UNFOLDING THEATRE
The objects for which the Company is established are:-To advance the arts for the public benefit by the promotion in particular, but not exclusively, of the art of drama.
Objects
TO ADVANCE THE ARTS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY THE PROMOTION IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, OF THE ART OF DRAMA.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity achieved an unrestricted surplus of £7,057 for the year, increasing its unrestricted reserves to £42,244. The trustees consider the financial performance satisfactory and note that core funding from Arts Council England and other partners has been extended until 2028, supporting the view that resources are adequate to continue operations.
What the accounts disclose
“The optimum level of Reserves is therefore £55,000.” — page 3
“In the year to 31 March 2025, sponsorship of £833 (2024: £1,000) was received from xsite Architecture, of which Tim Bailey, a Trustee of the charity, is a partner. The charity also rents office space from xsite.” — page 32
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Trustees
- Gina Hufton
- Kevin James Jamieson
- Manpreet Kambo
- Michael Isaac Richard Gandham
- Payal Ramchandani
- Rachel Adam
- Rebekah Helen Bowsher
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £230k | £208k |
| 31/03/2024 | £200k | £250k |
| 31/03/2023 | £214k | £201k |
| 31/03/2022 | £256k | £237k |
| 31/03/2021 | £175k | £155k |
Common questions
Is UNFOLDING THEATRE financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved an unrestricted surplus of £7,057 for the year, increasing its unrestricted reserves to £42,244. The trustees consider the financial performance satisfactory and note that core funding from Arts Council England and other partners has been extended until 2028, supporting the view that resources are adequate to continue operations. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds UNFOLDING THEATRE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name UNFOLDING THEATRE as a grant recipient include THE REED FOUNDATION, THE CATHERINE COOKSON CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE REED FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £3k | Christmas Challenge |
| THE CATHERINE COOKSON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £500 | Arts and Culture |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation North East | 26/06/2025 | £8k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 02/04/2025 | £25k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 05/03/2025 | £10k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 18/04/2024 | £3k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 02/04/2024 | £15k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 16/03/2023 | £9k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 12/01/2023 | £750 | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 07/04/2022 | £15k | Grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| Community Foundation North East | 29/04/2021 | £18k | A grant to Unfolding Theatre |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 28/02/2019 | £5k | A Forgotten Life |
| Community Foundation North East | 26/02/2019 | £3k | Multiverse Arcade at Mackie's Corner, Sunderland |
| Community Foundation North East | 04/01/2018 | £7k | Associate Artists role x 3 |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 21/10/2011 | £8k | Grant awarded to Unfolding Theatre (Tyne & Wear) |
| Northern Rock Foundation | 25/10/2010 | £2k | Grant awarded to Unfolding Theatre (Tyne & Wear) |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE RANDAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £300k |
| THE TUIXEN FOUNDATION | 1 | £175k |
| ST PAUL'S SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | 1 | £55k |
| CRIPPLEGATE FOUNDATION | 1 | £44k |
| THE HEADLEY TRUST | 1 | £33k |
| THE NISBET TRUST | 1 | £26k |
| THE MERCERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £20k |
| THE TOMORO FOUNDATION | 1 | £10k |
Charities like this
- COMPANY THREE THEATRE
- CHADS THEATRE COMPANY
- LEICESTER THEATRE TRUST LIMITED
- NORTHERN BROADSIDES THEATRE COMPANY
- UNITY THEATRE TRUST
- AD INFINITUM PRODUCTIONS CIO
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNFOLDING THEATRE | £230k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| COMPANY THREE THEATRE | £554k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CHADS THEATRE COMPANY | £105k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| LEICESTER THEATRE TRUST LIMITED | £18.5m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NORTHERN BROADSIDES THEATRE COMPANY | £530k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| UNITY THEATRE TRUST | £228k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |