THE SHAKESPEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRU GXSTER RTfY NUMBER 2 2282 ANN REP T AIID ACCOU R THE YEAR ENDE
THE HAKE PEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRusr R THE YEAR END TH APRIL 202 INIsr EIN Trustees: Professor William Leahy (Chair) Kristin Bundesen Ph.D. Julia Cleave Annabel Leventon Sir Mark Rylance Robin Williams Ph.D. Lisa Wilson SAT Direttor of ReSeah Rosalind Barber Ph.D. Associates: Charles De ve Beauclerk Anthony Peter Dawkins Michael Frohnsdorff stephanie Hopkins Hughes Sir Derek Jacobi Carole Sue Lipman Randall Sherman Earl Showerman Professor John Spiers Hank Whittemore Professor Michael Wood SAT Director of Administration: Milly Stones Registered Address: 45 Shakespeare Road, London SE24 OLA Charity nan*: The charty uses the abbreviation SAT Registered charity number: 282282 Website: www.shakespwreaTrauthofship.org.uk NTENTS Page I Charity Information Pages 2, 3 and 4 Trustees Annual Rewjrt Pages 5 and 6 Annual Accounts Page 7 Accountants Report Page I
THE SHAKESPEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRusr ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRU R THE YEAR ENDED TH APRIL 202 STrUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The charity (SAT) was set up on 6th November 1922. It is governed by a Trust Deed dated Ilth March 1981 and is a registered charity, number 282282. SAT is managed by its trustees, assisted by the Director of Administration and the Director of Research. A list of the trustees and other officials of the charity at 5th April 2025 is set out on page one, which forms part of this reEK)rt. Professor William Rubinstein lan A$slate) sadly died on 1st July 2024. Jenny Kirby resigned as Director of Administration on 1st July 2024 and Milly Stones repkced her on that date. There were no other changes in the year. However Annabel Leventon, who is noted on page I, aSed to be a trustee on 16th May 2025. The minimum number of trustees is four and the maximum seven. The trustees are to apkN)int further trustees if their numter falls telow four. The trustees meet regularty and at least On a year. EcfIvES AND A The objectives of the charity (SAn are to advance education and learning with particular referen to the social, p)litical and literary history of England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the authorship of the literary works commonly attributed to William Shakespeare of Strattord-upon-Avon. SAT does this by Stagng conferences and other actTVities bringing together individuals, researchers and members of the public to explore these subjects, and by undertaking other suitsble projects, when these arise. conferen and other aciivitie5, expt Gatherings, are open to all. To encourage a high attendan by a wide range of individuals, attivities a publicised as widely as possible including on the website. SAT relies on income from entrance fees and donation5 to cover the costs of staging conferences and other activities. The trustees consider the Charity Commission's guidan on public benefit when viewing the charity's aims, objective5, actNities and achievements, when planning future activities and when setting admission fees In order to give accessibility to all. Gatherings a for and only open to SAT subscritErs. HIEVEME AND PERF RMAN The annual coTrferen, this year entttled 'The fIt heir of my invention" was held at The Marylebone Theatre in London on 17th November 2024 and explored Shakespeare's verse poems such as Venus and Adonis and the Rape of L(Jcrece and the mystery of the Southamptr)n dedications. It included talks, discussions, performances of scenes and presentations from the verse M$. Lisa Wilson, Ros Barber, Julia Cleave, Mark RYlan and Annabel Leventon were closely involved in putting on the Conferen and were amongst the conference speakers and presenters. The Conferen is open to the general public. Attendance at the conference was up from 62 to 93 and receipts were up by £238. The trustees kept costs down wherever possible and as a result there was a surplus of £2,880 (2024 deficit £2,325). In conjunction wtth the COnfen, a special Gala Perf0M)an of Venus and Adonis was held after the Conferen to both promote and raise fund5 for both SAT arid the Marylebone Theatre. The Gala Performance was a reimagining of the tK)em with readings and contributions from Mark Rylan. Krlstin Scott Thomas and Johnny Flyn. 229 people attended the Gala and it raised £12,668 Wore costs for SAT, The charity held an online Gathering on 20th April 2024 "10 Years of Progress" The Gathering provid] an opwrtunity for subscribers to meet and to raise specific questions regarding the Authorship Question and it was well attended. The Gathering was recorded and was made available for those who were unabl• to attend in person. The November Conferen was filmed and also made available. Both were uploaded to the SAT YouTube channel, where they attract a lot of views which in tum promotes the Authorship Question. The Trust rnakes g¢))J use of its website, its substack site and social media to publicise events. Page 2
THE HAKE PEAREAN A TH RSHIP TR NU REPORT E TRUStEES R THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2025 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ontinu The SAT Substack subscription scheme was launched on 13th March 2024 and it replaced the SAT rnembership scheme. Subscribers to the substack scheme receive email alerts which invite them to read weekly and other rnsts to the substsck about information on the state of the SAQ induding news about research, publications and events. The substack scheme's first full year was ars interesting one with kx)sts from Kristin Bundensen, Robi Williams, William Leahy, Julia Cleave and Ros Barber amongst othe. The Posts expand interest in SAT and the Authorship Question. The pjsts are intended to keep subscribers engaged and to draw in a -new audien and potential new subscribers. The scheme also repla the charrvs Twltter account, and membersblp scheme. It requlres less administration and so has cut work on sUPPOrt. In addition it has increased engagement and provided better analysis of member-Subscrir engagement and concem5, Wilich is essential to manage subscriptions. The scheme offers a monthly payment option, as well as an annual payment. SAT saw an increase in subscription income of £2,114 to £8,549. It is experted that subscription receipts in future years will be sufficient to cover SATS costs and thus secure a stable future for the charity. However the trustees continue to explore ways of raising funds from other sour. The chaiity's administration costs were down by £1,341 to £5,947 in part trecause part of the Administratols fees were paid after date as noted on page 6. In addition the reduction in the support work as outllned above meant that this work could be incorporated in the remst of the Administratr)r thus reducing administration costs by £1,200 per annum. All the trustees and Dr Barber are involved in different activities concerning the Authorship Question {SAQ) including providing material for the SAT Substack as well as preparing, taking part in and performing at the charity's annual conferen, Gatherings, online and other events. In addition:_ Professor William Leahy chaired the charity and continued to liaise with all associated organisations. He also work&1 on ensuring the inclusivity of the SAT events both in the year and in the future. Julia Cleave continues her research into the question of Shakpeare and the Renaissance and made presentstions in the year to the Francis Bacon Research Trust and the De Vere Society. Annabel Leventon continues publicising the work of SAT and developing relationships with other interested individuals and parties. Kristin Bundesen continues to trE involved in promoting SAT by refining it's public presence as the pia to go for information about the SAQ, promoting credible research and developments. Her paper on Fiction as a Catalyst was widely re1Ved by 6 universities and their 4,500 faculty members. She is also chief ed¢tor of the weekly substsck posts. Robln Williams contlnues developing a line of merchandise to rdise funds for SAT both in the year and in future years and to chan7pion the SAQ in the USA . In addition she maintains the SAT website, keeping it up to date and current. Lisa.Wilson continues to champion the SAQ In both the UK and USA as an independent filmmaker (Last Will. & Testament), researcher, and Ass(Kiate of the SSLT. Page 3
THE SHAKESPEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRUST EP OR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2025 HIEVEME Mad( Rylance conb'nues to promote the SAQ. He was a key component in organisng the annual conference and the successful fund-rdising Gala, working closely with the Marylebone Theatre. Dr Ros Barber continues to research and promote the SAQ. In the year She made presentations to the Marlowe Society and the Marlowe &Kiety of America, published various articles and representsd SAT at a wide variety of events. ANISATION A variety of documents are held at Brunel University London on the SAQ including the collettion of the De Vere Society and documents formerly held by SAT as outlined on page 6. These documents are accessble to all the general public, researchers, scholars. The Authorship Question ISAQI continues to become more wdely discussed, hence the ideas around the SAQ tEcome more mainstream and normalised. The Spa occupied by the charity is recognised a5 non-partisan and as such it play5 an imF¥)rtant role in welcoming the views of all who are interested in the question. As part of its worf( SAT maintains close links with Brunel University London, the Shakespeare Globe Trust and Friends of the Globe as well as with other authorship organisations and the dIeS involved in the history of the Shakespearean pencé both in the UK and abroad, including the De Vere Society, the Francis Bacon Research Trust and the MartDwe Society. RESERVE POLI It is the policy the charity to maintsin unrestricted funds at a level that equates to at least velve months payments to enable SAT to meet its commitments and obligations the ensuing year, and also to cope with the flurtuations in eipts and payments. This level was maintained in the year. The trustees wish to thank all those who volunteer their tirne at conferences, and to those who make generous donations to the organisation, numtEred among whom are twsiees. FU REA VETEE The 2025 annual conference will be held in London on 16th November 2025 and will explo an impK)rtant element of the SAQ. The annual conference is considered to be one of the central events for the authorship community. The trustees are planning to hold other events. This report wa5 approved by the trustees on 10th July 202S and signed on their behalf WILLIAM LEAHY rustee) Page 4
THE SHAKESPEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRUST AC OUN R THE YEAR ENDED TH APRIL 202 AYMEN 2025 2024 SubscritEr subscriptions 8,549 6,435 Annual Conferen (ticket sales etc) Fund-raising Gak Performance 4,268 12,668 4,030 BcK)ks and merchandise sold (proceeds) 747 25 Donations Received 2,295 1,917 £28,527 £12,407 YME Annual conference, Gala and members Gatherings 2,335 6,405 PkS and merchandise purchased for sale 805 278 Administrators, fees and expenses (admin.) Membership SUPFK)rt Website costs Accountancy fees Printing, pxJstsge5 and stationery Bank, Pay Pal and Stripe charges 1,800 300 1,363 1,152 2,247 1,200 1,587 999 73 1,182 1,332 L PAYMENTS £9,087 £13,971 19,440 -1,564 TH APRIL 2024 3,514 5,078 CASH FUNDS AT TH APRIL 2 £22,954 £3,514 Page 5
AKESPEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRusr ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED APRIL 2 ATEMENT ILITIES S AT 5TH APRIL 2025 ND Cash at Bank £22,954 £3,514 THE Collettion of Elizabethan costume5 The collection, commi55ioned in 2006, 15 a reconstruction of the PK)s%ble clothing for the four main authorship candidate5 Shakespeare, Francis Bacon, Edward De Vere and Mary Sidrw. The costumes are currently stored with their designer, Jenny Tiratnani but work 15 ongoing to find a suitable venue to display them long term. The trustees consider it is not possible to attribute a value to the collection. £0 £0 Copies of "Shakespeare's Unorthodox BioJraph*' donated to the charity to be sold in future years £180 E200 Eooks and merchandise for sale in future years £442 £103 LIABILITIE Conference expenses Adfflinistratorfs Fees and Expenses Administratoff s Fee5 and ExFenses 1,300 250 £1,550 £0 NOTES TO THE ACCOUN The accounts have been prepared following the guidance for accounting for smaller charitres issued by the Charty Commission. The Receipts and Payments account is a summary of the receipt5 and payments made by the charity during the year. Amounts are included as received or as paid. Tre statement of assets and liabilities includes monies due to the charity and amounts due by the charity for expenses relating to the year or previous years for which Invol have been received, but which had not been paid at 5th April 2025 and other assets held. The charity also held a collection of historic lkS and papers on the Authorship Question which had been donated to the charity over the last 100 years. Having previously been on loan to Brunel University, the collection was transferred to Brunel in 202012021 on the basis that the charity will have first refusal should Brunel wish to dispose of any items or no longer wish to maintain the collettion. This arrangement should enable a much wder ac5 to the colleth.on for the general public, researchers and scholars. The accounts were approved by the trustees on: 10th July 2025 WILLIAM LEAHY (T Page 6
RTERED A NTANT, REP RT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE PREPARATION OF THE UNAUDITED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE HAKE EAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRusr R THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2025 In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Charities Arts, we have prepared for your approval the accounts of The Shakespearean Authorship Trust for the year ended 5th April 2024 as set out on pages 5 and 6 which comprise the Receipts and Payments Account, the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the Notes to the Accounts from the charity's accounting records and from the Information and explanations you have provlded to us. A5 a prattising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountsnts in England and Wales we are subjert to iys ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at icaew.comlenlmemberslregulations-standards and guidance. This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with our engagement letter. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the accounts of the charity and to state those matters that we have agreed to State to the trustees, as a body, in this report. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity's trustees, as a bodyi for our work or for thls report. It is your duty to ensure that The Shakespearean Authorship Trust has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare accounts that comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Acts and any regulations there under issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. You consider that the charity is exempt from the ststutory requirement for ali audit or independent examination for the year. We have not been instructed to cary out an audit or an independent examination of the accounts of the charity. For this reason, we do not therefore express any opinion on the accounts. THURsfoN WATfs & Co Chartered Accountants 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP 10th July 2025
THE SHAKESPEAREAN AUTHORSHIP TRU 45 Shakespeare Road London SE24 OLA Thurston Watts & Company Omnibus Business Centre 39141 North Road London N7 9DP Dear Sirs ccounts for the ear ended 5th A ri1202 We confirm to the best of our knowledge and belief and hamng made appropriate enquiries of other offloa15 of the tharity, the following representab.ons given to you in connection with your work in preparing the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5th April 2025. l. We acknovvledge as tnjstees our re¥x)nsibility for the accounts. All the accounb'ng records have EEen made available to you and all the transactions undertaken by the charity have been properfy reflected and recorded in the accounb.ng records. Al other records and related infomation have b*n made available to you. There are no matters in the minutes of the trustee meetings of which you need to aware and of which we have not made you aware. 2. The charity had no liabilitses, actual or contingent, at the charity's year end other than those events disclosed or Induded in the accounts. 3. There have been no events, induding any major liligation, sirKe the charity's year end which require disclosure or which would materially affect the amounts in the acu)unts, other than those events disclosed or included in the accounts. 4. The charity has had at no time during the year any arraThJement, transaction or agreement to provide credit facilities (including loans, quasi loans or credit transacbons) for the trustees nor to guarantee or provide security for such matters. 5. We are not aware of any related party matters that require disclosure other than those matters disclosed in the accounts. 6. The charity has not contracted for any capital expenditure nor it have any finanaal commitments otr than those matters disclosed in the accounts. 7. The charity does not have any restricted or designated funds nor ary donations other than those disclosed in the accounts. 8. We confirm that we are mt aware of any possible or actual instsnce of non-complian with those laws and regulatiorts within whith the charity conducts its activities. 9. We consider the charity to be a going conrn for a period in excess of e1ve months from the approval of the accounts. Yours faithfully Slgned on behalf of the trustees William L y {Tru ioth July 2025