Dawlish Amateur Repertory Company - Registered charity number 258203
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st August 2025
The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report, together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31st August 2025.
OUR PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
Our primary aim is to promote the advancement and improvement of general education in relation to all aspects of the art of drama and the development of public appreciation of such art, and to make occasional small donations to other charities established for other objects.
Dawlish Amateur Repertory Company is a voluntary organisation which owns, manages and operates the Shaftesbury Theatre in Dawlish, Devon. The Shaftesbury Theatre is a Victorian building which was converted to a theatre in 1959 and over the years has contributed much to the people of Dawlish, the surrounding area and its many visitors. It benefits the public by providing access to the performance of drama, music, dance, film and the visual arts at an affordable cost, that they would otherwise have to travel further afield to find.
The Trustees have had due regard to the charity commission’s public benefit guidance and are confident that the main activities of the Charity, which are summarised later in this report, further its charitable purposes for the public benefit.
ACTIVITIES IN 2024/25
Stage performances
Our usual core activities are the presentation of a season of plays and a pantomime. These productions continue to be popular and we endeavour to present a balanced programme with as much variety as possible. We recognise the importance of reaching out to a wider audience and of presenting educational and challenging productions from time to time. The annual season runs from October each year and in 2024/25 we presented a full season of shows comprising five plays and a pantomime.
Youth group
We are delighted that our Youth Group has continued to flourish. Sessions are normally held once a week during term time and are well attended. The group is open to anyone of secondary school age. All leaders have current DBS checks and are trained as Chaperones by Devon County Council.
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Theatre hire
We hire out the Shaftesbury Theatre both to local organisations and for visiting touring shows and in 2024/25 there was a healthy level of demand for this. The hirers of the theatre included Dawlish Musical Theatre Company, Our Star Theatre Company and various tribute acts.
Cinema
We normally show at least one film a month, mainly under the auspices of the Teignmouth Film Society which now presents its films at the Shaftesbury Theatre. We also have started our own series of afternoon films which is proving to be increasingly popular. There is a wide screen that fills the front of the stage and which has surround sound speakers. We aim to present an authentic cinema atmosphere at a price and in a local venue which enables our audiences to enjoy films that they otherwise would not be able to see without travelling further afield. Dawlish does not otherwise have a dedicated cinema.
FINANCE
Income and expenditure
The Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st August 2025 showed total income of £72,463, compared with total income of £70,471 in the previous year.
There was a net profit for the year of £2,506 compared with a loss of £11,066 in 2023/24.
The Trustees continue to monitor and review costs, while endeavouring to maintain the fabric of the building to as high a standard as possible for the benefit of our patrons and hirers. The theatre building is our principal asset and continues to be our main expense. We take our responsibility for protecting, maintaining and enhancing the Shaftesbury Theatre very seriously and most of our income is used for the benefit of the theatre.
Assets and Liabilities
As at 31st August 2025 the net book value of the freehold property, fixtures and fittings was £427,879 (2024: £443,697), and the value of cash and investments was £127,646 (2024: £106,855). The Charity has no debts other than those relating to routine trade creditors. We are pleased that after what has been a difficult few years for all theatres our finances continue to be in a healthy position.
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the Charity to maintain unrestricted cash funds of at least £10,000 to enable the charity to continue to operate in the event of unforeseen fluctuations in income.
Community support and sponsorship
In terms of support from the community, although the theatre is normally self-sustaining, we are grateful for assistance from the local and district councils whenever they are able to support us in specific activities. We recognise that while the Arts is not a primary
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service for the councils, whose finances are under increasing pressure, we provide a key role in delivering accessible arts and drama to Dawlish and the surrounding area, which is greatly valued by the people we serve.
Many local businesses advertise in our programmes and this not only generates much needed funds but helps us to keep down the cost of the programmes for our patrons. We are very grateful to the owners of these businesses and are always looking for innovative ways of increasing our association with them.
STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
The Charity is an Association which is governed by a constitution adopted in April 1970, and amended both in November 2018 and November 2022.
Management
The operational management of the theatre continues to take a large amount of time for a small group of people dedicated to the management, maintenance and operation of the theatre, both for the Repertory Company productions and for the use of other groups.
The committee of Trustees normally comprises a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary and a treasurer, with up to 6 other members. They are elected by the full members of the Company present at the Annual General Meeting, which is open to all paid up members of the Company.
All the people involved give their time freely and voluntarily. The Company could not continue its work without their efforts and we are most grateful to them.
Principal address: Shaftesbury Theatre Brunswick Place Dawlish Devon EX7 9PB
Trustees
The Trustees who served during the year ended 31st August 2024 were as follows. Unless otherwise stated, the Trustees served throughout that period.
Alan Smith (to 19.2.25) Peter Macklin (to 25.2.25) Alan Paine Sophie Brimacombe Marilyn Brimacombe Jennifer Robbins (to 5.11.24) Tommy Mitchell (to 4.6.24) Margaret Swift Charlotte Ewart
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Patricia Angove (to 5.11.24) Sarah Goldsworthy (from 6.11.24) Tony Drinkall (from 19.3.25) Chris Matanle-Mockridge (from 6.11.24)
FUTURE PROSPECTS
We have a full programme of both our own and outside productions in place for 2025/26 and we look forward to what we hope will be another successful year.
Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees of Dawlish Amateur Repertory Company
................................................. Alan Paine, Treasurer
Date:.............26/06/2026............................
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DAWLISH AMATEUR REPERTORY COMPANY
(Registered Charity No. 258203)
Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
DAWLISH REPERTORY COMPANY
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2025
| REPERTORY COMPANY Productions Box Office - Season Tickets Box Office - Seats Programme Sales Income from productions Less: Expenses Costumes Posters and banners Programmes Properties Royalties Scripts Set and décor Sound and lighting Production expenses Net income from productions Other income Subscriptions - general Ice Cream Sales Programme advertising Bank interest Wardrobe Donations and legacies Raffles Other fundraising Insurance claim for loss of profits Total other income Other expenses Postage Printing and stationery Ice creams |
2023/24 £ £ £ £ 2,270 2,424 26,760 24,113 634 703 29,664 27,240 708 445 1,823 991 909 857 333 340 1,403 1,618 730 669 454 531 1,316 1,642 7,676 7,093 21,988 20,147 1,780 1,488 3,382 2,843 870 700 4,181 4,534 27 615 5,283 7,796 663 503 - - - - 16,186 18,479 33 90 131 36 1,405 1,439 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 708 1,823 909 333 1,403 730 454 1,316 |
|
| Depreciation Bank, Ticketsource and credit card charges Donations and gifts Independent Examiner Website General marketing First aid training Membership system Refreshments Sound and lighting contract Room hire Sundry expenses Total other expenses Repertory Company net income SHAFTESBURY THEATRE Income Rent from outside hirers Cinema income Sale of equipment Gross income Less: Expenses Insurance Cleaning Equipment maintenance and replacement Follow spots & haze Sound desk Other Building maintenance Other Safety checks Gas and electricity Water Rates Telephone Licences (General) Fees re property registration Waste disposal Cinema costs |
1,698 1,638 3,127 |
8,250 8,361 2,015 1,631 20 - 230 220 482 311 285 87 - - 651 287 69 577 9,000 4,500 462 573 82 253 23,115 18,365 15,059 20,261 2023/24 £ £ £ £ 8,865 10,600 3,294 788 - 115 12,159 11,503 4,625 4,138 3,211 3,149 6,463 14,471 332 11,096 5,448 1,387 7,492 9,359 308 2,499 105 62 867 854 709 381 - - 1,450 1,448 1,231 363 2024/25 |
8,361 1,631 - 220 311 87 - 287 577 4,500 573 253 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18,365 | |||
| 20,261 | |||
| 332 | |||
| Total expenses Shaftesbury Theatre net expenditure BAR Sales Cost of sales Opening stock 2,095 Purchases 6,795 8,890 Less closing stock 2,200 Cost of sales Gross profit Less: Expenses Depreciation 59 Credit card charges 176 Other costs - Bar net profit EXCESS/(DEFICIT) OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE |
2,095 6,795 |
32,241 20,082 - 14,454 1,612 6,803 8,415 2,095 6,690 7,764 53.7% 78 146 328 235 7,529 2,506 |
49,207 37,704 - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13,249 6,320 |
|||
| 8,890 2,200 |
|||
| 59 176 - |
|||
| 6,929 52.3% 552 |
|||
| 6,377 | |||
| 11,066 - |
Dawlish Repertory Company Consolidated balance sheet as at 31 August 2025
| 31/08/2025 31/08/2024 Note Total Company/ Theatre Bar Total £ £ £ £ Fixed assets Company equipment 62,183 62,183 - 69,001 Theatre fixtures, fittings and equipment 31,619 31,619 - 31,619 Bar equipment - - - - Freehold Property 334,077 334,077 - 334,077 427,879 427,879 - 434,697 Current assets Stocks 1,850 - 1,850 2,095 Debtors and prepayments 116 116 - 2,220 Bank - current accounts 31,733 18,145 13,588 15,123 - deposit account: contingency fun 95,362 95,362 - 91,181 - deposit account: development fu 1 1 - 1 Cash in hand 550 50 500 550 129,612 113,674 15,938 111,170 Current liabilities Creditors 9,884 9,375 509 766 9,884 9,375 509 766 Net assets 547,607 532,178 15,429 545,101 Accumulated fund Opening balance 545,101 Profit for the year 2,506 Closing balance 547,607 |
31/08/2025 | 31/08/2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Company/ Theatre Bar £ £ £ |
Total £ |
|
| 62,183 62,183 - 69,001 31,619 31,619 - 31,619 - - - - 334,077 334,077 - 334,077 |
||
| 427,879 427,879 - 434,697 |
||
| 129,612 113,674 15,938 111,170 |
||
| 9,884 9,375 509 766 |
||
| 9,884 9,375 509 766 |
||
| 547,607 532,178 15,429 545,101 |
||
| 545,101 2,506 547,607 |
DAWLISH REPERTORY COMPANY Accounts to the year ended 31 August 2026 EXAMINER'S REPORT I have examined the Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025 together wtth the attached Income & Expenditure Account for the year ended on that date, 3nd hereby certify that they ha¥e been correctly prepared in accordan with the b(N)ks, records. vouchers and explanations fumished to me by the Treasurer. Signed Date