Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
Annual Report & Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
Website: www.southbankplayhouse.com Facebook: @southbankplayhouse
Company Limited by Guarantee Company No: NI035043
Charity Registration No: NIC 102831
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
## South Bank Playhouse Ltd
Trustees/Directors (at 1[st] May 2025)
Katherine Beggs (Chair)
Una Convery
Gillian Grattan
John Grattan (Treasurer)
Jenny Groves
Heather Johnson (Secretary)
Eamon Jones
Seán O’Hare
Katherine Weir Joseph Wildy Miriam Witts
Registered Office
1A Kimberley Drive Belfast BT7 3EE
Company number NI035043
Charity number NIC 102831
Bankers
Danske Bank, Donegall Square West, Belfast BT1 6JS
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
## Trustees’ Report for year ended 30th April 2025
## Introduction
This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and in line with the guidance produced by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. It also represents the Directors’ report for the purposes of company legislation.
## Constitution and governance
South Bank Playhouse Ltd, also known as Southbank Players, is a company limited by guarantee and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 20[th] October 1998. The objects of the company were amended by special resolution passed on 15[th] August 2011. The company was registered as a charity by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 14[th] August 2015.
The Trustees constitute the directors of the company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, and trustees of the charity for the purposes of charity legislation.
The Trustees, of whom there should be not less than three, are appointed by members of the company at the Annual General Meeting and form the management committee of the company. They are appointed for a period of five years and are eligible for re-appointment for a second term. In 2024/25, the AGM (and so elections) took place in June 2024. Trustees who served during the year ending 30th April 2025 were as follows:
Katherine Beggs (Chair) Una Convery (from June 2024) David Fullerton (until June 2024) Gillian Grattan John Grattan (Treasurer) Jenny Groves Heather Johnson (Secretary) Eamon Jones Seán O’Hare (from June 2024) Ruth Osborne (until June 2024) Katherine Weir Joseph Wildy Miriam Witts
The Trustees are responsible for the policies, activities, and assets of the charity. They met as the management committee eight times during the year ended 30th April 2024 to plan and manage the activities of the charity and to take appropriate decisions. No Trustee received any remuneration for services as a member of the Board of Trustees and the charity has no employees.
The Trustees have put in place an equal opportunities policy, a GDPR policy, financial procedures, and a safeguarding policy, all of which are reviewed regularly.
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
## Purposes of the charity
We are an amateur theatre company with members from a wide range of backgrounds. We have produced quality drama that enhances and contributes to a rich cultural life in Belfast and across Northern Ireland since 1998. We produce drama that is accessible to members of the public of all ages, from a variety of genres and both new and established playwrights. We present both formal productions and rehearsed readings, and also provide space for our members to write and produce original works. Additionally, we open our doors to other drama companies and charities to use our space for their own charitable activities that enhance the quality of their members’ lives.
We are based in leased premises in a former Scout Hall on Kimberley Drive, in the Ormeau Road area of Southeast Belfast. The facilities include a large performance space which has bleacher seating with an audience capacity of 65 people, a lighting rig, and sound and lighting decks. Back stage we have a costume store and other storage rooms, and a set store located outside the back of the hall.
The purposes of our charity as set out in our governing document are as follows:
- a) To enhance & contribute to the cultural life of Belfast and the surrounding area;
- b) To present, promote, organize, manage & produce quality plays and events of cultural value;
- c) To encourage appreciation for, and participation in, performing arts activities;
- d) To offer opportunities for all to become involved in performing arts activities through the cultural activities we engage in;
- e) To promote and develop performing arts for the public in the area of benefit.
## Our membership
At 30th April 2025 we had a total of 81 subscribed members as well as a number of other supporters and participants in the company. The Trustees are pleased to report that this represented a net increase of around 6 members during the year.
Our AGM on 14[th] June 2024 was well attended, with 23 members of the company. Two members of the Committee, Gillian Grattan and Eamon Jones, were renewed for their second five-year term. Ruth Osborne and David Fullerton both finished their time on the Committee. Una Convery and Seán O’Hare were duly elected as new members of the Committee.
## The South Bank year in numbers
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
## South Bank Productions
Our main activity during a normal year is the auditioning, rehearsal and performance of three productions in the summer, autumn, and spring. In 2024-25 Miriam Witts undertook the major project of organising and compiling a full Play Directory of all of the scripts we have available as a substantial resource for our members, and particularly for those who are considering directing a production or rehearsed reading.
The Summer production in 2024 was _The Odd Couple (female version)_ , by Neil Simon. The play is a retelling of the classic play, but set in the 1980s and with a gender reversal from the original. Olive and Florence try to live together despite wildly different personalities, hosting their friends for Trivial Pursuit games and a doomed dinner date with the handsome Spanish brothers who live upstairs. The sold-out performances took place over six nights in the last weekend of July and first weekend of August to rave reviews. The cast included two new members of the company, and we also welcomed new members into the backstage crew.
The Autumn 2024 production was _The Ghost Train,_ by Arnold Ridley. Written in 1924, the play is one of the first in the ‘strangers on a train’ mystery genre, as disparate group of passengers are stranded overnight in a haunted train station. When the Station Manager dies suddenly, and the group is joined by suspicious locals, frightening events take place in a ghost story-cum-spy thriller that keeps the audience on its toes. Directed by Min Witts, the six performances in November sold out in record time. The cast again included new and returning members. Audiences gave excellent feedback, and we were visited on the final night by our sister-Company, Athlone Little Theatre, who sent rave reviews of the performance and set.
Our third production for 2024-25 was _Da,_ by Hugh Leonard. Directed by Eamon Jones, Da is a classic memory play. The story explores the complicated relationships between a child and his parents, particularly his father; Charlie has returned to Dublin for his father’s funeral, and finds himself reliving (and interacting with) old memories and the irascible figure of his father. The cast of 10 included two new members, and we welcomed back an old member after many years away. Six performances took place over the first two weekends of April, with sold-out audiences who celebrated the show.
## Other South Bank shows and events
An ongoing contribution of the Company to the community has always been a sustained schedule of other shows and events for both our members and the wider public. PlayGroup, as a regular development opportunity for our members to explore scripts, continued; this year we focused on scripts with interesting characters and complex production demands. We explored _Rebecca_ (Daphne Du Maurier), _7 Stories_ (Morris Panych), _Don’t Dress for Dinner_ (Marc Camolettie), _Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead_ (Tom Stoppard), and _The Welkin_ (Lucy Kirkwood). . In March, we held a special PlayGroup to read Nigel Boone’s radio play, _The Cult of the Budgiegar_ .
In November 2024, we were delighted to host two invitation-only performances of an original play penned by one of our long-time members, John McAteer. _The Widow’s Son_ features the madcap adventures of a young podcaster keen to explore wild conspiracy theories and secret societies. He attempts to ‘infiltrate’ a local chapter of Masons, who immediately figure out what he is about and play along – with hilarious results. McAteer and his team used the performances as an opportunity to showcase the production for members of Masonic lodge and our members, and to prepare for their upcoming tour in 2025.
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
Each year, we host special events to recognize and support our members. In May 2024, we hosted a memorial evening for one of our founding members who passed away during the year, inviting friends and family from as far as Germany and England to gather and remember together, and to watch a miscellany of scenes from the many plays in which she had participated. In recent years, some of our members have faced the challenges of cancer diagnosis in their close families. In recognition and support, in September 2024 we hosted a Charity Quiz to raise awareness and funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust and OGCancerNI. The Quiz was open to members, friends, and family, and was very well attended.
Finally, each year we welcome our members into the Hall for group events. In the summer of 2024, two ‘maintenance days’ brought members together to clean, maintain, and improve the theatre space. Every December, we also welcome our members for an annual Christmas party featuring food, entertainment, and holiday cheer.
## Other uses of the South Bank Hall
We actively encourage use of our facilities by other arts groups and charities to ensure that the facilities are well utilised and enjoyed by others. In difficult financial times for the arts sector, we have prioritised ongoing support of the local theatre community while also ensuring that the Hall is available to company members in their endeavours.
In 2024-25, 7 groups used the facilities, primarily for rehearsals, workshops, and filming.
We are grateful to our members Kate Beggs and Penny Beggs who manage the subletting of the hall.
## Marketing and promotion of our activities
Throughout this year, our focus has been to continue to engage with and connect to our members and to contribute to the rich cultural life of the community. We continue to maintain our public-facing website, which highlights both our current productions and the broader and historic activities of the Company. Regular Members Bulletins continue to be shared across our mailing lists; we continue to maintain two, one members-only and a public subscribers list. We also further developed our public and private Facebook pages, as well as our Instagram account.
## Improvements to the premises
Although we do not own the premises, we nevertheless continue to both maintain and improve the Hall in order to enhance the experience for our visitors, and to keep the facilities in good order. Importantly, in 2024-25 we renewed our long-term lease with the Scouting Association. All necessary certifications (ie fire safety) are up-to-date, and we regularly review and maintain up-to-date health and safety policies, a safeguarding policy, and appropriate governance policies. As part of our regular maintenance, we also updated the heating in the toilets, replaced the timer for the boiler, and refreshed and updated all first aid supplies. We also purchased a new photocopier and printer to enable us to produce programs and other materials in-house.
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
## Looking forward
Southbank Players has a number of plans for the coming 2025-26 year. We will continue our efforts to engage with our members, and to grow the company. We will also continue to engage with and support the local community, and particularly the arts community in Belfast. Planned projects include establishing a digital archive, and exploring a program to develop the skills – such as direction, set building, lights, and sound – of our members. The roof for the Hall has suffered damage over the past year in major storms, and was already suffering from age and wear. We intend to undertake a major project to make necessary repairs. In anticipation of this major expense, we have been building our reserves in accordance with our Reserves Policy, which is formulated according to best practice in the sector.
## Public benefit
The trustees of South Bank Playhouse are pleased to confirm that they have complied with their duty to have regard to the public benefit requirement statutory guidance of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Our public benefit is demonstrated in a number of ways:
- We provide a positive cultural experience by providing high quality drama for the audiences who attend our productions in our hall and elsewhere. This is evidenced by the feedback we receive from audiences, and from managers of other venues where we perform;
- We also provide a positive cultural experience for all those who participate in our activities. Our activities are open to anyone, as evidenced by the extensive involvement of people of all ages and from a wide variety of community and cultural backgrounds;
- Our company’s ethos is to create an informal, friendly environment, welcoming and supporting everybody's participation in an enjoyable and social atmosphere. We have over 70 members, but we have many more who participate for one or two events over the year, or who support us regularly as audience members;
- We seek to engage with the local community in the Ormeau Road area and we are keen to increase the benefit we provide to local community groups by bringing an event out to their venues.
## Financial Review
Our financial statement for the period **1st May 2024 to 30th April 2025** is attached to this report and shows that we recorded a **surplus of £5,562.53** for the year in question. As a result, our total funds at **30th April 2025 were £40,424.94** , compared with **£34,862.41 at 30th April 2024** .
Our total income for the year was **£26,258.43** , an increase from **£24,779.02** in the previous financial year. Our income continues to come primarily from three sources: donations from members (including Gift Aid), donations from audiences at performances, and donations from other groups for use of our premises, props, and costumes.
Breakdown of revenue streams was as follows:
- **Donations from members (including Gift Aid)** amounted to **£11,210.45** , an increase from **£10,372.50** in the previous year.
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Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 30th April 2025
- **Donations for performances** totalled **£12,279.18** , compared with **£10,706.52** in the previous year.
- **Donations for use of premises, props, and costumes** came to **£2,550.00** , compared with **£3,700.00** in the previous year.
Our total expenditure for the year came to **£20,695.90** , compared with **£19,346.84** in the previous financial year. Our main expenditure continues to be the rent paid to our landlords, The Scout Association, which remained at **£9,143.72** for the year.
Other significant expenditures include:
- **Production expenses** totalling **£3,752.39** , reflecting increased activity compared with the previous year’s £2,972.18.
- **Heating and lighting costs** of **£3,257.86** , slightly higher than the previous year due to increased usage of the building and ongoing utility costs.
- **Insurance costs** of **£1,176.84** , up from £890.96 in the previous year.
- **Repairs and renewals** totalling **£2,235.60** , compared with £1,453.15 in the previous year.
- **Bank charges and fees** of **£215.17** , lower than last year’s £556.34.
Depreciation for the year amounted to **£694.00** , consistent with the previous year.
## Declaration
This report was approved by a meeting of the management committee on January 19 2026 and is signed on behalf of trustees.
Katherine Beggs Chair
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## **South Bank Playhouse Ltd.**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for year ending 30 April**
## **2025**
|Note
**Income:**
Donatons and legacies
2
_Income from charitable actvites:_
Performances in other venues
Income from other trading actvites
Investment income
Bank Reconciliaton adjustment
**Total income**
**Expenditure**
_Expenditure on charitable actvites:_
Operaton of theatre
3
Grant disbursement
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure) and net**
**movement in funds for the year**
**Reconciliaton of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Total Funds 2024/25**
**(£)**
**Total Funds 2023/24**
**(£)**
26,039.63
24,779.02
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
218.80
0.00|
|---|---|
||**26,258.43**
**24,779.02**|
||20,695.90
19,346.84
0.00
0.00|
||**20,695.90**
**19,346.84**|
||**5,562.53**
**5,432.18**
34,862.41
29,430.23|
||**40,424.94**
**34,862.41**|
## **South Bank Playhouse Ltd.**
## **Balance Sheet as at 30 April 2025**
|Note
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
4
**Total fxed assets**
**Current assets**
Debtors
_Gif Aid to be claimed_
Prepayment of Royaltes
Prepayment – Water bill
Prepayment - Rent
Subscriptons received afer year end
Subletng received afer year end
Investment - held in fxed term acct
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total current assets**
**Liabilites**
Creditors falling due within one year
_Buildings insurance premium_
_First Night Insurance_
_Eurofre – Fire Safety Checks_
_Expenses paid afer year end_
_Rent for extra month (year end_
_amend)_
**Total liabilites**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilites**
**Creditors**– falling due afer more than one
year
_Buildings insurance premium_
**Net assets**
**The total funds of the charity**|**2025 (£)**
**2024 (£)**
694.69
1,388.69|
|---|---|
||**694.69**
**1,388.69**|
||8,433.11
576.00
206.48
2,285.93
0.00
200.00
10,000.00
9,842.32
0.00
157.45
2,285.93
250.00
0.00
0.00
19,513.87
23,394.48|
||**41,215.39**
**35,930.18**
723.16
1,333.77
0.00
360.71
0.00
0.00
761.98
0.00
0.00
761.98|
||**1,485.13**
**2,456.46**|
||**40,424.94**
**34,862.41**
0.00
0.00|
||**40,424.94**
**34,862.41**|
|||
||**40,424.94**
**34,862.41**|
## **South Bank Playhouse Ltd.**
## **Statement of Cash Flows for year ending 30 April 2025**
|Note
**Cash provided by operatng actvites**
5
**Cash fows from investng actvites**
Purchase of leasehold improvements
**Cash provided by (used in) investng**
**actvites**
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of
the year
**Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of**
**the year**|**2024/25(£)**
**2023/24(£)**|
|---|---|
||**5,900.59**
**2,610.00**|
||(10,000.00)
0.00
0.00
0.00|
||**(10,000.00)**
**0.00**|
||(4,099.41)
2,610.00
23,613.28
21,003.28|
||**19,513.87**
**23,613.28**|
## **Notes on the accounts**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
## a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
South Bank Playhouse Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
The company’s statement of financial activities shows an increase in funds for the year of £5,562.53, and we assert that the charity is a going concern on this basis.
## c) Income
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
## d) Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
e) Tangible fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight line basis as follows:
|**Asset Category**|**Annual rate**|
|---|---|
|Equipment|20%|
|Leasehold improvements|10%|
## **2. Income from donations and legacies**
|Donatons from members (incl. Gif Aid)
Donatons for performances
Donatons for use of premises, props, costumes
Donatons for performances by another company
**Total**
**3. Analysis of expenditure on charitable actvites**
Producton expenses
Payment to other company for performance
Insurance
Rent
Repairs & renewals
Heat & light
Postage, statonery, household
Bank charges & fees
Sundry expenses
Depreciaton & Amortsaton
Total expenditure|**2024-25 (£)**
**2023-24 (£)**
11,210.45
10,372.50
12,279.18
10,706.52
2,550.00
3,700.00
0.00
0.00
**26,039.63**
**24,779.02**
**2024-25 (£)**
**2023-24 (£)**
3,752.39
2,972.18
0.00
0.00
1,176.84
890.96
9,143.72
9,143.72
2,235.60
1,453.15
3,257.86
3,110.37
189.92
513.02
215.17
556.34
30.40
13.10
694.00
694.00|
|---|---|
||20,695.90
19,346.84|
## **4. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1st May 2024
Additons
Disposals
At 30th April 2025
**Depreciaton**
At 1st May 2024
Charge for the year
At 30th April 2025
**Net book value**
at 30th April 2024
At 30th April 2025|**Equipment**
**Leasehold**
**Improvements**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
13,038.38
5,358.71
18,397.09
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00|
|---|---|
||13,038.38
5,358.71
18,397.09|
||12,506.40
4,502.00
17,008.40
266.00
428.00
694.00|
||12,772.40
4,930.00
17,702.40|
||531.98
856.71
1,388.69
265.98
428.71
694.69|
Cs
## 5. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
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|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2024-25|(£)|2023-24|(£)|
|Net movement|in|funds|5,562.53|5,432.18|
|Add|back|depreciation|charge|694.00|694.00|
|Decrease|(increase)|in|debtors|
|Gift Aid payment to be claimed|1,409.21|(1,924.50)|
|Gift Aid payment received|0.00|0.00|
|Accrual for subscription —|P McDonagh|250.00|0.00|
|Subletter payment to be received|(200.00)|0.00|
|Bank Reconciliation|adjustment|(218.80)|0.00|
|Increase|(decrease)|in|creditors|
|Buildings|insurance premium|(610.61)|530.25|
|Prepayment — Rent|0.00|(2,285.93)|
|Prepayment — Royalties|(576.00)|414.00|
|Prepayment|-|Water Bill|(49.03)|0.00|
|Expenses|to|company members|0.00|0.00|
|Additional month’s|rent due|to year end amend|0.00|0.00|
|First Night Insurance|(360.71)|0.00|
|Net cash|provided|by operating|activities|5,900.59|2,610.00|
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Signed:
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a ey
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Examined by:
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bel 4
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John Grattan Treasurer
Christopher Palmer
Date: Z| Z, [ ZOZ6 .
## Date: Te ee LOLS
Independent examiner’s report to the charity trustees of South Bank Playhouse Ltd
| report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2025.
## Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
“It is my responsibility to:
- ® examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act
- e@ follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9}(b) of the Charities Act
- e® state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## Basis of independent examiner’s report
| have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:
1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records
3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, | have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
## Name: Christopher Palmer
Relevant professional qualification ar body: n/a
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Address: 73 Farm Lodge Drive, Greenisland, BT38 8XN
me C/ LSE Le
Signature: Oe ( :
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