## **THE PLAYHOUSE, BACKWELL** ## Registered Charity No 293300 Annual Report and Accounts for the year 01/09/2023 – 31/08/2024 ## **MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE** J Schaefer (Chairperson) F Milton (Hon. Treasurer) B Hooper (Hon. Secretary) J Coupe (Deputy Chair) C Heaven R Fenton M Halstead ## **TRUSTEES** A Milton L Wharram The Playhouse, Backwell (more commonly known as Backwell Playhouse) is an unincorporated body operating under a Constitution and Rules last amended in 1985. It has members who support its objectives and pay a small annual subscription. It is run by a Management Committee of not more than 12 members who are elected by the members for a three-year term of office at the Annual General Meeting. The committee may also co-opt any member onto the committee for the period up to the next AGM. New committee members are sought from the general membership by invitation and through regular contact with members. The committee members elect the officers from amongst their number after the AGM each year. The Management Committee usually holds meetings approximately six times a year. The Playhouse, Backwell 23 Mariners Drive Backwell Bristol BS48 3HT ## **REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE** The Playhouse has continued to provide a venue where rehearsals and performances can be carried out by the in-house theatre company, AliCaT children’s theatre classes, and visiting groups, such as Stepping Out, Nailsea Musicals, Creative Kidz, Bristol Youth Musicals, Ship & Castle, and solo artists such as the Cycling Poet, and Alison Neil. In October, the in-house theatre company produced “The Wind In The Willows”, directed by Jon Coupe, followed by “Spygame” in April, directed by Mike Halstead. Our latest show is coming soon, “A Bolt from the Blue”, directed by Fiona Milton. Play-readings in the weeks leading up to the start of rehearsals have been fun social events as well as helping to choose the shows. It is always marvellous, the way a show brings people together with their different gifts and skills to produce something bigger than its parts, with the benefits to wellbeing that such connection with others provides. The April play for next year has been written by Dee Parker, a recent arrival to the Theatre Group, who will also be directing the show. More about Dee later. The Playhouse is very proud to have a Film Club that meets monthly to see a movie selected by the membership, and also hosts regular Comedy Nights. Both these events bring together people who enjoy not only the show, but also the company of their fellow audience members. This year we have had a couple of events to raise awareness of the Playhouse; first the Backwell Summer Fun Day on Backwell School playing fields, where large numbers of people passed through and were reminded of our presence in the residential cul-de-sac. In September we held an Open Evening to show off the improvements to our premises and encourage some cross-pollination between the Film Club and the Theatre Group. This was so successful we plan to repeat it in the future. The premises have been extensively improved over the past twelve months. Richard and Beatrice have proved skilled at grant applications, and we have been awarded funds which included a significant sum from North Somerset Council. We now have two functional dressing rooms, plus a shed and a lean-to in which to store furniture, scenery and props. After essential roof-strengthening, the original prop store is now a rehearsal room so that more than one group can use the premises at one time. Brutal decluttering, the hire of skips, and Helen Coupe’s determination to sort the props has meant that we are more aware of just what treasures we have and where they are. Backstage there is a new toilet and kitchenette. The audience toilets have been updated and are a more pleasant experience. Even the paint store has had a face-lift! What an asset Richard Fenton has turned out to be; he really “gets things done” and we are so grateful to him. We have recently had solar panels installed to steward resources and reduce expenditure. Inside the theatre itself, our summer “Tech Week” gave Mike Halstead and Jon Coupe space to perform checks and maintenance on the technical aspects of lighting and sound, as well as applying the new seat numbers! The bar is cheerfully and efficiently run by Mary Gould. The premises licence has this year been switched into her name following an application to North Somerset Council. Tim Lewis, who has been the Film Club Chair for many years, has stepped down, and we are grateful to him for all that he has done for the many members Film Club serves. Les Wharram has taken on the role in his place, and his presence on the Management Committee lends communication and continuity between the two arms of in-house users. We have had to increase the fees for Playhouse membership and we hope that, hearing about all the activity that has been going on, despite the general rise in cost of living, members will be understanding of the increase. For the future: - Dee Parker has agreed to stand for election onto the committee - We are looking into the possibility of “Baby Cinema” (the films are to entertain the carers!) - Improvements to the fence, and the trench to prevent flooding - Accessibility improvements – toilets, seating in the theatre, carpark - Regular members’ evenings – watch this space! - Further grant applications in order to improve the premises further Our constitution states that the Chair must stand down after three years, so my term has come to an end. I have reluctantly decided to come off the committee, which has been such a pleasure to be part of. The Playhouse is truly blessed to have such dedicated and skilled committee members who go about the business of running it on a voluntary basis, (often alongside paid employment and raising families), with good humour and commitment. _Jenny Schaefer_ _23rd October 2024_ ## **Treasurer’s Report 2024** Wow – here we are at the end of a fantastic year at The Playhouse! The Theatre has seen so much structural, decorative and technical improvement this year that our visitors and regular customers have expressed their delight with all the changes. Please see the notes on capital expenditure to see just what has been achieved by Beatrice and Richard, and there have been many hours of unpaid work undertaken by Mike and other members of the committee. We continue to be very grateful to all the groups and individuals who support the Playhouse – who keep things ‘ticking over’. We are also very grateful to North Somerset Council for the £20,000 grant: well done to Beatrice and Richard for securing this. Our greatest area of expenditure has once again been electricity, but thanks to another grant secured by Beatrice and Richard, we have been able to put in solar panels. This work has already been completed, but the grant and costs will appear in our 2024 – 2025 accounts. _Fiona Milton_ _30[th] October 2024_ ## **Auditor’s Report 2024** I have audited in depth the Sage software records and accompanying back-up documentation that make up the accounts of ‘The Playhouse. Backwell’. The accounts remain the responsibility of the committee, I am satisfied that the accounts bear a true and accurate reflection of the financial state of The Playhouse, Backwell. The accounts audited are up until 31st August 2024. _Catherine Jones (AAT level 3)_ _30th October 2024_ The Playhouse Backwell (Reg charity no 293300) Income & Ex enditure Account for the ear ended 31st Au ust 2024 Income 2024 2023 Annual theatre membership surplus on inhouse produclions fundraising events surplus on film club bar outside hir 176 1486 1590 3456 8815 8483 408 2512 1260 3537 4336 6839 22006 18892 Expenditure PRS & PPL 473 2089 50 432 795 443 2013 insurance advertising repairs & maint gardening & skip Print & stationery Property taxes & utilities electrieity cleaning websrte & internet card payment fees sundries 514 1083 285 12332 1210 721 383 672 427 12974 1574 684 308 553 19442 20579 Surplus for the year 2564 -1687 Movements on General Reserves for the year to 31st August 2024 2024 2023 Balance blfwd surplus for the year 40506 2564 47224 -1687 43070 45537 less capital expenditure grant for caplcal expenditure adj prepayment l accrual 23259 20000 -509 5540 509 39302 40506 Balance Sheet as at 31st Au ust 2024 2024 2023 General reserve 39302 40506 represented by bank balance 39302 40506 Notes to the accounts ital Ex enditure Men's dressing room storage sheds backstage toilet krtchenette 12247 7615 2268 1129 23259 Sur lus In-house Productions Tickets Cost5 Wind in The Willows Spygame 2622 2166 2452 850 170 1316 1486 Surplus on Film Club 6318 2862 3456 Surplus comedy fundraiser 2880 1290 1590 Outside Hire Breakdown Nailsea Musicals Alicat Paul Simcox Ali50n Neil steppin out GMK dance Verse cycles Creative kids 1728 4631 609 688 270 99 120 338 8483