Recommended Practice requires investments to be stated at market value. The investment of the charitable company consists of the investment in the subsidiary, an unquoted company. The trustees consider it appropriate to include this investment at cost. See note 12 for more details. 

Investments in subsidiaries 

Investments in subsidiaries are at cost. 

26 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

- 1 Accounting policies (continued) m) Tangible fixed assets Individual fixed assets consisting of more than £2,000 are capitalised at cost. 

Tangible fixed assets are depreciated at rates calculated  to write off each asset over its anticipated useful life. The rates used are: 

- Computer equipment 4 years straight line basis 

- Furniture and Fittings 3 years straight line basis  Auditorium 20 years straight line basis  Production equipment 8 years straight line basis 

Assets in the course of construction are not depreciated until they are brought into use. 

Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Major components are treated as a separate asset where they have significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits and are depreciated separately over its useful life. 

- n) Stock 

Stock comprises catering and bar consumables for resale and is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.  In general, cost is determined on a first in first out basis and includes transport and handling costs.  Net realisable value is the price at which stocks can be sold in the normal course of business after allowing for the costs of realisation.  Provision is made where necessary for obsolete, slow moving and defective stocks.  Donated items of stock, held for distribution or resale, are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market. 

o) Debtors Debtors include amounts owed to the charity for the provision of goods and services or amounts the charity has paid in advance for the goods or services it will receive. Debtors are measured at their recoverable amount. 

Other debtors and prepayments are recognised at the settlement amount due. 

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. 

## p) Cash at bank and in hand 

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 

q) Creditors Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Other creditors and accruals are normally recognised at their settlement amount due. 

r) Financial instruments The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. 

- s) Fund accounting General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use a the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charitable company and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes. 

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charitable company for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. 

## t) Pension costs 

The theatre makes contributions to a defined contribution pension scheme, on behalf of eligible employees, at a rate determined by the trustees. 

- u) Operating leases 

Rental charges are charged against income on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. 

27 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

- 2 Income from donations and legacies 

|Income from donations and legacies|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|The Noel Coward Foundation<br>Rosetta Arts<br>Asper Good Causes Fund<br>Charles S French Trust<br>Devenshires Foundation<br>The Fenton Arts Trust<br>Bunbury Trust<br>Garrick Charitable Trust<br>The Childhood Trust<br>Trees of Memories<br>Foundation For Future London<br>Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation<br>Pinsent Masons Services<br>Discover - Newham Word Festival<br>New Wolsey Theatre<br>Idlewild Trust<br>Esmee Fairbairn Foundation<br>The John Thaw Foundation<br>- Theatre Enrichment Project<br>The National Lottery Community Fund<br>The National Lottery Heritage Fund<br>Jack Petchey Foundation<br>L&Q Place Makers<br>- Operating Fee<br>- Emergency and Cultural Recovery Grants<br>- Business Restart<br>London Borough of Newham<br>- Revenue grant<br>Arts Council of England<br>- Revenue Grant<br>Corporate and Individual donors|Unrestricted<br>£<br>1,125,847<br>-<br>256,000<br>90,658<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>4,703<br>3,000<br>8,000<br>5,000<br>1,000<br>4,000<br>2,000<br>5,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>182,725|Restricted<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>34,638<br>18,267<br>1,500<br>4,200<br>500<br>1,800<br>6,250<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|2024<br>Total<br>£<br>1,125,847<br>-<br>256,000<br>90,658<br>-<br>34,638<br>18,267<br>1,500<br>4,200<br>500<br>1,800<br>6,250<br>4,703<br>3,000<br>8,000<br>5,000<br>1,000<br>4,000<br>2,000<br>5,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>182,725|Unrestricted<br>£<br>1,125,847<br>58,327<br>256,000<br>233,789<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>6,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>209,403|Restricted<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>203,000<br>65,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,800<br>18,750<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>20,000<br>7,150<br>3,000<br>5,000<br>60,000<br>2,410<br>7,665<br>800<br>-|2023<br>Total<br>£<br>1,125,847<br>58,327<br>256,000<br>233,789<br>203,000<br>65,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,800<br>18,750<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>20,000<br>7,150<br>3,000<br>5,000<br>66,000<br>2,410<br>7,665<br>800<br>209,403|
||1,687,933|67,155|1,755,088|1,890,366|394,575|2,284,941|



Grants - Association of London Government and London Boroughs 

In accordance with sub-section 37(4) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, these grants have been fully utilised in accordance with the terms under which they were originally granted and have been fully expended on revenue items in the normal course of the charitable company's business. 

## 3 Income from charitable activities 

|Income from charitable activities|||
|---|---|---|
|Theatre<br>Box office receipts<br>Corporation tax rebate<br>Touring and co-productions<br>Front of house<br>Theatre hire<br>Royalties<br>Other income<br>Education and workshops<br>Total income from charitable activities|2024<br>Total<br>£<br>1,190,695<br>463,175<br>544,069<br>26,936<br>83,344<br>401<br>37,038<br>-|2023<br>Total<br>£<br>452,633<br>454,666<br>663,609<br>19,761<br>88,880<br>4,861<br>65,051<br>170|
||2,345,658|1,749,631|



All income from charitable activities is unrestricted. Other income includes £0 (2023: £9,726) received via the HMRC Job Retention Scheme. 

- 4 Income from other trading activities 

|Income from other trading activities|||
|---|---|---|
|Commercial Trading (note 12)|2024<br>Total<br>£<br>395,550|2023<br>Total<br>£<br>262,071|
||395,550|262,071|



All income from other trading activities is unrestricted. 

28 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

- 5a Analysis of expenditure (current year) 

|Staff costs (Note 7)<br>Theatre production freelance<br>Theatre production costs<br>Theatre running costs<br>Theatre fundraising costs<br>Press and publicity<br>Front of house costs<br>Education and workshops<br>Commercial trading<br>General office and administration<br>Depreciation<br>Audit fees and other related fees<br>Legal and professional fees<br>Board meeting expenses<br>Support costs<br>Governance costs<br>Total expenditure 2024<br>Total expenditure 2023|Raising funds<br>£<br>150,684<br>975<br>-<br>-<br>16,901<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>797<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Theatre costs<br>Education &<br>Workshops<br>£<br>£<br>1,599,293<br>178,210<br>63,814<br>63,937<br>1,042,502<br>-<br>150,054<br>(3,125)<br>-<br>-<br>133,188<br>4,430<br>74,475<br>93<br>-<br>37,269<br>347,725<br>-<br>101,238<br>10,239<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(15,000)<br>-<br>-<br>3,512,289<br>276,053<br>592,988<br>46,607<br>18,456<br>1,450<br>4,123,733<br>324,110<br>3,726,451<br>481,490<br>Charitable activities|Theatre costs<br>Education &<br>Workshops<br>£<br>£<br>1,599,293<br>178,210<br>63,814<br>63,937<br>1,042,502<br>-<br>150,054<br>(3,125)<br>-<br>-<br>133,188<br>4,430<br>74,475<br>93<br>-<br>37,269<br>347,725<br>-<br>101,238<br>10,239<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(15,000)<br>-<br>-<br>3,512,289<br>276,053<br>592,988<br>46,607<br>18,456<br>1,450<br>4,123,733<br>324,110<br>3,726,451<br>481,490<br>Charitable activities|Governance<br>costs<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>17,848<br>-<br>2,948|Support costs<br>£<br>362,729<br>9,495<br>-<br>2,500<br>-<br>56,029<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>152,604<br>55,106<br>-<br>29,725<br>-|2024 Total<br>£<br>2,290,916<br>138,221<br>1,042,502<br>149,429<br>16,901<br>193,647<br>74,568<br>37,269<br>347,725<br>264,878<br>55,106<br>17,848<br>14,725<br>2,948|2023 Total<br>£<br>2,062,455<br>197,263<br>1,052,539<br>181,207<br>29,242<br>228,272<br>68,638<br>34,899<br>248,126<br>199,909<br>62,401<br>26,095<br>18,785<br>638|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Theatre costs<br>£<br>1,599,293<br>63,814<br>1,042,502<br>150,054<br>-<br>133,188<br>74,475<br>-<br>347,725<br>101,238<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-||||||
||169,357<br>28,593<br>890|3,512,289<br>592,988<br>18,456|276,053<br>46,607<br>1,450<br>324,110|20,796<br>-<br>(20,796)|668,188<br>(668,188)<br>-|4,646,683<br>-<br>-|4,410,469|
||198,840|4,123,733||-|-|4,646,683|-<br>4,410,469|
||202,528|3,726,451|481,490|-|-|4,410,469||



29 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

5b Analysis of expenditure (prior year) 

## Charitable activities 

|Staff costs (Note 7)<br>Theatre production freelance<br>Theatre production costs<br>Theatre running costs<br>Theatre fundraising costs<br>Press and publicity<br>Front of house costs<br>Education and workshops<br>Commercial trading<br>General office and administration<br>Depreciation<br>Audit fees and other related fees<br>Legal and professional fees<br>Board meeting expenses<br>Support costs<br>Governance costs<br>Total expenditure 2023|Raising funds<br>£<br>131,556<br>10,900<br>-<br>-<br>29,242<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,824<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Theatre costs<br>£<br>1,325,277<br>86,614<br>1,052,539<br>166,415<br>-<br>150,953<br>67,835<br>-<br>248,126<br>95,003<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Education &<br>Workshops<br>£<br>262,745<br>68,204<br>-<br>14,792<br>-<br>1,882<br>803<br>34,899<br>-<br>14,208<br>-<br>-<br>15,000<br>-|Governance<br>costs<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>26,095<br>-<br>638|Support costs<br>£<br>342,877<br>31,545<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>75,437<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>88,874<br>62,401<br>-<br>3,785<br>-|2023 Total<br>£<br>2,062,455<br>197,263<br>1,052,539<br>181,207<br>29,242<br>228,272<br>68,638<br>34,899<br>248,126<br>199,909<br>62,401<br>26,095<br>18,785<br>638|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||173,522<br>27,778<br>1,228|3,192,762<br>511,102<br>22,587|412,533<br>66,039<br>2,918<br>481,490|26,734<br>-<br>(26,734)|604,919<br>(604,919)<br>-|4,410,469<br>-<br>-|
||202,528|3,726,451||-|-|4,410,469|



30 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

6 Net income / (expenditure) for the year 

||Group||
|---|---|---|
||2024|2023|
||£|£|
|This is stated after charging:|||
|Depreciation|57,885|63,453|
|Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):|||
|Audit (Group)|18,800|17,600|
|Other services|2,550|8,495|
|Operating lease costs|5,227|5,586|



7 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel Staff costs were as follows: 

|Staff costs were as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|Commercial trading<br>Salaries and wages<br>Non NI Salaries and wages<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs<br>Total employee costs<br>Total staff costs<br>Freelance staff|2024<br>£<br>1,374,893<br>703,756<br>157,699<br>54,568|2023<br>£<br>1,401,844<br>449,027<br>153,488<br>58,096|
||2,290,916|2,062,455|
||81,158<br>133,598|129,147<br>97,812|
||2,505,672|2,289,414|



The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between: 

|||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|---|
|||No.|No.|
|£70,000|- £80,000|1|-|
|£80,000|- £90,000|-|2|



No trustees received any remuneration or benefits in kind in their capacity as a trustee during the year (2023: none). 

No trustees had travel and subsistence expenses reimbursed in the year (2023: £Nil). 

The key management of the Charity comprise of the Trustees, the Executive Director and the Artistic Director. 

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £141,535 (2023: £163,911). 

## 8 Staff numbers 

The average weekly number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 99 (2023: 93). 

|Employee time has been allocated either;<br>Productions<br>Education<br>Fundraising<br>Press and Publicity<br>Support and Administration<br>Trading Activities|2024<br>No.<br>3<br>65<br>9<br>4<br>9<br>9|2023<br>No.<br>3<br>45<br>3<br>5<br>31<br>6|
|---|---|---|
||99|93|
||||



i) To direct costs on a percentage of the time spent by an employee on an activity ii) To support costs allocated on a percentage basis over all the costs 

31 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 9 Taxation 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.  The charity's trading subsidiary Stratford East (Trading) Limited distributes under Gift Aid available profits to the parent charity. Its charge to corporation tax in the year was: 

|10<br>As at 1 April 2023<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>At 31 March 2024<br>As at 1 April 2023<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>Disposals<br>Costs<br>Group<br>Charity<br>Net book value<br>Disposals<br>31 March 2024<br>1 April 2023<br>Costs<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Net book value<br>31 March 2024<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Depreciation<br>As at 1 April 2023<br>Charge for the year<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Depreciation<br>As at 1 April 2023<br>Charge for the year<br>1 April 2023<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>UK corporation tax at 19%|Equipment &<br>Furniture<br>£<br>461,868<br>4,790<br>-|2024<br>£<br>-|2023<br>£<br>-|
|---|---|---|---|
|||Building<br>Improvements<br>£<br>573,803<br>30,376<br>-|Total<br>£<br>1,035,671<br>35,166<br>-|
||466,658|604,179|1,070,837|
||334,750<br>38,438<br>(472)|157,032<br>19,447<br>(11,938)|491,782<br>57,885<br>(12,410)|
||372,716|164,541|537,257|
||93,942|439,638|533,580|
||127,118|416,771|543,889|
||Equipment &<br>Furniture<br>£<br>403,584<br>-<br>(471)|Building<br>Improvements<br>£<br>573,803<br>30,376<br>-|Total<br>£<br>977,387<br>30,376<br>(471)|
||403,113|604,179|1,007,292|
||284,240<br>35,659<br>(471)|157,032<br>19,447<br>(11,938)|441,272<br>55,106<br>(12,409)|
||319,428|164,541|483,969|
||83,685|439,638|523,323|
||119,344|416,771|536,115|



All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes. 

32 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

- 11 Investments 

|Investments|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Group||Charity||
||2024|2023|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|Shares in group undertakings|-|-|2|2|



- 12 Net income from the subsidiary trading activities 

The wholly owned trading subsidiary Stratford East (Trading) Limited, is a company registered in England and Wales. The company number is 03074042, and the registered office address is Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN. All activities have been consolidated on a line by line basis in the statement of financial activities. The trading company distributes its available taxable profits to the charitable company under gift aid. Stratford East (Trading) Limited provides the bar facilities at the Theatre Royal. 

The charity owns the entire issued share capital of 2 ordinary shares of £1 each. The trustees Dame Margaret Hodge, Martin Pilgrim, Joshua Garfield, Peter Wilson and Christopher Hird are also directors of the subsidiary. 

A summary of the trading results of the subsidiary is shown below: 

|A summary of the trading results of the subsidiary is shown below:|||
|---|---|---|
|Other income and bank interest<br>Cost of sales<br>Aggregate share capital and reserves<br>Total net liabilities<br>Net profit/(loss)<br>Administrative expenses<br>Retained in subsidiary<br>Fixed assets<br>Current assets<br>Long Term Liabilities<br>The aggregate of the assets, liabilities and reserves was:<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within one year<br>Turnover|2024<br>£<br>394,419<br>(240,825)<br>(107,232)|2023<br>£<br>261,723<br>(157,448)<br>(76,279)|
||46,362<br>1,131|27,996<br>348|
||47,493|28,344|
||10,227<br>124,316<br>(119,658)<br>0|7,744<br>111,144<br>(113,995)<br>(37,501)|
||14,885|(32,608)|
||14,885|(32,608)|



The charity also owns the entire issued share capital of 2 ordinary share of £1 of Stratford East Productions Limited, a company incorporated in England. The company number is 05369063, and the registered office address is Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN. Stratford East Productions Limited has been dormant throughout the year and given its immateriality has not been included in the consolidated accounts. 

## Parent charity 

The parent charity's gross income and the results for the year are disclosed as follows: 

||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Gross income|4,104,264|3,639,997|
|Result for the year|(197,881)|(142,170)|



33 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

|13<br>Other debtors<br>Amounts owed from group undertakings<br>Prepayments<br>Debtors<br>Accrued income<br>Trade debtors<br>Deferred production costs<br>Corporation tax<br>Total current debtors|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>122,265<br>54,507<br>-<br>-<br>55,968<br>17,172<br>9,931<br>8,780<br>30,700<br>29,944<br>62,978<br>38,300<br>495,677<br>412,073<br>777,519<br>560,776<br>Group|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>122,265<br>54,507<br>-<br>-<br>55,968<br>17,172<br>9,931<br>8,780<br>30,700<br>29,944<br>62,978<br>38,300<br>495,677<br>412,073<br>777,519<br>560,776<br>Group|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>117,427<br>49,562<br>66,276<br>87,057<br>55,968<br>4,294<br>9,016<br>21,238<br>29,380<br>29,841<br>62,978<br>38,300<br>495,677<br>412,073<br>836,722<br>642,365<br>Charity|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>117,427<br>49,562<br>66,276<br>87,057<br>55,968<br>4,294<br>9,016<br>21,238<br>29,380<br>29,841<br>62,978<br>38,300<br>495,677<br>412,073<br>836,722<br>642,365<br>Charity|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||777,519|560,776|836,722|642,365|



- 14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Trade creditors<br>Deferred income (note 16)<br>Taxation and social security<br>Other creditors<br>Accruals|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>139,679<br>124,104<br>38,880<br>45,783<br>146,525<br>105,837<br>153,460<br>263,949<br>95,778<br>157,087<br>574,322<br>696,760<br>Group||2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>126,104<br>123,256<br>37,282<br>37,290<br>134,874<br>105,566<br>135,616<br>255,553<br>87,094<br>148,157<br>520,970<br>669,822<br>Charity||
||574,322|696,760|520,970|669,822|



Included in other creditors above is an amount due in relation to pension schemes of £10,695 (2023: £2,314). 

- 15 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year 

|Creditors: amounts falling due after one year|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Bank loans|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>37,501<br>-<br>37,501<br>Group||2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>Charity||
||-|37,501|-|-|



Bank loans totalling £0 (2023: £37,501) are part of the government backed CBILS scheme.  The CIBLS Loan was interest free for a year and thereafter was charged at 2.7% above prime.  The loan was repayable in equal instalments of £833 per month and was repaid in full by March 2024. 

## 16 Deferred income 

Deferred income movements in the year were as follows: 

|Charity<br>Box office advance income<br>Future Events income|£<br>94,218<br>53,938<br>At 1 April<br>2023|£<br>(94,218)<br>(53,938)<br>Released in year|£<br>87,094<br>8,684<br>Deferred in year|£<br>87,094<br>8,684<br>At 31 March 2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||148,156|(148,156)|95,778|95,778|



34 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

17a Movements in funds (current year) 

|London Borough of Newham<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>Total restricted funds<br>Designated Funds<br>Fixed Assets<br>Building Fund<br>Operational Fund<br>Production Fund<br>Cultural Recovery Fund<br>Unrestricted general funds<br>Non-charitable trading<br>Esmee Fairbairn Foundation<br>Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation<br>The Noel Coward Foundation<br>Rosetta Arts<br>Total funds<br>Total unrestricted funds<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>Jack Petchey Foundation<br>Idlewild Trust<br>The National Lottery Heritage Fund<br>Restricted funds:<br>L&Q Place Makers|£<br>30,000<br>3,000<br>5,000<br>25,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>At 1 April 2023|£<br>34,638<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>18,267<br>1,500<br>1,800<br>4,200<br>500<br>6,250<br>Income &<br>gains|£<br>(64,638)<br>(3,000)<br>(5,000)<br>(25,000)<br>(18,267)<br>(1,500)<br>(1,800)<br>(4,200)<br>(500)<br>(6,250)<br>Expenditure &<br>losses|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>Transfers|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>At 31 March 2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||63,000|67,155|(130,155)|-|-|
||536,115<br>200,000<br>500,000<br>200,000<br>-|-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|(12,792)<br>(30,000)<br>-<br>(100,000)<br>-|523,323<br>170,000<br>500,000<br>100,000<br>-|
||1,436,115<br>781,561<br>(32,552)|-<br>4,033,591<br>395,550|-<br>(4,168,471)<br>(348,057)|(142,792)<br>142,791<br>-|1,293,323<br>789,472<br>14,941|
||2,185,124.00|4,429,141.00|(4,516,528.00)|(1.00)|2,097,736.00|
||2,248,124.00|4,496,296.00|(4,646,683.00)|(1.00)|2,097,736.00|



## Transfers between funds 

## Purposes of restricted funds 

London Borough of Newham funds of £34,638 was to support Every Child a Theatre Goer Enrichment Programme and specifically the panto: Jack and the Beanstalk. 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is to support the 140th Anniversary of Theatre Royal Stratford East, specifically to contribute to several projects:  Replacing the theatre's Upper Circle Safety Bar, Launch a Community Ambassadors Scheme, Stratford East Stories Film, Stratford East Through the Years exhibition and supporting a programme of events that celebrate it's history. 

The National Lottery Community fund grant of £1,500 was to support the Neighbourhood Table event:  A Free Community Lunch Celebrating Windrush. 

Jack Petchy Grant of £1,800 was used to deliver Hidden Voices, a programme of 30x2 hour midweekly workshop and mentoring sessions delivered by an experienced Session Practitioner. 

The Noel Coward Foundation grant of £4,200 was to support the project management costs for the Young Creatives Programme and the support of nine aspiring young creatives aged 18-25 over the cover of three months. 

L&Q Place Makers Grant of £6,250 was to support a new creative and cultural hub for Newham project at Stratford Youth Zone from 2021 to August 2023. 

Rosetta Arts grant for £500 was support for Organisational Stripend Cultural Producer Replacement. 

## Purposes of Designated funds 

The trustees have this year decided to be explicit in showing the designations in the accounts. The Fixed Assets  fund represents the net value of Fixed Assets at the end of March 2024. The Building Fund is allocated for the purpose of setting aside funds for essential major building repairs. 

The Operational Fund  represents the amount required to cover liabilities and operating costs in the event of an orderly wind-up of operations if that situation were to arise. 

The Production Fund  represents the amount required to cover costs of production to allow TRSE to plan for ambitious work on our main stage. 

35 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

17b Movements in funds (prior year) 

|London Borough of Newham<br>Total restricted funds<br>Production Fund<br>Unrestricted general funds<br>Non-charitable trading<br>New Wolsey Theatre<br>Total unrestricted funds<br>Restricted funds:<br>Total funds<br>Jack Petchey Foundation<br>Designated Funds:<br>Fixed Assets<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>Building Fund<br>Operational Fund<br>Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation<br>Cultural Recovery Fund<br>Foundation For Future London<br>L&Q Place Makers<br>Idlewild Trust<br>Esmee Fairbairn Foundation<br>The John Thaw Foundation<br>Pinsent Masons Services<br>Discover - Newham Word Festival|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>At 31 March 2022|£<br>20,000<br>268,000<br>7,150<br>1,800<br>3,000<br>18,750<br>5,000<br>60,000<br>2,410<br>7,665<br>800<br>Income &<br>gains|£<br>(20,000)<br>(238,000)<br>(7,150)<br>(1,800)<br>-<br>(18,750)<br>-<br>(35,000)<br>(2,410)<br>(7,665)<br>(800)<br>Expenditure &<br>losses|£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>Transfers|£<br>-<br>30,000<br>-<br>-<br>3,000<br>-<br>5,000<br>25,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>At 1 April 2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||-|394,575|(331,575)|-|63,000|
||504,000<br>200,000<br>500,000<br>300,000<br>-|-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|32,115<br>-<br>-<br>(100,000)<br>-|536,115<br>200,000<br>500,000<br>200,000<br>-|
||1,504,000<br>918,846<br>(60,896)|-<br>3,639,997<br>262,071|-<br>(3,845,167)<br>(233,727)|(67,885)<br>67,885<br>-|1,436,115<br>781,561<br>(32,552)|
||2,361,950|3,902,068|(4,078,894)|-|2,185,124|
||2,361,950|4,296,643|(4,410,469)|-|2,248,124|



## Transfers between funds 

Following discussion with The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation they agreed to the reclassification of their donation to support the work of the theatre in general, and the remaining unspent funds were moved from Restricted to Unrestricted. 

## Purposes of restricted funds 

Funds given by The Theatres Trust Foundation  were for re-opening the building safely following shut-down. 

The Garrick Theatre Trust  grant was to contribute to the costs of creative teams and Lighting Directors on productions. 

The New Wolsey Theatre  contributed £7,500 towards the cost of supporting the theatre's Agent For Change. 

The grant received from The Garfield Weston Foundation  was to pay for technical equipment, to fund Learning and Participation work, and to contribute to the costs of producing the 2021 pantomime. 

The purpose of theTate & Lyle  grant was to fund Learning and Participation online resources. 

The grant from The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation was for computers, laptops and IT equipment. 

The John Thaw Foundation provided funds to run our summer school, which was delivered online in 2021. 

The grant from the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation is to provide funding for the employment of Assistant Directors on future productions. 

Other funds listed as listed  above have been given to support the theatre's programmes of work with young people and the local community. 

36 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

- 18a Analysis of group net assets between funds (current year) 

|18a<br>Analysis of group net assets between funds (current year)||||
|---|---|---|---|
|18b<br>Net assets at 31 March 2024<br>Creditors amount falling due after more than one year<br>Current assets<br>Creditors amount falling due after more than one year<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year)<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>Current assets<br>Net assets at 31 March 2023|General<br>unrestricted<br>£<br>533,580<br>1,564,156<br>-|Restricted funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-|Total funds<br>£<br>533,580<br>1,564,156<br>-|
||2,097,736|-|2,097,736|
||General<br>unrestricted<br>£<br>543,889<br>1,678,736<br>(37,501)|Restricted funds<br>£<br>-<br>63,000<br>-|Total funds<br>£<br>543,889<br>1,741,736<br>(37,501)|
||2,185,124|63,000|2,248,124|



## 19 Operating lease commitments 

The group's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods: 

|Less than one year<br>One to five years<br>Over five years|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>1,851<br>2,124<br>3,740<br>531<br>-<br>-<br>5,591<br>2,655<br>Equipment|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>1,851<br>2,124<br>3,740<br>531<br>-<br>-<br>5,591<br>2,655<br>Equipment|
|---|---|---|
||5,591|2,655|



|The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is<br>periods:<br>Less than one year<br>One to five years<br>Over five years|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>531<br>2,124<br>-<br>531<br>-<br>-<br>531<br>2,655<br>as follows for each of the following<br>Equipment|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>531<br>2,124<br>-<br>531<br>-<br>-<br>531<br>2,655<br>as follows for each of the following<br>Equipment|
|---|---|---|
||531|2,655|



## 20 Capital commitments 

At the balance sheet date, the group had no capital commitments (2023: £nil ) in respect of development works. 

## 21 Future Commitments 

The charitable company entered into a 15 year lease with the Theatre Workshop Trust in September 2020; this is currently rent free. 

37 



Pioneer Theatres Limited Trading as “Theatre Royal Stratford East” 

Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 22 Legal charges 

There are no existing legal charges. 

- 23 Related party transactions 

Joshua Garfield (trustee) is a councillor for LB Newham who provide TRSE with funding during the year. 

The following trustees of the charity are also directors of the subsidiary, Stratford East Trading Limited: Joshua Garfield, Christopher Hird, Margaret Hodge and Martin Pilgrim 

There are no other related party transactions to disclose for 2024 (2023: none). 

- 24 Contingent assets or liabilities 

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital.  The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £10. 

38 

