HARLEQUIN PLAYERS’ CLUB
Charity Number:
507845
Trustees’ report – year ending 30th June 2023
Aims and Objectives
The object of the Club is to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts; to further public appreciation and taste in the said arts and to further charitable intentions by promoting dramatic works of educative or enjoyment value. Any surplus generated through such activities will be ploughed back into the continued development of the club and for the benefit of its members.
Financial review
We have circulated copies of this year’s accounts, but will just pick out the more important points for comment.
2022‐23 figures are on the right of the page, with last year’s figures on the left for comparison. This year we had a deficit of £3,271.56.
Building costs are higher than in previous years, mainly due to the improvements and maintenance that were required to keep the theatre opened. A new boiler was required and a refurbish was done of the theatre before the season started.
Membership subscription continue to reduce following COVID with a low time low of 32. Junior members help bump up the income with the subscriptions and fees.
Booking income is up on last year’s figure, due to returning to the standard 6 plays plus the junior play and the increase of Calendar Girls to a 5 night show rather than the 3 or 4 which are standard for the plays.
Our income has increased over the last year with returning to a full season, although the number of tickets sold has remain lower than expected.
Performance on the bar continues to show strongly, with overall income up and percentage profitability increased from 54% to 65%. Many thanks to Laura and Andy for stocking the bar, Debbie for organising cover and all those who have helped out over the year.
Although audience numbers were disappointing at times, the financial performance on the plays was substantially up on last year, with profit increasing to 73%. Licenses remaining the largest costs at 46.6% a reduction from 66% of the total play costs. 66% being pre COVID when we were running a full 7 plays schedule. There has been a reduction on the money intake for teas / coffees as well as raffles and programmes. Different options have been tested with raffles to keep money coming in, some more successful than others. While we used to have a volunteer dedicated to this, reduction in volunteers has meant that at times, this has had to be covered by the bar team or front of house which could partly be the reason for the decline, as well as people spending the money more carefully
From a financial point of view, “War of the worlds” had a 93% profitability due to the low expenditure to present the show. Calendar girls was a roaring success, and mainly full houses provided us with a 83% on profitability, due very much to the familiarity of the show with audiences who may have seen the play multiple times and a show that many people enjoys.
We continue to use the Ticketsource system, which enables us to incorporate all sales into the same report, which is very handy and gives us far better information on ticket sales. Thanks to Laura who ran the Box Office this year.
The Harlequin Youth Theatre has had another good year, with membership subscriptions and the term performance fees once again making a healthy contribution to club funds. Thanks must go to Laura Bason, Adam Wade and the other leaders and helpers throughout the year.
Risk Analysis
A review was carried out of current liabilities.
The one significant liability the Club has is in respect of the rental of the theatre from Leftwich Warehouses. A new five year contract was established in August 2018, so this is secure for another three years.
In addition, there are minor outgoing liabilities in terms of payment for utilities and incoming liabilities in respect of hire commitments to Northwich Folk Club and other short‐term hirers, should the Club ever relinquish the property.
Reporting of serious incidents
Accidents and incidents on site are recorded in our Accidents’ Book and reviewed at each Committee Meeting.
During the last year, there have been no serious incidents and appropriate action has been taken, regarding the minor incidents recorded.
Licences for next season have been paid, which has affected our bank balance, but it is encouraging that the overall surplus was sufficient to fund this, so bank balances are still at the level to pay our monthly standing orders for 6‐7 months.
Laura Bason
Chairman, Harlequin Players Club
This report was issued on behalf of the following Trustees:
Malcolm Barker Gordon Hamlin Aurora Gomez Sesmero Andrew Carrick
Harlequin Players' Club Income and Expenditure Account 2022-23
| 2021-22 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2022-23 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Expenditure | Gain/loss | Income | Expenditure | Gain/loss | |
| 0.00 | 14,118.00 1,854.37 395.92 1,459.23 3,142.09 2,233.13 187.00 0.00 0.00 1,039.35 363.92 197.50 |
Rent Utility costs Telephone Building Maintenance Improvements Insurance Licences PRS/PPL Plays (General) General Promo / Web Misc buildings |
0.00 301.20 |
14,118.00 3,319.52 244.11 6,088.38 721.26 1,291.93 1,560.20 0.00 301.20 938.20 264.18 1,490.19 |
||
| 0.00 | 24,990.51 | **-24,990.51 ** | Buildings | 301.20 | 30,035.97 | -29,734.77 |
| 460.00 510.00 0.00 2,667.00 0.00 41.38 0.00 331.20 |
0.00 0.00 0.00 -219.49 584.36 |
Membership subs Hire bookings Fundraising Grant Income Advertising Donations Postage Misc.,includingGift Aid |
820.00 964.20 342.59 0.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 75.00 |
0.00 342.59 180.00 -130.00 0.00 454.98 |
||
| 4,009.58 | 584.36 | 3,425.22 | Club | 2,251.79 | 634.98 | 1,616.81 |
| 4,895.55 | 2,256.01 | 2,639.54 | Bar | 6,136.22 | 2,334.59 | 3,801.63 |
| 53.92% | 61.95% | |||||
| 1,525.63 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
950.00 -950.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
Membership subs Performance fees Awards event HJPplay- Alice's Adventures |
2,949.07 0.00 0.00 1,074.59 |
1,100.00 -1,100.00 0.00 0.00 148.78 925.81 |
||
| 1,525.63 | 950.00 | 575.63 | Harlequin Youth Theatre | 4,023.66 | 1,248.78 | 2774.88 |
| 0.00 583.59 2,514.61 3,083.01 1,308.51 3,666.21 |
0.00 0.00 442.22 141.37 171.40 2,343.21 390.55 2,692.46 606.85 701.66 433.14 3,233.07 |
Play 1 - Two Wits to Woo Play 2 - The Unreturning Play 3 - War of the Worlds Play 4 - Calendar Girls Play 5 - An Experiment with an Air Pump Play 6 - The Conductor Play7 - Welkin |
1,787.54 1,770.11 1,360.31 6,024.94 1,276.09 1,807.59 2,611.97 |
543.02 1,244.52 947.53 822.58 93.60 1,266.71 1,015.50 5,009.44 420.00 856.09 708.14 1,099.45 841.53 1,770.44 |
||
| 11,155.93 | 2,044.16 | 9,111.77 | Plays | 14,026.58 | 4,569.32 | 9,457.26 |
| 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
General set and scenery Sound equipment Lighting equipment |
698.43 0.00 33.99 |
||||
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | Stage Equipment | 0.00 | 732.42 | -732.42 |
| 21,586.69 | 30,825.04 | -9,238.35 | Totals | 29,351.42 | 39,556.06 | -10,204.64 |
Summary I&E