Chairman’s Report 18[th] September 2023
Welcome,
I want to start by quoting our Society’s Constitution objectives. “The object of the Society is to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts, to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts, to assist and further such charitable institutions and charitable purposes as the Committee shall from time to time determine.”
Through our varied programme and other charitable activities, I believe we are achieving our objectives. This year we have seen a variety of different shows from the Society. Starting the year with our Centenary Concert back in September 2022.
The concert enabled some of our older members, who can no longer perform in our on-stage shows to join in and be a part of our 100[th] anniversary production. We also welcomed back some past members and included our Youth section in the show. A truly inclusive production which was very nostalgic and had great feedback from those who came to see it.
Our next production was the pantomime and again included some of our youth members and quite a big cast. This production won us a NODA Best Pantomime Award so congratulations to everyone involved.
Wyrd Sisters was our Spring play, and this attracted a different kind of audience to the Regal. Terry Pratchett fans aplenty. It was great to be able to include different members of the Society who hadn’t been successful in gaining parts in other productions.
Our final show of the year was Half A Sixpence. A show that was started pre-pandemic and postponed to this Summer. It was well worth the wait and was one of those musicals that leaves you with a smile on your face. This cast was one of our biggest yet with 40 people on stage. A task which was a little ambitious but always hard to turn people away.
Quite apart from our main shows, our Youth group has produced two different styles of show this year. The older group attempted Shakespeare with Much Ado About Nothing, for which they achieved a very high standard. The younger group did a musical call Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies. Again, showing what diverse talents our youth group has. It is always a joy to see our younger members in action. Many of our adult members were once youth members and quite a few are in this year’s pantomime.
By doing three shows a year The Society has managed to attract a good size membership and good audiences which means we can afford to keep our prices at a good level and offer reduced prices to concessions.
Other community events we have participated in are; being invited along to the Woolpit WI Christmas meeting last year where some of our members performed a few musical numbers. Thanks to Sue and Craig for organising that.
After a request from one of the Mums of our Youth group members, some of our members have been along to a local Dementia Group called Kirsten’s Home Care who do a Friday club that support those still being supported to live in their own homes. They did a presentation about the Society and performed some songs for them. This has been greatly appreciated and they would like us to go
back on a regular basis each month. Anyone interested in taking part, please let us know. Thanks to Meryl, Craig and Nyeisha for their time thus far.
We have also managed to raise some money for the Chrones and Colitis UK charity by donating £2 per script from Pantomime that Ian kindly printed for us.
I also want to mention the Wednesday crew who turn up each week to build our sets and keep the workshop going. They are mostly retired, and not only do they get to do what they enjoy but they also get to meet up and have coffee together. Big thank you to them and the other departments such as Costumes and Props who also work hard in the background maintaining those spaces.
A big thank you to all those involved in the Social Events organised throughout the year. A great opportunity to spend time with other members and friends without the pressure of rehearsals etc.
This is my final year as Chairman, and I have also decided to take a break from the Committee after several years’ service. I wish the new Committee well.
Jo Chadwick
Chairman 2022/23
This is the financial report for Stowmarket ODS year June 2022 to May 2023.
The start of the year we introduced the use of an electronic reporting system. This is designed specifically for groups clubs and associations. It contains a detailed membership area so we can ensure subs are paid and for little sods it will, if we ask it, invoice termly. I am able to segregate things between the productions or events that we hold which gives us a clearer picture of where our income is coming from and spending is going. It will allow authorised personnel to view the accounts through the year so people like the membership secretary can chase those who haven’t paid.
Access was given to the accountant, and he has formatted the accounts into those presented to you today. I am pleased to confirm that the system agrees with the figures before you although some of the sub sections he has detailed the items into, do not follow the cost code structure. The combined figures and totals are accurate, and I have been able to extrapolate which figures he has put where. Mr Orin has promised that for next year he will move to use the fund and cost codes used by the group.
So to make the formal accounts easier to understand I have provided you with details of the individual shows plus general running costs
Daisy pulls it off Loss of £1215.13 This was the first show after lock down and the audience numbers reflected this. However, it was our way of showing to the local community that the arts were getting back to normal, and this was reflected in our ticket price.
Centenary Show Profit £69.43 This was created as a celebration show for our 100[th] year with no profit intended. Giving everyone the chance to take part and ticket prices at a minimum to only cover costs
Panto Cinderella Profit £16445.02 Panto is always used as the whole community event. Being open to all ages and abilities both on and off the stage. Ticket prices reflected the cost-of-living problems and this, along with extending the run meant we were able to encourage more people to be involved in live theatre. The extra dates helped the additional profit which we will feed back into next years shows.
Wyrd Sisters Profit £3634.25. This was a totally new genre for the group and there was much uncertainty about success. However, SODS are all about bringing a variety of theatre genre to the community and clever publicity enabled the show to reach the hardened Pratchett fans. They came dressed appropriately and many left saying they would come again. For the regular followers we opened they eyes to something they would other wise not see.
The general running accounts show the cost for rent and electricity increasing considerably over last year and insurance and general materials have also increased.
We continue to support our youth group and their finances are shown in the main figures. All this is detail of the general account which, in conclusion, has seen an annual profit of £8427.38
The committee have plans to use this to further our investment with the theatre and other local community groups.
The annual report for the charity commission was sent within the allotted time frame
As treasurer I agree the accounts as presented
Stowm#rket Optrgtte & DrArnAtic Society Page 2 Ittdependent Examiner's Report Year ended 31 May 2023 We report on th¢ ac£ounts of the Society for the year ended 31 May 2023, which are set out on pages 3 to S. Rtspettive Responsibilities of Member5 of the M#nagemefftt Committee grtd Ex#Èniner A5 the charity'5 genernl ¢ommitiee you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts,. you consider that the audit requirement ofsection 43 121 of the Charitie5 Act 1993 (the Adl does noi apply. It is our responsibility to sta, on th¢ basis of procedures specified in the General Dire¢¢ions given by Ihe Charity Commissioners under seciion 4317} (b) of the Act. whether partiru13r tnalters have come to our attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Report Our examinaiion was earried out in accordance with the General Direction5 given by the Charity Cornmis5ioners. An examination tncludes a review of the accounting records k¢pi by the ¢haTity and a totnparistsn of the a¢ctsunts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual ttems or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking cxplanatiolls frorn you AS tTUStees ¢onceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidetL¢e tha¢ w()uld be required in an audil and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the a¢counts. Independent ExamTner's StatetNeni In connection with our examinaiion, no matter has Come to our atkntion.. (l) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any tnateria] resped the requirements to keep accounting rerdS in accordatxce with seclion 41 of the Act. and to prepare accounts whith actord with the accountin8 reeords and to comply with th¢ aceountin8 r¢quir¢rnents of the A¢¢ have not been met- or (2) to which. in our opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the eccounts to be rvached. Mark Orrin llldepend¢Mt ¢X4mltt¢r Stowtax Llmlted Chartered Accountant5 5 Poplar Hill Stowmarket IPA4 2AS Dated 14 September 2023
Pag8 3 STOWMARKET OPERATIC & DRAMATIC SOCIETY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2023 RECEIPTS 2023 2022 Production Income Ticket salas Programme sales Other sales Programme advertising Little SODS youth group Script sales Acting fees 42,006.90 9.90 83.27 225.00 2,613.70 65.00 1.590.00 36,972.00 662.50 511.00 0.00 3,202.00 103.00 1,340.00 47,540.77 42,790.50 Subscriptions and Donations Subscriptions General donatsons 2,892.00 1,151.00 2,220.) 718.50 4,043.00 2.938 50 Fund Ralslng Raffle T shirt sales other fund raislng and so¢ial events 1.430.80 254.00 450.50 713.00 649.50 2,13S.30 1,362.50 Trading Income Costumes Equipment hire 2,030.00 100.00 645.00 150.00 2.130.00 795.00 Rèeèlpts from Assets HSBC business account interest NS&I investment ae¢ount interest 56.70 5.49 1.53 42.74 62.19 44.27 TOTAL RECEIPTS 55.911.26 47,930.77
Page 4 STOWMARKET OPERATIC & DRAMATIC SOCIETY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2023 PAYMENTS 2023 2022 Production Expèndstura Programm6 printing Publicity Costumes and make up Set and décor Lighting and equipmgnt Hall and th&atr6 hire Royalties Books and scripts Orchestra & rehearsal pianists Miscellaneous expenses 713.57 2,931.80 2,194.83 1,397.73 5,131.61 16.095.03 1.266.60 182.70 1,915.00 120.64 371.00 1,922.60 628.34 2,190.39 4.176.45 12.039.45 3,673.88 274.57 1,050.00 489.45 31.949.51 26.816.13 Trading Costs Premises rent Property maintenance Purchase of equipment and matertals Heat, light and water NODA subscription Miscellaneous expenses 5,645.00 241.28 114.00 2,226.60 230.00 232.41 5,580.00 77.37 2,220.46 508.60 185.00 153.55 8,689.29 8.724.98 Managom¥nt and Admlnlstration Printing and photocopying Bank charges Insurance Committee members expenses Catering for centenary Little SODS Postage and ststionery 12.00 109.87 959.25 285.99 3,170.56 192.00 11.95 36.79 934.25 42.35 0.00 2.315.62 0.00 4,741.62 3,329.01 Fund Rai$ing Costs Social event expenses T shirt purchases other expenses 424.27 254.00 282.62 0.00 678.27 282.62 TOTAL PAYMENTS 46,058.69 39.152.74
Page S STOWMARKET OPERATIC & DRAMATIC SOCIETY ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2023 BALANCE SHEET 2023 2022 Curr8nt Assats Scenery store deposit HSBC currenl account HSBC business account NS&I investment a¢¢ount Show èxpènsès in advance Income in advance 440.00 53,209.95 15,123.34 5,902.79 1,000.00 -320.00 440.00 44,782.57 15,066.64 5,897.30 1,452.00 -2,135.00 75,356.08 65,503.51 Rgprosèntsd By: Balance of funds brought forward Net paymentslreceipls for the year 65,503.51 9,852.57 56,725.48 8,778.03 Balance of funds carried forward 75,356.08 65.503.51