THE BURY ST EDMUNDS AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY

Registered charity 278388 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BSEAODS

The object of the society is to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts, to further the development of public appreciation and role in the said arts. To do so, the society promotes plays, comedies, operas, operettas, concerts and other dramatic & operatic works of educational value. Recent productions include "Follies" and "Half A Sixpence" ~ 2013 is our 110th Anniversary Year.

Objects

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 DETERMINE.

Area of benefit: BURY ST. EDMUNDS

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Mid Suffolk, East of England, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£72k

Latest spending

£56k

Registered

1979

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that financial performance improved in 2024, with total income rising to £72,304 and unrestricted funds increasing to £33,821. The trustees consider these reserves sufficient to cover potential losses and maintain future productions, despite noting pressures from increasing costs and audience fluctuations.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: sufficient general reserves to enable them to cover any losses on performances, and to maintain sufficient reserves to enable them to perform future productions (held: £34k)

“The Trustees aim to hold sufficient general reserves to enable them to cover any losses on performances, and to maintain sufficient reserves to enable them to perform future productions.” — page 4

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Bury St Edmunds Operatic and Dramatic Society (matched by registered charity number).

Trustees · trustee networks

Adam Jason Thurkettle
Alana Katy Self
Charles Simpson · trustee of 1 other charity
Nicholas James Metcalfe

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Suffolk

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2024	£72k	£56k
31/12/2023	£55k	£61k
31/12/2022	£34k	£47k
31/12/2021	£35k	£45k
31/12/2020	£4k	£7k

Common questions

Is THE BURY ST EDMUNDS AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that financial performance improved in 2024, with total income rising to £72,304 and unrestricted funds increasing to £33,821. The trustees consider these reserves sufficient to cover potential losses and maintain future productions, despite noting pressures from increasing costs and audience fluctuations. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE THOMPSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£250k
ST EDMUNDS TRUST	1	£27k
TWO RIDINGS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION	1	£10k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with ST AUSTELL AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY.

ST AUSTELL AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY income £26k
SOUTHAMPTON OPERATIC SOCIETY income £36k
BRIDLINGTON AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY income £72k
THE NEWMARKET OPERATIC MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY LTD income £141k
HERTFORD DRAMATIC AND OPERATIC SOCIETY income £107k
ABINGDON AND DISTRICT MUSICAL SOCIETY income £32k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE BURY ST EDMUNDS AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY	£72k	—	above	—	no doubt
ST AUSTELL AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY FY2025	£26k	—	unclear	—	noted
SOUTHAMPTON OPERATIC SOCIETY FY2025	£36k	—	unclear	—	noted
BRIDLINGTON AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY FY2024	£72k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE NEWMARKET OPERATIC MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY LTD FY2025	£141k	—	unclear	—	noted
HERTFORD DRAMATIC AND OPERATIC SOCIETY FY2025	£107k	—	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.