Sewell Barn Theatre Trust Fund Registered Charity number 277724 Year ended 31 August 2023
Charity name The Sewell Barn Theatre Trust Fund other names the charity is known by Friends of the Sewell Barn Theatre (working name) Sewell Barn Theatre Society (working name)
Charity’s principal address
Sewell Barn Theatre Constitution Hill Norwich NR3 4BB
Website www.sewellbarn.org
Charity Trustees
Mrs June Gentle Mr Stephen Gidney Mr John Holden Mr Andrew Howard Mrs Waltraud Jarrold Mr Robert Little Ms Shelagh Maple Major Jonathan Redding
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The Sewell Barn Theatre Trust Fund is constituted as an arts and music trust with the Charity Commission. under Charity number 277724. It is governed by a Trust Deed dated 26 February 1979.
Organisation Structure
The Charity Trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. The Trustees have made provision for the day to day management of the Theatre and the control of finance to be carried out by a Committee, in conjunction with the Trustees. Substantial expenditure on the fabric, furniture or fittings of the Theatre is subject to prior written approval by the Trustees
Risk Management
The Trustees have assessed the risks the Charity faces and have implemented systems to mitigate these. The Trustees are satisfied that systems are in place or arrangements are in hand, to manage the risks that have been identified. In particular, insurance cover is in place and the finances are kept under regular review.
Objectives and Activities
The Charity aims to advance the education of the pupils of the Sewell Park Academy (formerly Blyth Jex School) and of the inhabitants of Norwich and surrounding area in the arts by maintaining a theatre for the exhibition of plays, cinematograph films, concerts, meetings and lectures.
The Trustees have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have complied with their duties as detailed in the Charities Act 2011 with regard to public benefit. Careful consideration has been given to the accessibility of the Charity to as wide a community as possible. Reduced price admission to all plays in the regular season is offered for concessions and students are offered a further discount for one performance of each play.
Achievements and Performance - the 2022/23 season The Welkin Betrayal Queers Still Life and Red Peppers Di, Viv and Rose A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Cemetery Club
The season began with The Welkin by Lucy Kirkwood, followed by Betrayal by Harold Pinter. Queers curated by Mark Gatiss came after Christmas, followed by Still Life and Red Peppers by Noel Coward,. Di and Viv and Rose by Amelia Bullmore and then Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream . The season finished with The Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell.
An average of 70 seats were available for each performance in the 7-show season and average attendance was a very commendable 54% varying between 73% for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and 37% for Betrayal, making the season a success both artistically and financially.
Up-to-date information about the Theatre is available on the website (www.sewellbarn.org) and The Barn can be regularly followed on Facebook and Twitter.
Financial Review
In view of the continuing and uncertain nature of the post-Covid audience attendance, and a large increase in the cost of utilities for the costume store, a net surplus of £10,200 above budget. is very pleasing. This was achieved by a surplus of £7,000 in income, and costs for the year being £3,000 less than budgeted.
We are delighted to acknowledge a generous legacy of £6,000, together with continued sponsorship from Norfolk Gin.
Routine technical maintenance has been undertaken as the season progressed.
Looking ahead to 2023/24, we are expecting costs to continue to rise significantly and so we have increased seat prices by a further £1. Income may be unpredictable for the year as the cost of living continues to escalate. We will be closely monitoring all income and expenditure, but especially the ongoing costs of utilities for the costume store. We are budgeting to break even on the season
Bankers
Lloyds Bank plc, Gentleman’s Walk, Norwich
Independent Examiner
Crispin de Boos
The White House, Sandfield Lane, Eccles, Norwich NR16 2PB
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity Trustees
R Little (Chair) date 2 October 2023
SEWELL BARN THEATRE TRUST FUND
05/10/2023
Year ended 31 August 2023 STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENDITURE
| 2021/22 actual restricted designated unrestricted total INCOME 22,733 Production income 31,849 31,849 7,440 Bar/ices income 9,302 9,302 265 Subscriptions 225 225 793 Costume & venue hire 15 15 - Interest gross 0 0 125 Miscellaneous income 82 82 - Gift Aid 0 0 4,775 Grants sponsorship & donations 396 0 396 - Lighting project & FOH 0 0 - legacies 6,000 6,000 - income for last year 0 0 140 income for next year 70 70 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 36,270 TOTAL INCOME 0 6,396 41,542 47,938 EXPENDITURE restricted designated unrestricted total 2,713 Production expenses 3,466 3,466 2,343 Publicity 1,774 1,774 3,913 Bar costs 5,115 5,115 - Royalties 72 72 8,778 Ropemaker's rent rates insurance L & H 8,898 8,898 385 Room hire 625 625 651 Post stationery copying 191 191 297 Telephone 327 327 348 Licences & memberships 368 368 - Audit fee 60 60 2,197 Insurance - Sewell Barn 2,663 2,663 1,993 Repairs & maintenance 2,104 2,104 - H&S & training 0 0 96 Sundry 331 331 600 Equipment 0 0 273 273 10 expenses for last year 123 123 4,946 expenses for next year,royalties 4,859 4,859 1,000 Wardrobe upgrade 385 385 - Technical upgrades & FOH 0 0 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 30,269 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 385 0 31,249 31,634 6,991 net income(expenditure) (385) 6,396 10,293 16,304 transfers between funds (385) 6,396 10,293 16,304 CASH RESOURCES restricted designated unrestricted total cash at bank 1 September 2022 1,405 3,150 47,318 51,873 CASH FUNDS to date / at 31 August 2023 (1) 51,873 Lloyds bank 1,020 9,546 57,611 68,176 - Lloyds deposit - cash in hand 0 51,873 68,176 Notes (1) Funds analysis b/f received paid transfers c/f Restricted Technical purchases 0 0 0 0 - Wardrobe sale proceeds 1,405 0 385 0 1,020 Designated donations general 3,150 396 0 3,546 A Giles bequest 6,000 0 0 6,000 unrestricted general funds 47,318 41,542 31,249 57,611 51,873 47,938 31,634 0 68,177 2022/23 |
CURRENT BUDGET |
|---|---|
| DRAFT 22,500 7,000 250 200 20 100 60 4,500 0 6,000 0 0 ----------- 40,630 4,410 2,500 5,500 0 12,200 400 550 400 250 60 2,300 1,000 0 100 300 10 4,400 150 0 ----------- 34,530 |
|
| 6,100 | |
SEWELL BARN THEATRE TRUST FUND Year ended 31 August 2023
Independent Examiner’s report
I report on the accounts of the Sewell Barn Theatre Trust Fund for the year ended 31 August 2019 which are set out on the preceding pages.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Basis of the Independent Examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a true and fair view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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(1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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(2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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(3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in conjunction with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Independent Examiner
date 2 October 2023
Crispin de Boos The White House Sandfield Lane Eccles Norwich NR16 2PB