THEATRE ARTS ACTION TRUST

Registered charity 1076399 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE HEADGATE THEATRE, THEATRE ARTS ACTION GROUP

To promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and an appreciation of the art of drama and other associated performing arts and to provide facilities by way of a building and to maintain its use for the inhabitants of Colchester and the local area

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

Latest income

£208k

Latest spending

£251k

Registered

1999

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Trust recorded a deficit of £42,741 for the year ended 31 December 2025, resulting in a reduction of total funds to £221,026. The trustees confirm that sufficient reserves remain available to meet unexpected expenditure or to keep the theatre operational for a minimum of two years in the event of business interruption. The independent examiner confirmed that no matters came to their attention giving cause to believe the accounts were not prepared in accordance with applicable standards.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: two years of operational costs (held: £207k)

“It is the opinion of the Trustees that sufficient reserves remain available and uncommitted in order to meet an unexpected expenditure (eg replacement of plant or fixtures) or to enable the theatre to remain operational for a minimum period of two years in the event of business interruption whilst actions are taken to moderate costs in line with a reduced level of income.” — page 5

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 03737107

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

BURN, Kate — director, appointed 13/07/2026on trustee list
STREATFIELD, Catherine — director, appointed 13/07/2026on trustee list
INSKIP, Kevin — director, appointed 13/07/2026on trustee list
GREEN, Gillian — director, appointed 15/07/2024on trustee list
BRANAGH, George — director, appointed 15/07/2024on trustee list
GAUKROGER, Alison — director, appointed 15/07/2024on trustee list
MILLS-LEWIS, Sallie Victoria — director, appointed 15/07/2024not on trustee list
MACAULAY, Robert — director, appointed 22/01/2024on trustee list
FORTH, Dinah Rosemary — secretary, appointed 14/09/2026

Official officers record.

Property (HM Land Registry)

2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Alison Gaukroger
Catherine Streatfield
George Branagh
Gillian Green
Kate Burn
Kevin Inskip
MICHAEL WILLIAM POOLE
Robert Macaulay
Sallie Mills Lewis

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

Operates in: Essex

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£208k	£251k
31/12/2024	£212k	£233k
31/12/2023	£189k	£231k
31/12/2022	£207k	£219k
31/12/2021	£208k	£185k

Common questions

Is THEATRE ARTS ACTION TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Trust recorded a deficit of £42,741 for the year ended 31 December 2025, resulting in a reduction of total funds to £221,026. The trustees confirm that sufficient reserves remain available to meet unexpected expenditure or to keep the theatre operational for a minimum of two years in the event of business interruption. The independent examiner confirmed that no matters came to their attention giving cause to believe the accounts were not prepared in accordance with applicable standards. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THEATRE ARTS ACTION TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THEATRE ARTS ACTION TRUST as a grant recipient include THE THEATRES TRUST CHARITABLE FUND.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE THEATRES TRUST CHARITABLE FUND	FY2022	£5k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	02/03/2006	£25k	"MATTHEW HOPKINS - THE WITCHFINDER GENERAL"