# **Davenham Players Reg Charity 504475** # **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **1[st] July 2023 to 30[th] June 2024** ## **Objectives and Continuing Activities** ## 1. PURPOSES The object of the Society as stated in our constitution is “to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in those arts by promoting the Performing Arts and the Arts in general”. ## 2. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES Davenham Players aim to present to the public a varied programme of performing arts events at our own theatre throughout the year. The programme revolves mainly around (but is not limited to) the dramatic and musical arts. ## 3. DRAMA AT DAVENHAM Our in-house drama group, the Davenham Players (founded ca. 1941) recruits amateur performers, backstage and front-of-house staff from the general public. These become our member volunteers. We aim to perform around four major drama productions each season, each of which will be presented to the public for about a week. Tickets are sold mainly online through an agency to fund the expenses of the production, general theatre overheads and build up reserves for future development. We don’t employ paid staff. Visiting drama companies are welcomed too when this can be fitted into our programme. ## 4. MUSIC AT DAVENHAM Musical events are a regular part of our programme. Monthly Jazz gigs are presented under the banner jazz@davenham during the season. Besides jazz, we host occasional concerts in folk, rock and classical music and other genres. ## 5. LITERATURE AT DAVENHAM The Northwich LitFest, organised by Susi Osborne has held its main evening events at our theatre for the last few years and continues to do so, following a break owing to the pandemic. The festival is a Summer event, usually in June/July/August. ## 6. COMEDY CLUB We present an evening of stand-up comedy every last Sunday of the month from October to April (not December). At these events, an MC introduces the acts and links the contributions of the comedians. Popular with audiences, Comedy Club has been an important fundraiser for us, especially when augmented by bar takings. ## 7. OUR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS Volunteer members are crucial to the operation of the theatre. We have an experienced maintenance team who do the day-to-day jobs necessary to keep an old building safe, secure and welcoming. Besides normal maintenance, our specialised sound and lighting team supports set designers and stage directors to help make our shows have the right impact and be attractive to audiences. However, we employ contractors to conduct safetycritical inspections and remediations so as to stay within regulations for electrical and fire certification. Recruiting new volunteers is an important ongoing process. Our theatre bar at public events is staffed by volunteers. We do welcome new volunteers to come and help our volunteer team continue to flourish - just come and meet the Tech team on Tuesday mornings or use our contact form on the website at **https://www.davenhamplayers.co.uk/get-involved/** ## 8. YOUTH THEATRE Our theatre is the performing venue for the Young Arts Academy’s end of term shows and for our local Primary school’s end of year show. Teachers say the children love the experience of performing in a ‘proper’ theatre with stage lighting as opposed to a school hall. ## 9. CLUB NIGHTS Tuesday nights are Club nights at Davenham Theatre, when we hold monthly workshop groups led by a member who specialises in one of the crafts of the performing arts. At present, the groups are for Acting, Writing, Play Reading and Improv in successive weeks. Refreshments are provided free to members, with a small contribution asked from nonmembers. We also host occasional entertainments and fundraisers for members and their guests such as Quiz nights. ## 10.FUTURE DEVELOPMENT An extension to the theatre creating new foyer and toilets was completed in 2019 and the plan at that time was to proceed with construction of a community room/rehearsal space in the yard at the side of the theatre. Since then, the pandemic and other factors have seen the cost of building work increase drastically, beyond the scope of our current reserves. Rather than being overwhelmed by the situation, a subcommittee has started to look seriously at raising funds by new activities under the performing arts umbrella and grant applications. In time, we sincerely believe the new space will come. ## **MAJOR ACTIVITIES JUL 23 – JUNE 24** ## 11.REPLACEMENT OF THEATRE SEATING In late 2023, the decision was taken to replace the existing tiered seating units with custombuilt units plus extra new stackable chairs. This needed substantial investment, but we decided to go ahead, using cash from our reserves. Installation was to take place in midJanuary 2024. The theatre needed to be completely emptied of the old raised dais units before the contractors could start work so our maintenance volunteers started work immediately following the final December event. After disposal of the old chairs and dais units, the opportunity was taken to dry-line and repaint the walls, improving both the appearance and insulation properties of the theatre. Contractors started work and completed on-time, well before the first event of 2024. All were extremely pleased with the finished result and we can now say that both safety and appearance of the audience seating has been vastly improved. The new tip-up seating gives the impression of a modern studio cinema and seat numbering has been employed to make it easier for online booking. ## 12.ONLINE MARKETING AND TICKET SALES Bookings for our in-house drama and comedy are now taken through Ticket Source. Our Marketing subcommittee continues to make highly effective use of social media, which along with more conventional advertising ensures our shows are almost sold out by opening night. Audiences seem to have taken to card payments for tickets with little fuss, but we can also take cash and cheque by arrangement. Enquiries are directed from our website to our online ‘Ticket Shop’ by emails and communications through social media. Our website can be found at **https://www.davenhamplayers.co.uk/** and our ticket shop at **https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/davenhamplayers** ## 13.INVISIBLE BY JANE BARRIE All the plays presented at Davenham this year met with success and all were written by professional authors - with one exception. The play Invisible was written and directed by member Jane Barrie. We have only occasionally performed plays written in-house, but a readthrough convinced the committee that we could include Invisible in our programme. An audition was held in May and performance set for September 2024. ## 14.FULL ELECTRICAL INSPECTION Contractors were employed to conduct a full electrical inspection of our premises in October 2023. The report highlighted some deficiencies against the latest electrical regulations, which were implemented by the contractors later in the year. 15.OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS DURING THE REPORTING YEAR ## **July 2023** – Play Reading, Acting and Writing groups Audition for Allo Allo Rehearsals for Rules for Living Fire Risk Assessment Review ## **August 2023** – Fire Alarm system annual service ## **September 2023** – Rules for Living on stage Rehearsals Allo Allo Jazz, Folk music events New Bar Card Machine ## **October 2023** – Hands Up Who’s Happy visiting show YAA youth show Full Electrical Inspection Audition Heaven Sent Spitting Feathers rock covers group Jazz Comedy Club ## **November 2023** – Allo Allo on stage Comedy Club Jazz YAA show Photo Shoot theatre rental ## **December 2023** – Jazz and Folk music evenings Quiz night Contractor for Electrical Remediation work Visiting company Little Pixie Preparatory work for new seating units **January 2024** – New seating installation Jazz Comedy ## **February 2024** Jazz Heaven Sent audition Davenham School Set Preparation ## **March 2024** – Davenham School Show Jazz and Folk music events Comedy Bar Roof Repair assessment ## **April 2024** – Nora rehearsals Jazz YAA group session Comedy Club **May 2024** – Nora on stage Audition Invisible Jazz **June 2024** – Wordfest AGM theatre rental YAA group session Northwich LitFest events Jazz Readthrough of Revlon Girl Davenham Choir concert 16.TRUSTEES STATEMENT ON PUBLIC BENEFIT The trustees carefully monitor the way that funds are spent, which must be on activities in compliance with our group’s stated purposes. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Our governing document is the Constitution of the Davenham Players. We operate as an unincorporated membership association. Trustees are selected members of our management team chosen to provide a relevant range of skills and experience. ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** **Full name(s)** Robert Almquist Paulette Anderson **Position (e.g. Secretary,** Chairman Secretary to the Trustees **Chair, etc)** **Date** DAVEPIMAM PiAYERS Re¢tsthred (hafity Th). 5LI1475 AECelPTSAPID PAYMEPItSACCOUPff FOAIHE YEAR ENDED 30AINE7014 Ye*r*nded Ye*rended Subscriptions Grant & t)onatKJns Theatre Hire Other incorne Comedy Nights 1076.(M) 295. 2867.50 1076. 295.( 2867.50 528.78 2505m 2267.19 5459.46 7513.52 14. 8768.61 39. 23555.89 103Y.Th) 2733.84 3206.20 301.38 4329.70 1033. 2733.84 3206.20 301.38 2131.Th) 21￿.70 2931.05 3515.41 4022.94 3843.77 33.88 gW.99 16866.18 528.78 4712.19 12972.98 13782.99 39.2 36534.73 7866.71 33.88 25951.17 Inte￿5t 12978A4 Fatllllbes (ithts He3ting & L¥ihtin8 Water Broadband Insurdnce Cleaning Other Propery MaIntena￿e Subscriptions& Licen WebsTte linc redwnl Other payrnents Bank charges Depr￿l¥tron 2727.7P 683.94 41&83 1669.tyl 453_57 1449.55 551.47 1495.83 2826.41 915.46 769.03 168. 34.C¥) io.(Y) 1428.14 -13144.61 4710. 8155.32 Suvplusforth¢y¢ar r￿VE￿AAm PLAYERS Re8i5tered Chartty no. 51)M75 LANCE SHEEfAT 3OJUNE 20 IIW2024 3010612023 A55Ers Flxed Assets Property lat costl Extension project work in progress l(TJ51.(1) 48424.78 I￿51.[KI 48424.78 59375.78 59375.78 Equipmeni & Fittin8S- Cost Addltlon5 less deprecialSon 14281.43 27029.40 -8118.88 J1.33 -6015.( 3191.95 8266.37 92567.n 67642.15 8ZL91 616 BarSt¢xk Cash at Bank Natwest CurrentAccount Uoyds Bar knu*)t CAF Projert Acci)unt CAF Gold Account Cash in hand I2￿.5$ 11711.41 ICK134.20 5144.93 3353.19 11217.33 XA66.93 >4720.25 Creditor 467 i￿3*A48 FUNDS General Balance 8t I july 2023 Surplus lor the year 102979.20 11.28 979.20 R Almquist Treasurer INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF DAVENHAM PLAYERS (Registered Charity no. 504475) ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5){b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's statement 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 charty 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 conceming any such matters. The Pro￿dureS 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 examinerfs statsment In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention . which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to k￿p accounting records in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities Act. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply wrth the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met" or 2. to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Simon Batey MA FCA 3 October 2024 Higher Heyes Farm, Ball Lane, Kingsley. Frodsham, WA6 8HP