Trustees’ Report – For the Year ending April 2024.
Dear Members
Hatton has had a very successful and award winning year, breaking many records for the society. In the financial year we have put on a record breaking three productions; Oliver!, Blockbusters, Broadway and Beyond and for the first time a juniors show Matilda Jnr. We also won the Noda Accolade of Excellence for Oliver! - what an achievement. I want to congratulate everyone for their outstanding performance and thank everyone who had played a part in making the performances a reality.
The feedback from the audiences has been fantastic! Our audience numbers have also been outstanding with many of the performances being sold out across the runs.
This means that we have had many hundreds of people come to see what Hatton is capable of over the last year. This coupled with our professional approach to managing our external brand marketing, social media, etc for me signals that Hatton has achieved a huge amount building our reputation as a professional and serious society.
Our management of the society as a business this year has been responsible. Without our financial and risk position being in a good place, we would not be able to put on the type of productions we do, and are planning to do in the coming years. We are a not for profit organisation, however we also know that some productions income does not cover the costs of putting on a show. For example it costs on average £20,000 to put on a book show, and as with everything else, those costs are rising sharply. So we have to be all over our costs to make this work financially year on year.
We also have to be all over our risks. Putting on a major show comes with risks relating to everyone's safety and with kids shows a huge amount of time and focus needs to be dedicated to safeguarding the children that are in our care when they are with us. Getting this right is something that concerns us all. One issue could harm our society, our performers and our ability to stage future productions.
So, I wanted to thank everyone who plays a performing and non performing role in our productions. Aside from walking the planks on show week, there is a huge amount of work that goes on every week of the year (regardless of whether we have a production running) to keep the society on track and moving ahead. From costumes, to tickets, to booking and contracting rehearsal and theatre venues, to stocking a bar, to organising and running publicity, to set design and build, designing the rehearsal and production venue, booking bands, the list is endless! I would liken it to each show being the equivalent of planning and running 5 weddings at once! It takes months!
All that planning and effort is worth it though. We have had 3 outstanding productions as a result. Because of our prudent financial management we ended the year in a strong financial position, and have not had any significant risk based incidents that could have the potential to hurt us.
This all means that we have a great future ahead of us, allowing us to give more people access to the Hatton experience and the experience of being part of a show, with all that comes with it.
As a committee we’ve been thinking a lot about our purpose. Making the experience of being in a show as accessible and inclusive as possible is key to what we are trying to achieve. We are also focussed on maintaining the highest possible standards of quality and professionalism to attract and retain great talent across all areas of the company. Costs are and important part of achieving this. We try to keep show fees as low as possible and balance that against seat prices for our productions. I hope all will agree that £150 show fee is reasonable when comparing with the cost of an evening class. And keep seating prices to under £20 is reasonable when comparing with other productions puts us firmly into the competitive category.
On a personal note, I have been involved in Hatton on the committee since October. Throughout this time we have had a number of changes to the committee, which has meant we have all been through significant degrees of uncertainty, and has meant that the workload has been more than we could likely sustain. However, I believe this is now changing. I am delighted to welcome to the committee Caroline Keyser and Tom Brierley. They both bring a huge amount of experience of Hatton and the theatre. We are always looking for more people to fill roles on the committee and to be part of the wider teams. Please do let me know if you would be willing to get involved.
I wanted to take a moment to thank Holly and Sarah for their time on the committee and all they have given to the society.
It’s our 80th anniversary next year! We have a lot to celebrate and a lot to look forward to. We are in the process of planning what next year looks like, including continuing to build on the success we have had with our junior performers. We will be sharing more of the plans for entire year in due course.
Thank you to everyone, I look forward to what this important 80[th] year has in store.
Craig.
| Category of Expenditure | Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Sister Act Grand Total |
Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Sister Act Grand Total |
Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Sister Act Grand Total |
Category of income | Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalties Hall Hire Orchestra Sound & Light Director Costume Set MD Publicity Venue Insurance Merchandise Bar Show week cost Choreography Dog NODA Membership WDA Membership Website Props Awards & Gifts Daisy's Charity collection Fundraiser |
495.00 4,070.74 500.00 1,943.76 2,499.85 468.00 3,200.00 3,000.00 1,600.00 1,400.00 456.80 2,086.99 559.20 1,761.49 200.00 1,670.00 45.00 806.00 817.04 100.00 1,173.58 370.26 1,218.96 1,131.26 616.39 540.00 350.00 300.00 230.00 200.00 179.99 152.75 30.25 116.19 100.00 82.06 |
5,065.74 4,911.61 3,200.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,543.79 2,320.69 1,870.00 1,768.04 1,543.84 1,218.96 1,131.26 616.39 540.00 350.00 300.00 230.00 200.00 179.99 152.75 146.44 100.00 82.06 |
Ticket Money Show Fee Bar Fundraiser Programmes Merchandise Gift Aid Membership Magna Carta Assoc Fund Donation Advert |
9,924.62 16,618.03 5,090.00 5,990.00 1,504.70 304.92 248.11 838.80 265.33 811.40 872.00 796.74 460.00 428.71 291.77 32.00 150.00 |
|
| Grand Total | 3,135.46 8,893.48 21,374.62 1,068.00 34,471.56 |
Grand Total | 3,154.14 17,064.76 24,408.23 |
||
| Balance | 18.68 8,171.28 3,033.61 10,155.57 |
||||
Grand Total 26,542.65 11,080.00 1,504.70 1,391.83 1,076.73 872.00 796.74 460.00 428.71 323.77 150.00 44,627.13
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HATTON MUSICAL THEATRE SOCIETY (CHARITY NUMBER: 291998) ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 April 2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the period ended 30 April 2024.
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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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.
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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did 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 connection 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.
Antony Doggwiler Independent examiner Date: 23[rd] February 2025
HATTON MUSICAL THEATRE SOCIETY Charity registration number: 291998
ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 APRIL 2024
Statement of financial activities
| Period ended | 30 April 2024 | Period ended 30 April 2023 | Period ended 30 April 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |||
| Funds | Funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income & endowments from: | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 12,660.51 | 5,837.97 | ||
| Charitable activities | 26,542.65 | 16,276.95 | ||
| Other | 5,423.97 | 5,589.88 | ||
| Total | 44,627.13 | 27,704.80 | ||
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Charitable activities | 32,395.41 | 23,243.81 | ||
| Other | 2,076.15 | 3,996.82 | ||
| Total | 34,471.56 | 27,240.63 | ||
| Net movement in funds | 10,155.57 | 464.17 | ||
| Reconciliation of funds: | ||||
| Total unrestricted funds brought forward | 11,477.49 | 11,013.32 | ||
| Total unrestricted funds carried forward | 21,633.06 | 11,477.49 | ||
| Balance Sheet | ||||
| Current and net assets | ||||
| Bank and cash | 21,636.06 | 11,477.49 | ||
| The funds of the charity | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | 21,633.06 | 11,477.49 |
| Category of Expenditure | Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Sister Act Grand Total |
Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Sister Act Grand Total |
Category of income | Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Grand Total |
Admin BBB & Matilda Oliver Grand Total |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalties Hall Hire Orchestra Sound & Light Director Costume Set MD Publicity Venue Insurance Merchandise Bar Show week cost Choreography Dog NODA Membership WDA Membership Website Props Awards & Gifts Daisy's Charity collection Fundraiser |
495.00 4,070.74 500.00 1,943.76 2,499.85 468.00 3,200.00 3,000.00 1,600.00 1,400.00 456.80 2,086.99 559.20 1,761.49 200.00 1,670.00 45.00 806.00 817.04 100.00 1,173.58 370.26 1,218.96 1,131.26 616.39 540.00 350.00 300.00 230.00 200.00 179.99 152.75 30.25 116.19 100.00 82.06 |
5,065.74 4,911.61 3,200.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,543.79 2,320.69 1,870.00 1,768.04 1,543.84 1,218.96 1,131.26 616.39 540.00 350.00 300.00 230.00 200.00 179.99 152.75 146.44 100.00 82.06 |
Ticket Money Show Fee Bar Fundraiser Programmes Merchandise Gift Aid Membership Magna Carta Assoc Fund Donation Advert |
9,924.62 16,618.03 5,090.00 5,990.00 1,504.70 304.92 248.11 838.80 265.33 811.40 872.00 796.74 460.00 428.71 291.77 32.00 150.00 |
26,542.65 11,080.00 1,504.70 1,391.83 1,076.73 872.00 796.74 460.00 428.71 323.77 150.00 |
|
| Grand Total | 3,135.46 8,893.48 21,374.62 1,068.00 34,471.56 |
Grand Total | 3,154.14 17,064.76 24,408.23 44,627.13 |
|||
| Balance | 18.68 8,171.28 3,033.61 10,155.57 |