The new season started off slowly, with audience numbers below 30% for Alan Bennett's 'Office Suite'. However, attendance rose for the subsequent two shows. 'Last of the Summer Wine', our December performance, emerged as the season's highlight, selling over 50% of all seats. Unfortunately, the final show of the season saw a dip, falling below 30% capacity. Meanwhile, our external hires remain popular, consistently selling over 80% of available tickets.
A new youth group, Rising Stars, launched with a 'play in a day' event during the school holidays, and has its first production scheduled for the beginning of the upcoming financial year.
This year has presented significant challenges, including a break-in right before our December show. Our bar's refrigerators were destroyed, and the computer equipment necessary for our shows was either damaged or stolen. A considerable amount of stock was taken, along with various acts of vandalism in the foyer and our upstairs bar. Despite these setbacks, our members and supporters generously donated, cleaned up, and arranged for temporary refrigeration, ensuring the show could continue. Without such generosity in time and financial support, we would have faced a loss once again this year.
For the first time in three years, we exceeded income over expenditure. This is due to increased revenue from performances and a full year's rent from the rooms at the back of the theatre.
The council has collaborated with Ekosgen this year to develop a Strategic Outline Case, which will allow the theatre to seek funding from various sources for improvements.
We extend our gratitude to our members for maintaining the theatre's operations. Our monthly coffee mornings and various social evenings for members have continued throughout the year. Our members have also consistently supported the front of house for every show, despite the challenges of organising and the occasional technological mishap during performances.
Our resolute maintenance volunteers have worked relentlessly to ensure compliance with current regulations, maintain the safety of the building, and construct sets for our shows.
Productions are actively seeking new ways to engage members and audiences in the selection of plays and finding what resonates well. Plans for acting and directing workshops are in progress, with the goal of establishing them soon.
Stage management and technical support rely on a small group of dedicated individuals who volunteer their time, often working around their jobs, to support all productions.
Numerous local businesses have once again sponsored the theatre this year. Thanks to our members' efforts in making phone calls, creating, and publishing advertisements, we have secured income that has been earmarked specifically for future theatre publicity.
This year, we have undertaken house-to-house leaflet distribution to promote our shows. Our social media presence, including Facebook, Instagram, and Mailchimp, has been instrumental in growing our audience and consistently promoting our shows to increase visibility. Our publicity efforts are continuously exploring additional avenues to raise awareness of our theatre, such as features in Cumbria Life, listings on Ents24, and more.
We often create our own costumes to minimise expenses, and we're fortunate to have talented members capable of taking on these vital roles.
Like any business, we depend on our Finance Director, whose wise management has allowed us to continue despite losses over the past two years. We've established our own booking office and web pages to facilitate online ticket purchases. Naturally, we require actors and directors who are prepared to volunteer their time to stage a production, enabling us to fulfil our commitment to delivering performances.
As I end my final year as Chair, I reflect on my tenure with pride, grateful for the dedicated individuals who contribute their time to our success. I seize this moment to express my gratitude to my fellow council members and our president for their guidance and cooperation over these three years, and I extend my best wishes to the theatre for its future endeavours. Next year the theatre will celebrate it’s 90th birthday, lets hope it’s a good one!
This year we are holding our AGM on the 27th August, in the auditorium.
The council members present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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 2019).
The Charity's objects are to promote, maintain, improve and advance education, particularly through the production of plays and the encouragement of the arts including the arts of drama, mime, dance, singing and music.
The organisation is an educational arts charity delivering benefits through theatre productions. Membership is open to all members of the general public and involves people from the community who offer their skills. These skills include the production and maintenance of the costumes, the construction of the sets, performing on stage and assisting with the operation of the bar and coffee bar. The coffee bar is open to the general public on Saturday mornings and the premises and costumes are available for hire to other organisations. There are concessionary fees available for young people and those aged over 60 for both theatre performances and membership subscriptions. Membership subscriptions for young people also include free admission to performances.
The council members have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The main achievements and activities of the Charity through the year are given in full detail in the Chair's report.
During the year the Charity received total income of £71,276, of which £61,276 was unrestricted income. This is an increase in unrestricted income of £12,387 from last year as ticket sales continue to recover following the Covid-19 pandemic. Income this year came from subscriptions, ticket sales, advertising, coffee/bar sales, hire of the auditorium and adjoining rooms, generous donations following a break in at the theatre, and £10,000 restricted grant income. Expenditure has also increased from £72,936 to £77,575. This has led to a loss of £6,299, which includes £18,202 for annual depreciation of fixed assets.
Cash reserves are held in low risk bank accounts. The Directors aim to generate a surplus each year that can be used to further develop the organisation.
The Directors have a reserves policy to maintain 12 months' general day-to-day running and maintenance costs which in a normal year is estimated to be around £30,000. This was met at the year end.
Workington Playgoers Club is a company limited by guarantee and is regulated by the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 9 October 2009 as amended by a Special Resolution dated 14 September 2010.
The council members, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The council members are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting for the following year. There is a Theatre Management Group which looks after the theatre day to day running, and a Playgoers Production Committee to exclusively look after all of the activities of Workington Playgoers. These are both chaired by members of the Council and are made up from council members and other members who are co-opted as required for specific tasks. All major policy items are referred back to Council. Council meets quarterly to concentrate on overall strategy and forward planning. The Theatre Management Group, Production Team and Publicity and Marketing Team meet monthly.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The council members, who are also the directors of Workington Playgoers Club for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Council Members' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the council members 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 the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the council members are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The council members are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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 Companies Act 2006. 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.
The council members' report was approved by the Board of Council Members.
I report to the council members on my examination of the financial statements of Workington Playgoers Club (the charity) for the year ended 31 May 2024.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 10 to 21 form part of these financial statements.
Workington Playgoers Club is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Brockbank Curwen Cain & Hall Limited, 68 Curzon Street, Maryport, Cumbria, CA15 6DA.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the council members have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the council members continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the council members in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received. All income is net of VAT where applicable.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the council members are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Grants receivable
Subscriptions
Sales - tickets, programmes and bar
Advertising income
Sales - tickets, programmes and bar
Sales - tickets, programmes and bar
Sales - tickets, programmes and bar
Golden Jubilee Club
Feed in tariff
Golden Jubilee Club
Production costs
Sundry costs
Visiting performers
Purchases
Bad debts written off
Rates and water
Light and heat
Repairs and maintenance
Insurance
Telephone
Printing, postage and stationery
Bank charges
Sundry expenses
Cleaning
None of the council members (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
During the year 2 council members (2023: 4) were reimbursed expenses totalling £2,485 (2023: £3,130) in respect of stationery, materials for performances, admin, bar purchases and maintenance costs. No council member received any payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: Nil).
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The property redevelopment fund relates to restricted funding received for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Wilson Street and Washington Street properties, and is being depreciated over the expected useful lives of the assets.
The rising stars fund (previously theatre royal youth) is funds received for this activity.
The RWM grant relates to funding received for specific expenditure, of which £5,000 has been spent before the year end.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The heating system/photovoltaic cells fund relates to the replacement of the heating system and installation of photovoltaic cells on the roof. As the grant conditions have been met, the balance has been transferred to a designated fund and the annual depreciation charge is put through this fund.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none), other than expenses reimbursed to council members detailed in note 12.