EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE COMPANY
Registered charity 1151620 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as EN THEATRE COMPANY
Exeter Northcott Theatre serves a catchment of 551,000 homes from its home on the University of Exeter's Streatham Campus with a programme of touring drama, dance, opera, music, comedy and family theatre . A flagship for the city, the theatre plays a vital role in Exeter's cultural life acting as a magnet for thousands of people of all ages interested in attending and taking part in live theatre.
Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £82,879 for the year, an improvement on the budgeted deficit, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £108,564. The trustees note that while the position is healthy, digging into reserves is not sustainable long-term, and the organization remains solvent despite sector challenges. The charity relies on core funding from the University of Exeter, Arts Council England, and Exeter City Council to maintain operations.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Related-party transaction: One Student Trustee was employed as casual Front of House prior to becoming a Trustee.
“One Student Trustee, who started their tenure in September 2024, was a member of the casual Front of House team but, as they were employed prior to becoming a Trustee, this is within the Charity Commission guidance and did not require permission. That Trustee finished their period of appointment in June 2025.” — page 18
“2 trustees were re-imbursed expenses totalling £695 for travel in respect of their services as trustee. (2024: £nil).” — page 36
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Two trustees were reimbursed travel expenses.
“One Student Trustee, who started their tenure in September 2024, was a member of the casual Front of House team but, as they were employed prior to becoming a Trustee, this is within the Charity Commission guidance and did not require permission. That Trustee finished their period of appointment in June 2025.” — page 18
“2 trustees were re-imbursed expenses totalling £695 for travel in respect of their services as trustee. (2024: £nil).” — page 36
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by PKF Francis Clark. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Funders the charity credits
Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).
- The Jack Riley Trust — “With special thanks to The Jack Riley Trust and The Michael Bishop Foundation.” (source page)
- The Michael Bishop Foundation — “With special thanks to The Jack Riley Trust and The Michael Bishop Foundation.” (source page)
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund — “The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported our Heritage Project – a partnership between the Exeter Northcott Theatre, community partners a…” (source page)
- The Noel Coward Foundation — “The Noel Coward Foundation supported our Northcott Futures Programme supporting 24 Early Career Artists, 12 Producers and 3 Associate Compan…” (source page)
- The Idlewild Trust — “The Idlewild Trust and the The Mackintosh Foundation also supported our Northcott Futures enabling 24 artists to take their careers to the n…” (source page)
- The Mackintosh Foundation — “The Idlewild Trust and the The Mackintosh Foundation also supported our Northcott Futures enabling 24 artists to take their careers to the n…” (source page)
- Jerwood Arts — “We were part of the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries 2020-2022 programme delivered by Jerwood Arts, which aims to provide a step-change opp…” (source page)
- The Viscount Amory Charitable Trust — “The Viscount Amory Charitable Trust provided support for our work with young people who would otherwise be unable to take part in our progra…” (source page)
- The Gibbons Trust — “The Gibbons Trust supported a performance project in partnership with the Finding My Voice programme which supported 20 primary school child…” (source page)
- LiveWest — “LiveWest funded outreach sessions at Newcourt Community Centre and bursary placements for young people who would otherwise be unable to atte…” (source page)
- Exeter Chiefs Foundation — “Exeter Chiefs Foundation provided us with a grant to fund the purchase of digital equipment to enable us to capture and live-stream performa…” (source page)
- The Community Fund — “The Community Fund enabled us to open up our shows to and improve the experience of local d/Deaf audiences by funding specialist training an…” (source page)
- The Claire Milne Trust — “The Claire Milne Trust are improving access for wheelchair users to performances and participation activities at Exeter Northcott Theatre, t…” (source page)
Property (HM Land Registry)
1 registered title 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): instagram
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£152k
Reported reserves equal ~2.9 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (82% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.
Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 4.5% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (19/03/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
- Andrew Paul Clay
- David Thomas Balcombe · trustee of 2 other charities
- Dr Thomas Paul Begbie · trustee of 2 other charities
- Eleanor Fitz-Gerald
- James Gordon Anthony-Edwards
- Julian Stoneman
- Kingsley Jayasekera
- Lauren Elizabeth Berry
- Lauren King
- Linda Peka
- Professor Jane Rebecca Milling
- Rececca Chapman
- Sarah Elghady
- Thomas Richard Littler
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Cornwall · Devon · Somerset
Income and spending
Common questions
Is EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE COMPANY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £82,879 for the year, an improvement on the budgeted deficit, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £108,564. The trustees note that while the position is healthy, digging into reserves is not sustainable long-term, and the organization remains solvent despite sector challenges. The charity relies on core funding from the University of Exeter, Arts Council England, and Exeter City Council to maintain operations. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by PKF Francis Clark.
Who funds EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE COMPANY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE COMPANY as a grant recipient include THE FREDERICK MULDER FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
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.
Charities like this
Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with EXETER LITTLE THEATRE COMPANY.
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.