Sewell Barn Theatre Trust Fund Registered Charity number 277724 Year ended 31 August 2025
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 2024/25 season Grand Guignol After Electra Richard II The Clearing Design for Living Foxfinder Charley’s Aunt
The season began with Grand Guignol curated and directed by Richard Hand, followed by After Electr by April de Angelis. Shakespeare’s Richard II came after Christmas, followed by The Clearing by Helen Edmundson), Design for Living by Noel Coward and then Foxfinder by Dawn King The season finished with Charley’s Aunt by Brando Thomas. We also included a short run of The Lives of \Bosie by |John Wolfson.
An total of 90 seats were available for each performance in the main 7-show season and average attendance was an excellent 69% varying between 96.9% for Charley’s Aunt and 45% for Foxfinder , making the season a success both artistically and financially, and all shows on or exceeding the budgeted average of 45%.
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
We were delighted to note that attendances were back to pre-Covid levels for the second successive season and while costs continued to rise, we continued with the new contract for considerably lower cost for utilities for the costume store. The surplus of £18,600 for the year was achieved by a combination of above-budget income and below-budget costs. Ticket sales came in at £21,000 above-budget with a corresponding increase in bar sales, there was a significant increase in the amount of interest on savings, and below-budget costs on production expenses and lower maintenance costs for the costume store all contributed. We were also able to spend £7,700 on technical upgrades to the lighting equipment.
We are delighted to acknowledge continued sponsorship from Norfolk Gin.
Routine technical 2025/26, although we anticipate that costs will continue to rise,we have held seat prices at last year’s level.. 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) Robert Little date 23/10/25
SEWELL BARN THEATRE TRUST FUND
15/10/2025
Year ended 31 August 2025 STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENDITURE
| 2023/24 actual restricted designated unrestricted total INCOME 39,084 Production income 42,699 42,699 10,822 Bar/ices income 13,506 13,506 579 Subscriptions 100 100 530 Costume & venue hire 50 50 1,298 Interest gross 1,093 1,093 - Miscellaneous income 0 0 - Gift Aid 0 0 449 Grants sponsorship & donations 0 331 331 2,500 Lighting project & FOH 0 0 - legacies 0 0 - income for last year 0 0 165 income for next year 135 135 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 55,427 TOTAL INCOME 0 331 57,583 57,914 EXPENDITURE restricted designated unrestricted total 3,260 Production expenses 3,930 3,930 2,464 Publicity 1,888 1,888 6,576 Bar costs 7,417 7,417 688 Royalties 0 0 6,914 Ropemaker's rent rates insurance L & H 6,819 6,819 933 Room hire 1,688 1,688 263 Post stationery copying 247 247 314 Telephone 408 408 405 Licences & memberships 559 559 60 Audit fee 60 60 2,845 Insurance - Sewell Barn 3,059 3,059 347 Repairs & maintenance 1,690 1,690 - H&S & training 0 0 49 Sundry 84 84 1,163 Equipment 1,037 1,037 305 expenses for last year 0 0 2,390 expenses for next year,royalties 4,102 4,102 22 Wardrobe upgrade 0 0 - Technical upgrades & FOH 2,500 5,275 7,775 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 28,998 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2,500 5,275 32,989 40,763 26,429 net income(expenditure) (2,500) (4,943) 24,594 17,151 transfers between funds 95,500 (95,500) (2,500) 90,557 (70,906) 17,151 CASH RESOURCES restricted designated unrestricted total cash at bank 1 September 2024 3,498 9,995 81,112 94,605 CASH FUNDS to date / at 31 August 2025 (1) 19,178 Lloyds bank 998 100,552 -69,896 31,654 - to 21/8/25 Lloyds deposit at 2.8% 0 0 75,427 Lloyds instant saver at 1.0% 80,102 80,102 94,605 Total cash funds to date 998 100,552 10,206 111,755 Notes (1) Funds analysis b/f received paid transfers c/f Restricted Technical purchases grant 2,500 0 2,500 0 Wardrobe sale proceeds 998 0 998 Restricted totals 3,498 0 2,500 0 998 Designated Donations general 3,995 331 4,326 Wardrobe new premises 35,000 35,000 Buildings fund 25,000 25,000 Reserves policy - 1 yr annual exp 35,000 35,000 AD production support fund 500 500 A Giles bequest 6,000 5,275 725 Designated totals 9,995 331 5,275 95,500 100,552 unrestricted general funds 81,112 57,583 32,989 (95,500) 10,206 Overall totals 94,605 57,914 40,763 0 111,756 2024/25 |
CURRENT |
|---|---|
| BUDGET | |
| DRAFT 26,850 7,000 250 100 700 100 100 150 0 0 0 0 ----------- 35,250 5,460 2,675 5,800 0 9,000 500 300 400 450 60 3,000 1,000 0 100 1,000 0 4,900 0 0 ----------- 34,645 |
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| 605 | |
| , | |
| Restricted Technical purchases grant Wardrobe sale proceeds Restricted totals |
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| Designated Donations general |
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| Wardrobe new premises Buildings fund |
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| Reserves policy - 1 yr annual exp | |
| AD production support fund A Giles bequest Designated totals |
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| unrestricted general funds Overall totals |
SEWELL BARN THEATRE TRUST FUND Year ended 31 August 2025
Independent Examiner’s report
I report on the accounts of the Sewell Barn Theatre Trust Fund for the year ended 31 August 2025 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 29 October 2025
The White House Sandfield Lane Eccles Norwich NR16 2PB