AGENDA 5 - NVT CHAIR’s REPORT
This has been another good year for the NVT. The 78[th] Season saw good audience numbers and positive feedback on the quality of the productions. The work on the roof over the dressing room area was completed and the water damage was not too bad. Over the summer the front porch area roof was repaired to eliminate leaks in the Studio Ops Box. Many thanks to Peter who oversaw both major repairs.
Also over the summer stage curtains were installed in the Upstairs Theatre and were used for the first time in Kill Local. Many thanks to Katie and Peter who were the driving force behind the installation of these curtains.
During the year we have had some vacant roles taken up, this has made for a smoother running of those areas of the theatre. Thanks to those who have taken these on and we look forward to you continuing.
One issue which caused some disquiet was the changes made to the Acting Class. This will be discussed at the AGM, so I will not revisit it here, and hopefully all will be resolved.
Overall, another good year for the NVT and the current season has started well with good feedback from the audiences for our first two productions. We look forward to the rest of another enjoyable season.
Ian Black, Chair
AGENDA 6 - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’s REPORT
When I think back to last season, I am pleased to say that we have continued the trend of selling out. Audiences continue to realise that they need to buy a ticket early because it is generally accepted that the plays are going to be of a high standard. The season started in October with Salome directed by Natasha Higdon. This was an unusual production for us and provoked a “Marmite” reaction. However, I know that Natasha welcomed the feedback she received. I heard a whole range of reactions from the worst to someone telling me that they had decided to join because they loved it so much and thought it was one of the best things they had seen! If we want a dramatic piece to encourage reflection, discussion, aesthetic appreciation, empathy, awareness and an emotional response then Salome surely fulfilled this brief.
Mixie, directed by Rod Lewis in November, explored the topsy-turvy life of The Bicks and was played in the studio space. This was another play which caused a lot of
discussion and thought and gave another opportunity for some movement-only roles. Following on in December we saw the dark comedy Rules for Living directed by Martin Malone, which explored what happens when a family follows their own individual rules when gathered for a traditional Christmas.
In the new year Steven O’Shea directed his own paired down version of Macbeth and was followed in February by inviting the audience into The Incident Room , directed by Richard Lindfield, to watch the pressure mounting as police attempt to catch The Yorkshire Ripper.
March brought us the funny and achingly sad three-hander, and my personal favourite of the season, The Approach directed by Mark Wilson. I have been told that this was a “more of a play for women”, which I can understand but I would urge anyone to go back and read the script, which has beautiful twists and deals with the universal topics of rage, betrayal, loss and longing. It required the audience to listen to what was said but even more perhaps to what was left unsaid.
Gerry McCrudden chose to direct the largest cast of the season with Heresy of Love . In this play, set in the 1600’s in a convent in Mexico, a gifted and progressive writer finds herself at the centre of a battle of ideas when the new misogynist Archbishop takes up his position. Sister Juan Ines de la Cruz is still a symbol of Mexican nationalism and women’s rights to this day. Another play which has promoted debate amongst our audiences.
When Jerry Lyne arranged his auditions for Ghosts , which was our May production, I don't think he was expecting more than 40 people to audition. It seems that we are not only breaking records with audience numbers but also with auditionee numbers. A wide choice of actors can only help to raise the overall standard of the production. It was interesting to see how popular a classic still is both with audiences and actors. In June the dreamlike Eurydice was directed by Sam Chittenden, which invited us to enter the underworld and to think about love, grief, memory and the spaces between waking and sleep, life and death. This was a truly magical production.
The season ended i n July with a series of Shorts. Five plays, five Directors new to NVT, which allowed potential Directors to try their hand with the view to moving on to direct a full length play in the future. This is how we stop our pool of Directors from stagnating, support people and help them to navigate the systems in place at NVT when directing and open up opportunity to fresh talent. In turn they can see if this is something that they would like to do in the future and have a much better understanding of what the task of directing involves. Indeed, from the last set of Shorts we have three Directors in this year’s season directing full length plays.
It has become a tradition of mine to draw attention to the supporting roles which have to be filled in order to put on each play. Last season there were 14 Directors and 87 actors played roles of which 46 were female and 41 male. However, the often unsung heroes of the season are all the other people who did the 325 jobs to enable these plays to go on. If we then add to that number, the box office and bar staff we need for every night that number then becomes 645. I would like to say thank you to them. Without someone getting on and doing these jobs we wouldn’t have, to name but a few, a set, lighting, sound, a poster, a programme, publicity, a costume to wear, a ticket to buy or a drink in the interval. Our success is due largely to not only having good directors and casts but also to the amazingly good support teams and the good will of so many of our members to want to help.
on a conversation I had in the bar after a recent show To finish I would like to reflect when I was told that there was no point in putting a play forward to direct at NVT because it is “a closed shop and they only put their friends in”. Briefly the way the process happens is this. From November onwards the window to propose to direct opens and the form is located on the website. The script and application are read by the Artistic team, which is made up of 7 people. We meet regularly and juggle all the information. Some of the things to be considered -
Where the play is to be played (main house or studio), When the Director is available
Number in cast, range of males and females
Nature of play
Complexity of set
Lighting demands
Budget
By the end of February, the window for applications closes and we spend March deciding on the plays for the season. This is done as a vote from the team. Obviously, I take ultimate responsibility for the season choices but it is not done as suggested in the conversation I mentioned earlier. My main aim is to have a season which may challenge and have an element or two of risk but which will also have variety, give opportunity to new people and which will continue to maintain our high standards and financial status thus, enabling us to continue to have this wonderful facility.
I am, as always, grateful to have the NVT in my life. It is a privilege to work with so many talented and dedicated people who want, as I do, to make sure that NVT is a happy place where we want to come and volunteer. Once again, I thank the Officers, Role holders and the many members who give their personal support to me.
Katie Brownings, Artistic Director
NEW VENTURE PRODUCTIONS New Venture Theatre Bedford Place Brighton BN1 2PT
Financial Statements For the year ended 31 August 2025
Charity Registration Number: 268607
INDEX
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Income & Expenditure Account year ending 31 August 2025
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Statement of Assets & liabilities including Reserves Policy 31 August 2025
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Financial review and commentary year ending 31 August 2025
New Venture Productions Financial Statements for the year ending 31 August 2025
Page 1 of 5
Income & Expenditure Account year ending 31 August 2025
| INCOME Ticket sales Bar and Programme sales Membership subscriptions Donations and Bequests Youth / Young Adult Theatre and Acting classes Fundraising events Interest received Other Income Total Income EXPENDITURE Building running costs and maintenance Office and General Adninistration Expenses Development and improvements NVYT and Acting class teaching costs Subscriptions and Insurance Production and Associated costs Bar Stock Total Expenditure Net Surplus / Deficit Refurbishment costs funded from dedicated reserves - South Wall Windows Replacement Reconciliation of Funds Total Funds b/fwd 1 September Net change in year Total Funds c/fwd 31 August |
2025 £ 60,601 33,184 5,535 11,482 2,779 1,422 1,778 690 |
2025 £ 60,601 33,184 5,535 11,482 2,779 1,422 1,778 690 |
2024 £ 59,079 32,173 4,670 2,936 2,245 1,927 1,815 4,580 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £117,471 | £109,425 | ||
| 68,235 3,626 10,398 1,364 2,418 22,489 15,278 |
26,564 3,083 10,521 2,210 11,340 19,508 16,101 |
||
| £123,808 | £89,327 | ||
| -6,337 | 20,097 -2,305 |
||
| -6,337 | 17,792 | ||
| 113,198 -6,337 |
95,406 17,792 |
||
| £106,861 | £113,198 |
New Venture Productions Financial Statements for the year ending 31 August 2025
Page 2 of 5
Assets & Liabilities including Reserves Policy at 31 August 2025
| FIXED ASSETS New Venture Theatre, Brighton Grade 2 Listed Building - insurance value CURRENT ASSETS Bank Current Account General Deposit Account Fixed Term Deposit 32 Day Notice Deposit Deposit re Stage curtains PayPal Account Total Other Prepaid Performance Rights Cash Float TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS Less CURRENT LIABILITIES NET CURRENT ASSETS Liquid Reserves Iliquid Reserves - Grade 2 Listed Building |
2025 £ |
2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| £2,441,483 | £2,441,483 | ||
| 8,930 38,091 32,202 20,874 5,006 1,758 __ 106,861 6,781 580 ___ 114,222 0 |
17,906 42,705 31,285 20,405 0 897 ___ 113,198 5,712 580 ____ 119,490 0 |
||
| £114,222 | £119,490 | ||
| 114,222 2,441,483 |
119,490 2,441,483 |
||
| £2,555,705 | £2,560,973 |
RESERVES STATEMENT
The trustees aim to maintain general deposit account balances at a reasonable level as a reserve for ongoing building and theatre repairs and upgrades.
NOTE
New Venture Productions accounts on a cash basis recording revenue when money is received and expenses when money is paid out. Therefore, no adjustments have been made to account for when revenue is earned and expenses are incurred.
New Venture Productions Financial Statements for the year ending 31 August 2025
Page 3 of 5
Financial review and commentary year ending 31 August 2025
Overview
The year ending 31 August 2025 proved to be a successful year for the New Venture Theatre (“NVT”) with a healthy level of ticket and bar sales together with ad hoc income. This enabled NVT to undertake significant and necessary maintenance work to the roof of the theatre building together with exterior painting to the front of the building. These extensive works were funded from income and reserves resulting in a small excess of expenditure over income of £6,337 funded from NVT’s reserves.
NVT welcomed a donation of £10,000 which is being used by NVT to install stage curtains in the Main Theatre. It is anticipated that the installation will be complete for NVT’s November 2025 production.
Income
Income for the year to 31 August 2024 totalled £117,471 (2024: £109,425).
Ticket sales
Ticket prices were not increased in the year ending 31 August 2024. NVT achieved an average 96% capacity across NVT’s ten productions in the 2024/25 season.
Bar and Programme sales
The bar and programme sales remain encouraging. Bar prices were reviewed throughout the year to ensure that standard margins were maintained.
Membership subscriptions
Membership renewals and new subscriptions showed an increase of 18.5% on the year ending 31 August 2023.
Donations and Bequests
NVT received a donation of £10,000 together with smaller donations, totalling £1,431, throughout the year.
Acting classes
The Acting Class has maintained good attendance levels throughout the year. External teacher fees were more than funded by the class fees received.
Fundraising Events
Four fundraising events took place in the year ending 31 August 2025, two Fish and Chip Supper Quiz nights, a Ghost Stories evening and a display by one of NVT’s set designers of set models.
Interest Received
A new deposit account was opened to hold the donation towards the Stage curtains. This is in addition to the instant access General Deposit account, the Fixed Term Deposit account and the 32 Day Notice account.
New Venture Productions Financial Statements for the year ending 31 August 2025
Page 4 of 5
Other Income
Other income comprised sundry fees for use of the NVT building and money received from the sale of a saw no longer required in the NVT workshop.
Expenditure
Day to day expenditure for the year to 31 August 2024 totalled £123,808 (2024: £89,327).
Building running costs and maintenance
Building running costs and maintenance totalled £68,235 (2023: £26,564). £40,752 related to the maintenance and repair of the theatre roof and painting the upper part of the front of the theatre building and £2,471 for upgrading the theatre’s boiler and central heating system. The remainder relates to day to running costs and ongoing maintenance of the theatre building.
Office and General Administration
Office and General Administration costs have increased because of the introduction of a biannual newsletter and more generally price increases for office stationery, printer ink and theatre supplies.
Development and improvements
During the year ending 31 August 2025 NVT had a new flat store built for the Studio, purchased additional lights and workshop tools and paid 50% of the cost of the new Stage curtains, the balance to be paid in October 2025.
Acting class teaching costs
See the comments at Income above.
Subscriptions and Insurance
NVT changed insurers with effect from November 2024. The new policy is a more bespoke policy for amateur theatres. This change resulted in a material refund from the previous insurer and the ability to pay by monthly direct debit. As NVT accounts on a cash basis the change in arrangements has had a material impact on the insurance cost in this financial year.
Production and Associated costs
Production and Associated costs (printing, rights and licences, workshop costs) reflect the level of activity and good capacity in respect of the ten productions staged in the year ending 31 August 2025. Production programs and flyers were printed externally rather than in house for the whole year.
Bar Stock
NVT continues with careful monitoring of stock selling prices and bar margins, against a background of ongoing supplier price increases.
New Venture Productions Financial Statements for the year ending 31 August 2025
Page 5 of 5
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinef s Report Report to the trustees1 members of On accounts for the year ended iknsT 2oLS" Charty no Irf any) Sel out on yges I report to the trustees on nry examinatK)n of the xcounts ol the above charity {Ihe Trust"} for thè yEar ended - , l e'41- Responslbllftles and A5 the charity trustees of the Trust. you are resF4)nsible for the PTeparatbJn basls of report of the aLuunts in accordance wrth the requironwnts of tho Charth'8s Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of rry examinatwjn of the Trust's accounts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have follow•J the applicable Direction$ given by the Char ComnissiDn under sectKJn 14515llbl 01 the Act. I have CoMpted ry examination. I confimi Ihat no mterial matters have come to rrry attentkin tto tl814Joclo 1)•l•w.'l in connection wrth Ihe exanmnation whth gives me Cause to boli8ve that in, any materbal respect.. a¢countwig records wern not kept in accordanc4 NMth section 130 of the Act or the acccunts do rnt accord i#i the aCUnting records Independent examlnèrfs statement I have no concems ar#Y have co across no other matters in cOnnectn with the examinath)n to which attention should be drawn fft order lo enable proper understanding of the a¢courrts to be reac1d. . Plèase delete th8 in Ihe bTrckets rf they (k) not apply. Slgn•d: Date: Narne: Relevant professlonal quallflcatlon{sl or body {Ff any): o Q ACL(lL, Address: IER October 2018
Sectlon B Disclosu only complete If the examiner needs lo highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independenl exaffonatM)n of charity accounts: difyctions and guilance lor exaryuners). Glve here brief detalls of any Items that the examlner she9 to dlsclose. KJoQlu to trpp IER October 2018