2026-03-31-accounts - The Little Theatre Donnington Society

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THE LITTLE THEATRE DONNINGTON

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 518484

The Little Theatre Donnington Society (hereafter known as the Little Theatre) is a registered charity. The object of the charity is to promote the education of the public in the arts and in particular in music and drama.

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Contents Page
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Contents	Page
Report of the Trustees	1-5
Legal and Administrative Information	6
Report of the Independent Examiner	7
Receipts and Payments Account	8
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	9
Notes to the Accounts	10-11

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LITTLE THEATRE

The Charity Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2026. The financial statements comply with both the Charity’s Constitution and the Charities Act 2011.

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the Society shall be to promote the education of the public in the arts and in particular in music and drama.

In furtherance of the above, but not further or otherwise the Society shall have power:

(1) to present, promote, organise, provide, manage and produce plays, drama, comedies, operettas, concerts, ballets, pantomimes, and other public performances on premises occupied by the Society or elsewhere

(2) to rent or lease property for use by the Society for the above object
(3) to do all such lawful things as shall further the above object

Public Benefit

The trustees continue to give regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit (Charities and Public Benefit) in the relation to the charitable purpose of the charity. In the opinion of the trustees, the objectives of the charity as detailed above fall within the remit of ‘for public benefit’.

In addition to a facility open to all who wish to benefit from being involved in the arts and theatre, we continued to offer a cost effective, varied programme of performances for the local population.

Membership

Membership of the Little Theatre is open to any member of the public, aged 10 and above, who wishes to join and who is prepared to pay an agreed membership fee and abide by the rules of the Society. As at 31[st] March 2026, the Little Theatre had

1 President
5 Life members
78 Adult members
20 Juniors
3 Volunteers

Achievements and Performance

Shows

This year we performed two plays, a musical, a Pantomime and a concert. These were

Ladies Day: a play. Show dates 24[th] – 26[th] April 2025 A total of 235 individuals attended these performances
Lest we Forget 80[th] VE day celebration: a concert. Show date 10[th] May 2025 A total of 100 individuals attended these performances
Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders: a Play. Show dates 19[th] – 21[st] June 2025

A total of 321 individuals attended the performances

All Shook up: a Musical. Show dates 2[nd] – 4[th] October 2025 A total of 468 individuals attended the performances
Alice in Wonderland: a Pantomime. Show dates 24[th] , 25[th] & 31[st] January 2026 A total of 1,158 individuals attended the performances

The Contribution towards running costs made for each performance is shown below.

SHOW Ladies Day Lest we Forget Agatha Crusty All Shook Up Alice in Wonderland Other events & Hires	Receipts Payments Contribution £ £ £ 2,398 974 1,424 1,914 1,591 323 3,284 1,046 2,238 7,760 5,743 2,017 13,018 4,485 8,533 3,280 908 2372 31,654 14,747 16,907

Other Events & Hires

In addition to the productions:

5 social events were held for members their friends and Family; this included a fish and chip supper, a Bollywood dance evening, a leaving do for one of our members, a Christmas Fair followed by a quiz and a screening of a short film made by one of our members.
2 fundraisers were held at the theatre, the first being an open mic night to raise funds for roof repairs the second was a coffee morning put on by the production team of Bake off to raise funds to pay for the hire of the set.
The theatre was hired out twice, once by Telford Theatre for a Tina Turner tribute act and once by MPM entertainment who put on a variety show, both of which generated some additional income for the theatre.

The Theatre

Maintenance at the theatre continued, the carpark at the side of the theatre has been redone, new lights have been installed in the carpark, new heaters were installed in the Bar, new stage lights and hazer have been purchased, new flats have been built for the stage and work has started on repairing significant leaks on the roof and weather proofing to prevent future leaks.

Plans for Future Periods

We have the following shows planned for the coming year:

Don’t Dress for Dinner: A play. Show Dates: 16[th] – 18[th] April 2026
The Great British Bake off the Musical: A Musical. Show Dates: 18[th] – 20[th] June 2026
The Weird Will of Willy Williams: A Play. Show Dates: 8[nd] – 10[th] October 2026
Pantomime: TBC. Show Dates: January 2027

Financial Review

We started the financial year in a very healthy position, with an opening balance of £36,519. During the course of the year, our receipts totalled £37,419 and our payments £37,467. £5,644 of these payments was spent on the maintenance mentioned above.

The Theatre continues to be a recipient for the Twincl Lottery run by Telford and Wrekin Council and received £1,273 from lottery tickets purchased. We have also received donations of £167 from Easy Fundraising.

The Theatre has been lucky enough in 2025/26 to have received a donation of £500 from Telford & Wrekin Council towards the roof repaid funds and a further £1,125 funding to put on Lest we forget for the VE Day 80[th ] celebrations.

Reserves Policy

With regard to reserves, the trustees have reviewed the reserves policy, we aim to maintain a level commensurate with the running of the Theatre for 12 months excluding show specific expenses.

The trustees continue to review the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risk to the organisation, a reduction of income. At the end of March 2026, the charity’s total reserves were £36,471, £35,604 of which is unrestricted. Against the unrestricted spend (excluding Show expenses) of £18,891, the level of free reserves available to the charity is equivalent to just over 22.6 months running costs (excluding restricted funds and show expenses) meaning this year our reserves are £16,713 higher than required.

Investment Policy

The Trustees and Management Committee have taken a low risk approach to investment, and maintain all the Society’s liquid assets in a bank account.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Structure of the Little Theatre

The Trustees delegate the running of the Little Theatre to a committee which runs the affairs of the charity. The committee meet on a monthly basis to discuss all aspects of the Little Theatre, including its finances, its productions, its maintenance, its fundraising and its membership. Committee members are nominated from within the membership and appointed at the AGM.

Governing Document

The Little Theatre is an unincorporated registered charity based in Donnington in Shropshire. It is governed by a Constitution adopted on 21[st] October 1986 and was entered on the Register of Charities by the Charity Commission of England and Wales on 17[th] February 1987. The constitution was amended on 24[th] February 1988 and 23[rd] May 2017 and is currently being reviewed again by the committee.

Organisational Structure

The charity has a Board of Trustees consisting of at least 4 but no more than 10 individuals. The board consists of a president, a chair, a treasurer, a secretary and up to 6 elected trustees. The charity trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity.

Appointment of Trustees

All Trustees are required to be members of the Theatre prior to being recruited as a charity trustee. At the AGM in July 2019, it was agreed that all trustees would be made up of members of the Little theatre committee. All Committee members are appointed or reelected at the AGM by the current membership in attendance and are then appointed as Trustees.

Recruitment and Trustee Induction and Training

Whilst there is no formal induction process in place, trustees for The Little Theatre upon appointment are encouraged to read through the literature available on the Charity commission website to ensure they know their responsibilities. Existing trustee will discuss the following aspects of the organisation with potential new trustees and answer any questions arising.

The role, responsibility and obligations of the charity trustees
The main documents which set out the operational framework for the charity
The current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts
Future plans and objectives of the charity

In addition to the above, a copy of the latest Annual Report is given to all new trustees along with a charity trustee role description, a copy of the constitution, the Charity Commission’s Trustee Handbook, the organisation’s main policy documents and the latest financial statement.

Trustee training is provided as and when required.

Risk Management

The trustees review its key risks during the course of the year and established a risk register of the major risks to which the charity may be exposed and systems have been established to mitigate any identified risks. The risk of not being able to adequately fund the charity is the biggest risk which is why the trustees try to maintain a minimum level of unrestricted equivalent to 12 months expenditure (excluding show expenses) as a contingency for emergencies

Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with Health and Safety for all visitors whilst visiting the theatre. Disclosure and Barring checks are made on all potential new volunteers where appropriate. General Data Protection Regulations, Vulnerable Adults and Child Protection policies are adhered to.

Responsibilities of the Trustees

The trustees must hold a minimum of nine meetings a year, there must be a quorum of two elected Officers and 3 elected Executive Committee members present at each (all of which are Trustees for the Theatre).

Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its financial position at the end of that year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended
practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is appropriate to
presume that the charity will not continue in existence.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity (Accounts Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Acknowledgements

Little Theatre Donnington would like to thank all of their members, volunteers and supporters for the skills, commitment and time that they have contributed throughout the year. Without your support we simply would not be able to do the work we do.

The Trustee Annual Report was approved by the Board of Trustees on the 12[th] June 2026 and were signed on their behalf by

………………………………………………….… Mr Stephen Oliver-Davies, Chair

………………………………………………. Mrs Sarah Bishop, Treasurer

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Charity Name: The Little Theatre Donnington Charity Status: Unincorporated Registered Charity Number: 518484 Registered Office and The Little Theatre Operational Address: Wellington Road Donnington Shropshire TF2 8AW Telephone Number: 07971993802 Email Address: thelittletheatredonnington@gmail.com Website: www.thelittletheatredonnington.co.uk

Charity Trustees:

Chair Mr Stephen Oliver-Davies Secretary Mr Dale Pritchard Treasurer Mrs Sarah Bishop Trustees Mrs Carol Robertson Mrs Vicki-Louise Anderson-Stevens Miss Leigh Kendal Miss Annika Dixon (Stepped down July 2025) Mrs Kimberley Roberts Mrs Amanda Nicolle Miss Jessie Bracken (Appointed July 2025) President: Mr Cyril Cox (passed away April 2025) Mrs Cynthia Shaw (appointed July 2025) Independent Examiner: Bev Richardson M.A.A.T Charity AID Accountancy Services Woodland Lodge Dunston Business Village Stafford Road Dunston Staffordshire ST18 9AB Bank: Lloyds Bank 113 The Border Telford Shopping Centre Telford Shropshire TF3 4AE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LITTLE THEATRE, DONNINGTON

I report on the financial statements of The Little Theatre, Donnington for the year ended 31 March 2026 which are set out on pages 8 to 11.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) and that an independent examination is required.

It is my responsibility to:

Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act 2011
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
To state whether any particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity 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 you as the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures 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 examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 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.

Bev Richardson M.A.A.T.

Date: 12[th] June 2026

On Behalf of Charity AID Accountancy Services Woodland Lodge Dunston Business Village Stafford Road, Dunston Staffordshire ST18 9AB

THE LITTLE THEATRE DONNINGTON

Receipts and Payments Account for the period 1[st] April 2025 – 31[st] March 2026

Notes RECEIPTS Grants & Donations 1 Membership 2 Charitable Activities 3 Generating Income 4 Investment Income 5 Other Income 6 PAYMENTS Generating Income 7 Charity Running Costs 8 Charitable Activities 9 Maintenance 10 Governance 11 Other Expenditure 12 ASSETS & INVESTMENTS Fixed Assets 13 Investments TOTAL PAYMENTS Net incoming resources Transfer between funds Cash Funds from Last year TOTAL CASH FUNDS	Unrestricted Restricted 2026 2025 £ £ £ £ 1,918 557 2,475 987 1,723 0 1,723 4,349 20,259 810 21,069 23,728 11,975 177 12,152 10,743 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
	35,875 1,544 37,419 39,807
	3,844 0 3,844 5,241 11,901 308 12,209 11,847 11,929 530 12,459 13,142 6,736 1,965 8,701 5,920 224 0 224 200 30 0 30 485
	34,664 2,803 37,467 36,835
	0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
	0 0 0 0 0

	34,664 2,803 37,467 36,835

	1,211 -1,259 -48 2,972

	0 0 0 0
	34,394 2,124 36,518 33,546 35,604 866 36,471 36,518

THE LITTLE THEATRE DONNINGTON

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31[st] March 2026

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
CASH FUNDS
Petty Cash (General)	654	0	654
Petty Cash (Bar)	0	0	0
Lloyds Bank	34,950	866	35,816
OTHER MONETARY ASSETS	0	0	0
INVESTMENT ASSETS	0	0	0
ASSETS RETAINED FOR THE
CHARITIES OWN USE
Fixtures, Fittings, Equipment	1,229	0	1,229
Sound System	1,339	0	1,339
Bar Stock	981	0	981
LIABILITIES
Independent
Examination	200	0	200
Subscribers Advanced tickets sales	603	0	603
Bake off Pianist fees	280	0	280

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 12[th] June 2026 and were signed on their behalf by

………………………………………………….… Mr Stephen Oliver-Davies, Chair

………………………………………………. Mrs Sarah Bishop, Treasurer

Notes to the Accounts

1 Grants & Donations Grants Donations 2 Membership Membership Subscribers Socials 3 Charitable Activities Box office Programmes Pianist Fund Branded clothing 4 Generating Income Raffles Refreshments & Bar Sales Advertising Sale of Scripts Theatre Hire Twincl Lottery Give as you live Easy Fundraising Sale of Theatre Equipment/Props Stall fees for Fair 5 Investment Interest Building Society Interest 6 Other Income Miscellaneous 7 Cost of generating Funds Refreshments & Bar Stock Raffles Socials	Unrestricted Restricted 2026 2025 £ £ £ £ 1,125 500 1,625 0 793 57 850 987
	1,918 557 2,475 987
	1,120 0 1,120 1,795 603 0 603 819 0 0 0 1,735
	1,723 0 1,723 4,349
	18,526 0 18,526 21,709 564 0 564 810 0 810 810 740 1,169 0 1,169 469
	20,259 810 21,069 23,728
	1,414 0 1,414 1,944 7,594 177 7,771 6,465 295 0 295 310 0 0 0 5 960 0 960 580 1,273 0 1,273 1,255 0 0 0 0 167 0 167 184 227 0 227 0 45 0 45 0
	11,975 177 12,152 10,743
	0 0 0 0
	0 0 0 0
	0 0 0 0
	0 0 0 0
	3,778 0 3,778 2,939 66 0 66 51 0 0 0 2,251 3,884 0 3,844 5,241

Notes to the Accounts continued

8 Charity Running costs Insurance Telephone Postage, Stationery, Printing Rent Water Rates Electricity IT/Website Electrical Equipment Other Equipment Publicity 9 Charitable Activities Programmes & Posters Calendars Scripts Costumes, Props, Materials Theatre & Bar Staff Hire Licences & Rental Fees Technical Fund Musician Fees Performing rights Branded Clothing Misc. Show Expenses Transaction fees 10 Maintenance Fire & Safety Inspection General Maintenance Cleaning & Hygiene Refurbishment 11 Governance Independent Examination Trustee Expenses 12 Other Miscellaneous 13 Fixed Assets	2,757 0 2,757 2,741 0 0 0 0 301 0 301 244 3,000 0 3,000 3,000 923 0 923 871 1,795 0 1,795 3,675 1,879 0 1,879 903 1,120 308 1.428 56 0 0 0 83 126 0 126 274
	11,901 308 12,209 11,847
	768 0 768 584 0 0 0 0 102 0 102 1,200 2,453 0 2,453 1,559 380 0 380 225 2,396 0 2,396 4,265 552 0 552 519 2,370 530 2,900 2,625 215 0 215 205 803 0 803 570 610 0 610 1,390 1,280 0 1,280 0
	11,929 530 12,459 13,142
	308 0 308 1,964 1,585 0 1,585 2,484 1,817 0 1,817 909 3,026 1,965 4,991 563
	6,736 1,965 8,701 5,920
	200 0 200 200 24 0 24 0
	224 0 224 200
	30 0 30 485
	30 0 30 485
	0 0 0 0