## **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:
- (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
- (2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- (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