## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements**
## **For the year ended 31 July 2025**
**Company Registration Number 06858792 Registered Charity Number 1129005**
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee not having a share capital)**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **CONTENTS**
Members of Board, Officers and Professional Advisors …….…………….…………………………….……………....3 Trustees' Annual Report (including Strategic Report)………………………………………..…………………… 4 - 11 Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of University of Derby Theatre Limited………………………...12 - 15 Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account) …..……………………….. 16 Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2025………………………………………………………………………………………17 Notes to the Financial Statements ………………………………………………………………………………...18 - 30
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee not having a share capital)**
## **MEMBERS OF BOARD, OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS AS AT 31 JULY 2025**
## **REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES No. 06858792**
## **CHARITABLE STATUS**
The Company is a registered charity.
## **DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS**
Professor Kathryn Mitchell Margaret Buddle Professor Keith McLay Susan Ambler Elizabeth Nelson Mahad Ali (appointed 1 December 2024) Marcus Marsh (appointed 1 December 2024) Kavalneer Walia (appointed 1 December 2024) Marianne Neville-Rolfe (appointed 9 September 2025) Jill Adamson (resigned 3 February 2025) Michael Pinchbeck (resigned 13 March 2025)
## **LEADERSHIP TEAM**
Sarah Brigham – Artistic Director & Chief Executive Iain Hayes – Executive Director Caroline Barth – Creative Learning Director
## **AUDITOR**
BDO LLP Two Snowhill, Birmingham B4 6GA
## **SOLICITORS**
Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP Narrow Quay House, Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA
Shakespeare Martineau LLP No. 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham B4 6AA
## **REGISTERED OFFICE**
Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB
## **BANKER**
HSBC Bank plc 1 St. Peter’s Street, Derby DE1 2AE
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
The Trustees present their Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2025. The Trustees' Annual Report serves the purposes of a Trustees' report, a Directors’ report and a strategic report, under company law.
This Annual Report describes the main trends and factors underlying our development, performance and position during the year ended 31 July 2025, as well as those likely to affect us in the future. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Charities SORP (FRS 102): 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).
## **Structure, Management and Governance**
University of Derby Theatre Limited is a company limited by guarantee (registration number 06858792) and does not have share capital. It is also a registered charity. The charitable company's principal address is at 15, Theatre Walk, Derby.
The charitable company’s governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association, 25 March 2011. Under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, each Trustee has undertaken to contribute a maximum of £1 in the event of a winding-up of the charitable company. The Trustees are also the Directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law.
The charitable company recruits its Trustees from the artistic community and from the senior management of the University of Derby and the training and induction of new Trustees is performed by both internal and external courses and advice. The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of these accounts were as follows:
Professor Kathryn Mitchell Margaret Buddle Professor Keith McLay Susan Ambler Elizabeth Nelson Mahad Ali (appointed 1 December 2024) Marcus Marsh (appointed 1 December 2024) Kavalneer Walia (appointed 1 December 2024) Marianne Neville-Rolfe (appointed 9 September 2025) Richard Gerver (resigned 1 July 2024) Jill Adamson (resigned 3 February 2025) Michael Pinchbeck (resigned 13 March 2025)
The operational management of the business is delegated to the charitable company’s leadership team led by the Chief Executive. The Executive Director is the day-to-day operational manager of the business. No Trustee had any interests in any contract made by the charitable company during the financial year. The setting of pay for key management personnel is set by the Trustees and delegated on an operational basis to the Chair, who will undertake the review on an annual basis. Increases in pay are awarded in line with meeting personal annual objectives and in line with employee pay rise percentages.
The charitable company has a close relationship with the University of Derby. The relationship realises that the operations of the two organisations are closely inter-related and therefore the impact of decisions taken in one organisation must be assessed on the other entity. There are service level agreements with the University of Derby for the provision of services to the Theatre and for the rental of space to the College of Arts, Humanities and Education for its Theatre Arts courses. The charitable company is controlled by the University of Derby and, as such, is consolidated into the annual results of the University of Derby Group.
The Trustees endeavour to identify, monitor and control the major risks faced each financial year when preparing and monitoring the annual budget. The Trustees approve the annual budget, all major capital expenditure and other major financial and property matters. The Trustees also set the strategy for the business, monitor the performance of the business and review health and safety in the charitable company.
The system of internal control is designed to manage, rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve policies, aims and objectives; it can therefore only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance of effectiveness. The system of internal control is based on an ongoing process designed to identify the principal risks to the achievement of policies, aims and objectives: to evaluate the nature and extent of those risks; and to manage them efficiently, effectively and economically. This process has been in place for the year ended 31 July 2025 and up to the date of the approval of the financial statements. The Trustees
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## **Structure, Management and Governance (continued)**
confirm that there is an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the charitable company’s significant risks using a Corporate Risk Register. The charitable company’s policy in respect of the payment of creditors is to comply with terms where payment is made 30 days after receipt of a valid invoice. The charitable company’s financial statements are filed with the Registrar of Companies and with the Charity Commission due to its registration.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The main activities of the charitable company are the running of a learning and community theatre both through in-house produced, and received work, and for the use of the theatre space by University of Derby College of Arts, Humanities and Education students.
## _Mission_
We serve our community through creativity. We collaborate with the people of our city and region to make theatre that speaks for Derby and the county. We provide a space where artists can develop, and we have a unique partnership with the University of Derby. Our bold and brilliant work goes on tour across the country.
## _Vision_
We strive to be the theatre Derbyshire deserves, working in ways that transform our region. Empowering artists, audiences and participants to tap into their potential and achieve. We create experiences that uplift hearts, broaden horizons and build change for the better.
Over the coming years, our programme aims to:
- Give our community agency through co-created projects.
- Entertain our city and beyond through bold, high quality, relevant entertainment.
- Support diverse artists through innovative talent development programmes.
- Support young people through formal education routes to enter the industry.
- Support young people in informal settings, helping them to achieve their potential.
- Support community cohesion through innovative community engagement.
- Showcase and develop the work with and for our deaf community.
- Disseminate our radical approach to running a theatre for the 21st Century through research and partnership.
## **Public benefit statement**
The Trustees have regard for the Charity Commission guidelines on public benefit in planning the activities of the Theatre. The Theatre continued to produce and present a diverse range of theatre, dance, music, comedy and circus across our main stage and studio spaces by professional companies and artists and local amateur talent. The learning programme went from strength to strength, with the Creative Learning team working in schools, community settings and in the Theatre, itself delivering a full programme of learning activities for all ages.
## **Financial Review**
The main sources of funding for the year ended 31 July 2025 were ticket sales income and grant funding from the University of Derby (UoD) and Arts Council England (ACE). Additional income was derived from the rent charged to the College of Arts, Humanities and Education for the use of teaching and rehearsal space along with funding from trusts and foundations and other box office and commercial sources such as catering, bars and hires.
The expenditure of the charitable company is in support of Artistic Programming, including artist development and the learning programme. It also supports the management and running of the Theatre including administration and maintenance of the Theatre premises.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association govern the Trustees’ investment powers, which permit the charitable company’s funds to be invested in, or on, such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit. All surplus funds are invested in bank or money market deposits. No investments are made in any other securities, financial instruments, or properties not related to the primary activities of the charitable company.
The Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 July 2025 is set out on page 15.
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## **Financial Review (continued)**
The total income of the charitable company during the year was £5,327,203 (2024: £4,222,772) including grant funding of £550,000 (2024: £550,000) and £326,004 (2024: £326,004) rental income from the University of Derby. This was applied to total expenditure in the year of £5,375,818 (2024: £5,421,466).
Unrestricted funds fell modestly in the year by £366,203 (2024: £300,455). There was an inflow of restricted funds of £157,628 (2024: outflow of restricted funds of £930,611), as several new projects have been won. The Theatre also utilised £129,221 of its designated reserve (2024: £119,753) in accordance with the aims of the designated reserve to support the ongoing sustainability of the Theatre.
A formal loan agreement exists relating to the intercompany loan from the University of Derby to University of Derby Theatre Limited for a maximum of £2,500,000, details of which can be found in Note 13.
## _Going Concern_
The Trustees carefully review the financial and cash plans of the charitable company on a regular basis. In doing so, this enables them to plan and proactively prepare for events which might otherwise cause significant impact on the business. The Trustees have also worked hard to evaluate the financial impact of the changing scenarios over the period to March 2027, the end of the current tranche of confirmed ACE funding. This has enabled management to prepare a going concern forecast to March 2027, more than 12 months from the date of signing the financial statements.
Projections show modest improvement over the medium term with the continued support of ACE and the University of Derby. The Theatre is in receipt of NPO funding until 31 March 2026, and ACE have announced that the current awards will be extended for an additional year to 31 March 2027. The University has provided grant funding of £550,000 during the current year and has indicated its willingness to continue to provide consistent funding for 2025/26 and beyond via the approval by its Governing Council of its five-year financial plan.
Additionally, the Theatre has a cash balance that the Trustees feel mitigates the current unrestricted reserve position and gives a measure of safety while reserves are built up. While the Theatre has an agreed intercompany loan facility with the University, which at July 25 had over £400k headroom, cash forecasts do not indicate this headroom will be required.
Therefore, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the charitable company continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual financial statements.
As noted above, as well as being part of the University Group, the University of Derby provides significant annual grant funding and a long-term loan to the Theatre. As such it is felt relevant to note the following: At last year end, the Group required a waiver from its lenders in respect of a forecast breach of its Debt Service covenant at 31 July 2025. Those waivers were obtained, and the Group has continued to operate within the terms of its financing arrangements. During the year, the Group’s DSRL subsidiary repaid its loan, and following implementation of the University’s transformation plan and agreement amendments with the remaining lenders, the Group considers there to be adequate headroom from the Debt Service covenant throughout the going concern period, and therefore a waiver for July 2026 is not required. In line with last year’s position, all other covenants are forecast to be met with substantial headroom.
## _Fundraising_
Section 162a of the Charities Act 2011 requires us to make a statement regarding fundraising activities because we have an external audit. We undertake fundraising activities such as asking for donations to support the Theatre generally or for specific activities. We do not use professional fundraisers or “commercial participators” or indeed any third parties to solicit donations. We are therefore not subject to any regulatory scheme or relevant codes of practice, although we do follow the Fundraising Regulator code of practice. We have not received any complaints in relation to fundraising activities.
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## _Reserves Policy_
In accordance with Charity Commission guidelines, the charitable company is required to ensure the sustainability of the organisation and maintain operating reserves to offset the impact of unforeseen events and operating cash flows. The total funds of the charitable company are £4,435,938 (2024: £4,644,513) and are discussed separately below.
While the Trustees believe that, given the current economic and funding environment, an appropriate level of unrestricted general reserves would be approximately three months of overhead expenditure, or approximately £450,000, currently the Theatre has an unrestricted general reserves deficit position of £231,473 (2024: deficit position of £201,128). The Trustees are aware that this still falls short of the desired position but are understanding of the reasons for this position including the rising cost environment, particularly around costs of employment. In the current economic climate, the Board recognises that whilst building reserves remains a key aim, returning a surplus in each financial year is challenging. The Board plans to continue to leverage the designated reserve fund to continue to develop audiences and improve returns in the meantime, although acknowledges this fund will likely be fully expended over the next couple of years.
The Trustees have therefore carefully considered the Theatre’s financial position and note the Theatre has a designated reserve of £165,381 (2024: £294,602), which has been established for the specific purpose of building the future sustainability of the Theatre. It is anticipated approximately £62,000 will be used in 25/26. In 2025, £129,221 (2024: £119,753) was spent to support building new audiences to drive increased future income. Any release of designated funds requires Trustee Board approval.
Lastly, unrestricted funds include a revaluation reserve of £3,340,785 (2024: £3,547,422) which will only be realised upon the disposal of the theatre building lease. Management has no intention of disposing of the theatre building in the foreseeable future.
The restricted funds position at the year-end was £1,161,245 (2024: £1,003,617) and were not available for general purposes.
## **Principal Risks and Uncertainties**
The Theatre risk register is reported quarterly at Theatre Board meetings, with risks being regularly updated. Risks are assigned to a risk categories and given a risk score from low to very high. This score is considered at the inherent level before controls are put in place and then re-appraised following consideration of controls and mitigation to give a residual risk score. The Theatre consider the following to be key risks:
|**Risk**|**Mitigation**|
|---|---|
|Non-compliance with funder requirements
(for example delivery of the ACE investment
principal metrics)|Regular monitoring via Executive and Board meetings, regular
updates with funders to discuss progress against metrics and to
discuss any challenges with sufficient time to agree alternative
deliverables.|
|Continued budget deficits (continuing
negative reserves)|The Theatre reviews budgets and forecast regularly to ensure costs are
controlled and opportunities for growth are exploited. Over the
longer term, the Levelling Up project to enhance studio space and the
Theatre frontage, helping to increase audience members and
secondary spend within the Theatre.|
|Delivery of Levelling Up Funding grant|Regular monitoring of options and timetable to ensure funds are
expended in line within the new deadline of March 2028.|
|Diversification of audience demographic|Theatre core audiences have consisted of an older demographic.
Programming and pricing will be balanced to ensure there is sufficient
diversity of scheduling to attract schools, families and diverse
audiences.|
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## **Achievements and performance**
The Theatre has had a successful artistic year, continuing to produce, co-produce and co-create high quality and ambitious productions.
Our productions this year in the theatre and studio were:
- In October 2024, in the theatre we presented Welfare. A new play by Abi Zakarian, directed by Sarah Brigham and featuring Derwent Brass and a professional and community company telling the story of Derbyshire Miners’ Holiday Camp. Audiences were slightly lower than hoped with 5,641 attendances, 59% of capacity.
- A Dickensian Christmas was brought to life in the theatre, with Mike Kenny’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol, directed by Bryn Holding. An ambitious 60 performance run, 24,125 people saw the show; 65% of capacity and the second largest audience in the company’s history.
- Meanwhile, in the studio Sarah Brigham directed the delightful farmyard antics of Chicken Licken entertained younger audiences and their families. With audio description, creative captions and BSL integrated into the performance, an audience of 3,341 so this most accessible of children's works, representing 81% of seats sold.
- In the new year, Sarah Brigham directed our latest co-production, John Steinbecks’s Of Mice and Men. Opening in Derby and going on to tour to co-producers Bolton Octagon, Hull Truck and Theatre by the Lake, Keswick. Seen by 7,426 (51% of capacity) in Derby and 22,681 (60%) in total across the tour.
- In June, we presented our production of Amanada Whittington’s Kiss Me Quickstep in the theatre, with 2,613 attendances, 35% of capacity. Despite enormous effort invested by company and staff, this key production did not meet ticket sales expectations..
The financial year 2024/25 presented a number of challenges. Costs continued to increase, while household spending on leisure and entertainment spend was depressed, further suppressing our ability to raise income and grow. While Derby Theatre continues to be an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, in real-terms the spending power of this funding has decreased by over £160,000, or 20%, since 2018. This is the real-world impact of stand-still funding against a background of high inflation.
Following a universal offer of extension by ACE and our successful application to extend, NPO funding will now be in place until March 2027 although we do not yet know the value that will be awarded to Derby Theatre. It has been confirmed that the
National Portfolio period will be further extended to March 2028, with an application process to be advised later. Although there was a welcome 1.61% increase to NPO funding in April 2025, this extension signals, at best, that this funding stream will stand still for at least another three years.
Other costs challenges for the theatre have included the ongoing above inflation national living wage increases – since it’s introduction in 2016, entry level salaries have risen by 70% with almost a third of this increase in April 2024 and April 2025 combined. We welcome this societal change but must recognise the impact this accelerating cost is having on our ability to fully recoup expenditure. National living wage increases also bring pressure to pay costs further up the pay ladder, as the range of roles affected expands over time. As part of our mission to fairly compensate employees, Derby Theatre completed a workforce wide job evaluation which was implemented in April 2024.
In April 2025, changes to Employers National Insurance contributions added a significant annual burden to our operating costs.
Against this background, we continued to work on large scale collaborative partnerships with local and national significance including: Plus One (funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation) and CANVAS (an Arts Council England funded Place Partnership programme). Derby Theatre’s many projects operate with and for our local community.
Derby Theatre is a key partner in Derby’s Cultural Education Partnership (DCEP), an initiative which has been developed in response to the Arts Council of England’s Cultural Education Challenge, launched in October 2015. The partnership is steered by Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations: Derby Theatre, QUAD, Derby Museums, Sinfonia ViVA, Baby People and EMCCAN (East Midlands Caribbean Carnival Arts Network) but more recently joined by other smaller arts organisations like Hubbub, DigiMusic and Surtal Arts. The University of Derby is also a partner, alongside a school and the group is chaired by Anna Mimms, Director of Learning and Skills at Derby City Council.
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## **Achievements and performance (continued)**
Our received programme continued to grow, presenting a varied programme for diverse audiences across a range of artforms including dance, comedy, drama and family work. The size of the box office for some weeks was challenging, pointing up the scale of the audience-return challenge, however over 43,000 people attended across 170 performances
A variety of new, challenging and interesting works were presented in the studio. Not including the Christmas production, overall 2,078 tickets were sold for 60 studio performances, 43% of available capacity.
The Theatre continued to work with In Good Company (IGC), a fellow subsidiary of University of Derby, to support artistic companies and independent artists across the region. We delivered advice and guidance sessions to support on project planning and production. We concluded a joint project, funded by the Jerwood Developing Artists Fund, supporting a second cohort of early career producers with skills workshops and residencies.
Also, in partnership with IGC, the Theatre delivered its annual Departure Lounge Festival in July 2025 which saw industry professionals, artists and critics attend a range of panel discussions and performances.
The Theatre continued to deliver its pioneering learning and community work, including:
- Ten weekly youth theatre groups, including a group for Deaf young people. Eight of these groups performed a fully designed and produced show in the main house or studio. Approximately 200 participants attended throughout the year.
- Working with Universal Services for Carers in Derby we continued delivering and developing the Carers Café. The Café is a creative space for those living with dementia and their carers to come together once a month.
- In partnership with Maison Foo we hosted Meet Your Neighbour events. Our celebration of dance saw six local people take part in a curtain raiser performance on the main stage.
- We have delivered the second year of our Place Partnership Programme, and in agreement with ACE extended this activity into FY25-26. This programme is delivered and steered by DCEP and project managed by Derby Theatre. Community hub locations are established and delivering in areas of high deprivation and we have built further links into underrepresented groups e.g. a dedicated hub for the Roma community.
- Plus One is the programme which works with care-experienced young people and partners across the city to help develop their confidence, ability to build relationships and employability skills. One-to-one creative mentoring sessions support those least able to get involved in bigger projects. There is also now a regular Plus One youth theatre that performed a curtain raiser on the main stage and a weekly digital animation club. We also launched the new post 16 strand in partnership with Derby City’s Virtual School and young people performed and produced a number of key events in the city. In addition, Plus One was commissioned to produce a film called One Day, that explored the stigma of being in care. Approximately 250 young people and families took part in last year’s activities.
- Speak Out, a project that is part of the Paul Hamlyn Teacher Development Fund, working with six primary schools and co-managing with a teacher in one secondary school in the Catholic Multi Academy Trust. 12 teachers are being supported by six artists to develop their drama skills in order to support the oracy skills of children with English as an additional language.
In addition to the above, the learning team has continued to deliver a workshop programme for schools and teachers, which included Careers Days, Discover Days and show-related workshops. A work experience programme was also delivered to year 10 students. We also continued to deliver Connect Up, an international project in which 12 partners from across Europe create new work for 12+ along with learning programmes for artists and teachers.
The final performance of the Connect Up project was presented in the studio in October. Firewall, produced with the Philippine Education Theatre Association, was a new play written by Ryan Leder in conversation with year 9 students from Derby Cathedral School and university students in the Philippines. After touring local schools and a performance in Derby Theatre studio, the show toured to a theatre festival in Vienna.
All departments across the Theatre delivered the ‘Spotlight On’ modules for theatre-based University of Derby programmes across all year groups. The MA students are fully integrated into the Learning Theatre delivery model. The Theatre supported all student shows and the MA symposium. The Theatre also works with several other programmes and initiatives across the University, for example the Dracula Research Project with the Humanities Department and an event supporting the understanding of the Deaf community within the context of the University.
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**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
## **Achievements and performance (continued)**
Over the past year, Derby Theatre has continued delivery on multi-year funded projects including Reaching Communities supported by National Lottery Community Foundation, Plus One supported by Esmee Fairbairn, Speak Out funded by Paul Hamlyn and leading DCEP’s Place Partnership project, CANVAS, funded by ACE. A number of further match-funding grants were secured from a range of sources including the Tom Carey Foundation and Derby City Council to support the delivery of CANVAS. A grant from the Theatres Trust and Wolfson Foundation Theatre improvement scheme will enable upgrades to lighting in front of house and public areas. Funding from The Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust enabled us to expand our work supporting people living with Dementia, taking a performance into 6 care homes in Derby.
## **Future Plans**
Derby Theatre will continue to deliver a bold and brilliant programme of work, which meets its vision and mission. The primary objective of Derby Theatre is to ensure it continues to pioneer its innovative model, which sees learning and community placed at the heart of its role as a producing theatre, as part of a unique relationship with the University of Derby.
The senior management have developed a five-year business strategy, with the intention that this will be adopted by the Board in 2025. Under this strategy, we will continue to deliver high quality theatre productions, innovative learning programmes and transformational artist development schemes. As an Arts Council England NPO organisation, the theatre’s programme and business model will continue to align with ACE’s Let’s Create Strategy and Investment Principles.
In 2025/26 financial year we will present new productions of The Great Gatsby with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Oliver Twist, Tortoise and the Hair with Hiccup Theatre and Polka Theatre, Macbeth with Hull Truck and Bolton Octagon. In summer 2026, we will produce Little Shop of Horrors with new producing partner Theatre North.
Work to develop the Levelling Up Fund project which intends to see a new studio performance space for the City is ongoing. This investment should increase the number of seats available for studio or smaller scale performance, making the space more attractive and accessible while allowing a wider range of shows to be scheduled. Contracts were signed in relation to this funding in November 2024, following a delay due to the general election. During 2025/26 final plans for use of the funding are hoped to be agreed, following the need to review alternative options. Construction is hoped to start late 2026 and complete late 2027, following an extension to the grant period to 31 March 2028.
## **Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others**
The charitable company does not hold funds as a custodian trustee on behalf of others.
## **Trustees’ responsibilities statement**
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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 charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
- make judgements and accounting 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;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and 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.
## **Disclosure of information to auditor**
The Trustees who held office at the date of approval of this Trustees’ report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and each Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company’s auditor is aware of that information.
## **Appointment of Auditor**
BDO LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in office as auditor and will be proposed for reappointment in accordance with section 485of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Board Approval**
The Trustees' Annual Report, incorporating a strategic report, was approved by the board of Trustees on 08 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
## **Professor Kathryn Mitchell Chair of Trustees**
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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
## **Opinion on the financial statements**
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the Charitable Company’s affairs as at 31 July 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of University of Derby Theatre Limited (“the Charitable Company”) for the year ended 31 July 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## _Independence_
We remain independent of the Charitable Company in accordance with the ethical requirements relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
## **Conclusions related to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charitable Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
## **Other Companies Act 2006 reporting**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Trustees’ Annual Report, which includes the Directors’ Report and the Strategic Report prepared for the purposes of Company Law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report, which are included in the Trustees’ Annual Report, have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
- In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charitable Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatement in the Strategic Report or the Trustees’ Annual Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- • we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charitable Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Charitable Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
## _Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud_
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
13
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
_Non-compliance with laws and regulations_
Based on:
- Our understanding of the Charitable Company and the sector in which it operates;
- Discussion with management and those charged with governance; and
- Obtaining an understanding of the Charitable Company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations
we considered the significant laws and regulations to be the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, Financial Reporting Standard 102, Charities SORP (FRS 102) – Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019) and UK tax legislation.
The Charitable Company is also subject to laws and regulations where the consequence of non-compliance could have a material effect on the amount or disclosures in the financial statements, for example through the imposition of fines or litigations. We identified such laws and regulations to be employment law, data protection and health and safety legislation.
Our procedures in respect of the above included:
- Review of minutes of meeting of those charged with governance for any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations;
- Review of correspondence with regulatory and tax authorities for any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations;
- Review of financial statement disclosures and agreeing to supporting documentation; and
- Involvement of tax specialists in the audit.
## _Fraud_
We assessed the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement, including fraud. Our risk assessment procedures included:
- Enquiry with management and those charged with governance regarding any known or suspected instances of fraud;
- Obtaining an understanding of the Charitable Company’s policies and procedures relating to:
- Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud; and
- Internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud.
- Review of minutes of meeting of those charged with governance for any known or suspected instances of fraud;
- Discussion amongst the engagement team as to how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements; and
- Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
Based on our risk assessment, we considered the areas most susceptible to fraud to be management override including the posting of inappropriate journals to manipulate financial results and management bias in accounting estimates. In addition, we considered revenue recognition an area to be susceptible to fraud, particularly in relation to the posting of journals to material revenue streams and the recognition of grant income in line with performance conditions.
Our procedures in respect of the above included:
- Testing a sample of journal entries throughout the year, which met a defined risk criteria, by agreeing to supporting documentation;
- A review of estimates and judgements applied by management in the financial statements to assess their appropriateness and the existence of any systematic bias;
- In addressing the risk of fraud through improper income recognition, we tested the appropriateness of certain journals to material revenue streams and tested a sample of grant contracts to ensure appropriate recognition during the year, including correct treatment of any accrued or deferred income; and
- A review of unadjusted audit differences for indications of bias or deliberate misstatement.
We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.
Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.
14
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located at the Financial Reporting Council’s (“FRC’s”) website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the Charitable Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charitable Company’s members and trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charitable Company, the Charitable Company’s members as a body and the Charitable Company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
**James Taylor (Senior Statutory Auditor)**
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, statutory auditor Birmingham, UK Date: 12 December 2025
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).
15
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
|**Note**
**Income**
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Other trading activities
4
Investment income
5
**Total income**
**Expenditure**
Raising funds
6
Charitable activities
6
**Total expenditure**
**Net (expenditure)/income**
**before transfers and**
**revaluation**
Transfer between funds
14
Revaluation in year
14
**Net (expenditure) /**
**income and net**
**movement in funds for**
**the year**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought
forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried**
**forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
1,474,961
809,847
2,284,808
2,688,174
-
2,688,174
306,249
-
306,249
47,972
-
47,972
**4,517,356**
**809,847**
**5,327,203**
(556,065)
-
(556,065)
(4,167,534)
(652,219)
(4,819,753)
**(4,723,599)**
**(652,219)**
**(5,375,818)**
**(206,243)**
**157,628**
**(48,615)**
-
-
-
(159,960)
-
(159,960)
**(366,203)**
**157,628**
**(208,575)**
3,640,896
1,003,617
4,644,513
(366,203)
157,628
(208,575)
**3,274,693**
**1,161,245**
**4,435,938**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
1,506,074
**118,564**
1,624,638
2,239,333
**-**
2,239,333
262,198
**-**
262,198
96,603
**-**
96,603|
|---|---|---|
|||**4,104,208**
**118,564 **
**4,222,772**|
|||(474,723)
**-**
(474,723)
(3,832,018)
**(1,114,725)**
(4,946,743)|
|||**(4,306,741)**
**(1,114,725)**
**(5,421,466)**|
|||**(202,533)**
**(996,161) (1,198,694)**
(65,550)
**65,550**
-
(32,372)
**-**
(32,372)|
|||**(300,455)**
**(930,611)**
**(1,231,066)**|
|||3,941,351
**1,934,228**
5,875,579
(300,455)
**(930,611)**
(1,231,066)|
|||**3,640,896**
**1,003,617**
**4,644,513**|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All the activities of the charitable company are classed as continuing.
Notes to the financial statements are shown on pages 18 – 30.
16
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 JULY 2025**
## COMPANY NUMBER 06858792
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets
10
**Current assets**
Stocks
Debtors
11
Cash at bank
**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one year
12
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Creditors:**amounts falling due after more than one year
13
**Net assets**
**Funds:**
Unrestricted funds
14
Designated funds
14
Revaluation reserve
14
**Total unrestricted funds**
Restricted funds
14
**Total funds**|**2025**
£
**5,026,756**
**11,318**
**1,594,348**
**857,706**
**2,463,372**
**(973,886)**
**1,489,486**
**6,516,242**
**(2,080,304)**
**4,435,938**
**(231,473)**
**165,381**
**3,340,785**
**3,274,693**
**1,161,245**
**4,435,938**|**2024**
£
4,864,270
8,768
1,650,331
1,201,724
2,860,823
(980,371)
1,880,452
6,744,722
(2,100,209)
4,644,513
(201,128)
294,602
3,547,422
3,640,896
1,003,617
4,644,513|
|---|---|---|
The Financial Statements on pages 16 – 30 were approved by the board of Trustees on 8 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
## **Professor Kathryn Mitchell Chair of Trustees**
17
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
**1. Accounting policies**
University of Derby Theatre Limited is a charitable company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England under the Companies Act 2006. The address of the registered office is shown on the ‘Members of Board, Officers and Professional Advisors’ page and the nature of the charitable company's principal activity is shown in the Trustees' Annual Report.
The financial statements are prepared and presented in £ sterling which is the functional currency of the charitable company. The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the financial statements except as noted below.
## **Accounting convention**
The financial statements of the charity have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) – Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
University of Derby Theatre Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Financial statements are drawn up on the historical cost accounting basis, modified to include the revaluation of certain fixed assets.
## **Exemptions**
The charitable company’s ultimate parent undertaking, the University of Derby, includes the charitable company in its consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements of The University of Derby are prepared in accordance with FRS 102 and are available to the public and may be obtained from the University of Derby, in these financial statements, the company is considered to be a qualifying entity (for the purposes of this FRS) and has applied the exemptions available under FRS 102 in respect of the following disclosures:
- cash flow statement and related notes
## **Going Concern**
The Trustees carefully review the financial and cash plans of the charitable company on a regular basis. In doing so, this enables them to plan and proactively prepare for events which might otherwise cause significant impact on the business. The Trustees have also worked hard to evaluate the financial impact of the changing scenarios over the period to March 2027, the end of the current tranche of confirmed ACE funding. This has enabled management to prepare a going concern forecast to March 2027, more than 12 months from the date of signing the financial statements.
Projections show modest improvement over the medium term with the continued support of ACE and the University of Derby. The Theatre is in receipt of NPO funding until 31 March 2026, and ACE have announced that the current awards will be extended for an additional year to 31 March 2027. The University has provided grant funding of £550,000 during the current year and has indicated its willingness to continue to provide consistent funding for 2025/26 and beyond via the approval by its Governing Council of its five-year financial plan.
Additionally, the Theatre has a cash balance that the Trustees feel mitigates the current unrestricted reserve position and gives a measure of safety while reserves are built up. While the Theatre has an agreed intercompany loan facility with the University, which at July 25 had over £400k headroom, cash forecasts do not indicate this headroom will be required.
Therefore, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the charitable company continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual financial statements.
As noted above, as well as being part of the University Group, the University of Derby provides significant annual grant funding and a long-term loan to the Theatre. As such it is felt relevant to note the following: At last year end, the Group required a waiver from its lenders in respect of a forecast breach of its Debt Service covenant at 31 July 2025. Those waivers were obtained, and the Group has continued to operate within the terms of its financing arrangements. During the year, the Group’s DSRL subsidiary repaid its loan, and following implementation of the University’s transformation plan and agreement amendments with the remaining lenders, the Group considers there to be adequate headroom from the Debt Service covenant throughout the going concern period, and therefore a waiver for July 2026 is not required. In line with last year’s position, all other covenants are forecast to be met with substantial headroom.
18
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **Income**
All income is recognised once the charitable company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Income received in advance of a theatrical performance or provision of other specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.
Income in respect of rental income is recognised on a straight-line basis over the period in which the theatre hall is rented.
Income from Government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Income from the sale of goods or services including catering is recognised when the goods or services are supplied to the external customers, or the terms of the contract have been satisfied.
Tax recoverable under the Theatre Tax Relief scheme is accrued in the year in which the production takes place and therefore there is entitlement.
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- Costs of raising funds comprise the costs of catering services provided by the theatre and their associated support costs.
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of performances, exhibitions and other educational activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs.
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
## _**Allocation of support costs**_
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include administration costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charitable company’s artistic programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. Support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charitable company. This is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
## **Taxation**
## _**Corporation tax**_
The charitable company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charitable company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## _**Value added tax**_
The charitable company’s income is exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT) except as regards its commercial undertakings and certain consultancy activities, which are at standard rate. Irrecoverable input VAT is included in the relevant expenditure categories.
19
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **Tangible fixed assets**
It is the policy of the charitable company to carry out a full revaluation of its buildings every three years. In the intervening years, a desktop revaluation exercise is conducted. The valuations are carried out by Newmark LLP, with a full valuation being carried out at 31 July 2025.
All other tangible fixed assets are stated at cost. Items of equipment costing less than £10,000 are recorded in the Statement of Financial Activities as premises costs in the year of purchase.
Depreciation for all assets is provided to depreciate the cost or valuation of fixed assets, over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis, at the following annual rates:
Leasehold buildings Over the term of the lease Plant and equipment Between 10% and 33.3% IT infrastructure and computer equipment Between 20% and 33.3%
## **Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow- moving stocks.
## **Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts.
## **Liabilities**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charitable company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
## **Financial Instruments**
All loans, investments and short-term deposits held by the charitable company are classified as basic financial instruments in accordance with FRS 102. These instruments are initially recorded at the transaction price less any transaction costs (historical cost). FRS 102 requires that basic financial instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost; however, the charitable company has calculated that the difference between the historical cost and amortised cost basis is not material and so these financial instruments are stated on the Balance Sheet at historical cost. Loans and investments that are payable or receivable within one year are not discounted.
## **Operating leases**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
## **Post-retirement benefits**
The charitable company participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. The amount charged to the statement of financial activities represents the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period.
## **Fund Accounting**
Unrestricted funds are those which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charitable company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charitable company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
20
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **Accounting estimates and judgements**
The preparation of financial statements requires the use of accounting estimates and assumptions. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying accounting policies. Estimates, assumptions and judgements are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Estimates based on assumptions and judgements could differ significantly from actual results.
The areas most affected using estimates and judgements are described below:
## _**Tangible fixed assets**_
Tangible fixed assets are depreciated over their useful lives considering residual values where appropriate. The actual lives of the assets and residual values are assessed annually and may vary depending on several factors. In re- assessing asset lives, factors such as technological innovation and maintenance programmes are considered. Residual values assessments consider issues such as future market conditions, the remaining life of the asset and projected disposal values.
## _**Valuation of buildings**_
The fair value of the buildings of the charitable company have been provided to management by an independent valuation expert, Newmark LLP, at the reporting date, as instructed. They have made assumptions in the determination of the fair value of the property in respect of the condition of the property, health of the property market in the location where the property is situated and in respect of the range of reasonable fair value estimates of the asset.
## _**Impairment**_
Management make judgement as to whether the Theatre is appropriately valued at each Balance Sheet date and whether any indicators of impairment exist. Discussions are held prior to year-end to assess market movements, planned changes and any other indicators which might warrant a change in the carrying value of an asset. Should an impairment be indicated, a thirdparty valuer would be contracted to estimate the change in carrying value at the Balance Sheet date.
21
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **2. Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations
Grants
**Total**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
Total
funds
2024
£
£
£
£
28,375
27,569
55,944
41,572
1,446,586
782,278
2,228,864
1,583,066|
|---|---|
||1,474,961
809,847
2,284,808
1,624,638|
Restricted funds of £118,564 and unrestricted funds of £1,506,074 were received in 2024.
## **3. Income from charitable activities**
|Theatre activities
Rental income
Other income
Theatre tax credit
**Total**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
Total
funds
2024
£
£
£
1,905,814
1,905,814
1,498,916
326,004
326,004
326,004
2,900
2,900
7,527
453,456
453,456
406,886|
|---|---|
||2,688,174
2,688,174
2,239,333|
Restricted funds of £nil and unrestricted funds of 2,239,333 were received in 2024.
## **4. Income from other trading activities**
|Catering
**Total**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
Total
funds
2024
£
£
£
306,249
306,249
262,198|
|---|---|
||306,249
306,249
262,198|
Restricted funds of £nil and unrestricted funds of £262,198 were received in 2024.
## **5. Investment income**
|Interest receivable
**Total**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
Total
funds
2024
£
£
£
47,972
47,972
96,603|
|---|---|
||47,972
47,972
96,603|
Restricted funds of £nil and unrestricted funds of £96,603 were received in 2024.
22
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
**6. Expenditure by activity**
|**Cost of raising funds**
Donations and fundraising
Other trading
**Cost of charitable activities**
Theatre activities
Creative learning
Funded Projects
**Total expenditure**|**Direct costs**
**2025**
**Support**
**costs**
**2025**
**Total**
**costs**
**2025**
£
£
£
74,396
40,082
114,478
286,974
154,613
441,587
361,370
194,695
556,065
2,481,058
1,336,716
3,817,774
49,787
26,824
76,611
601,369
323,999
925,368
3,132,214
1,687,539
4,819,753
3,493,584
1,882,234
5,375,818|**Direct costs**
**2024**
**Support**
**costs**
**2024**
**Total**
**costs**
**2024**
£
£
£
71,146
35,204
106,350
246,434
121,939
368,373|
|---|---|---|
|||317,580
157,143
474,723|
|||2,320,707
1,148,320
3,469,027
50,988
25,230
76,218
937,573
463,925
1,401,498|
|||3,309,268
1,637,475
4,946,743|
||||
|||3,626,848
1,794,618
5,421,466|
**7. Support costs by activity – current year**
|**Support cost allocation**
Premises costs
Management and staff costs
Legal, professional and finance costs
Audit and taxation
Office costs
**Total support costs**|**Raising**
**funds**
**2025**
**Theatre**
**activities**
**2025**
**Creative**
**learning**
**2025**
**Funded**
**projects**
**2025**
**Total**
**costs**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
66,574
457,074
9,172
110,788
643,608
106,711
732,644
14,702
177,581
1,031,638
4,489
30,820
618
7,470
43,397
4,591
31,523
633
7,641
44,388
12,330
84,655
1,699
20,519
119,203|
|---|---|
||194,695
1,336,716
26,824
323,999
1,882,234|
**Support costs by activity – prior year**
|**Support cost allocation**
Premises costs
Management and staff costs
Legal, professional and finance costs
Audit and taxation
Office costs
**Total support costs**|**Raising**
**funds**
**2024**
**Theatre**
**activities**
**2024**
**Creative**
**learning**
**2024**
**Funded**
**projects**
**2024**
**Total**
**costs**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
58,241
425,597
9,351
171,943
665,132
81,813
597,846
13,135
241,532
934,326
1,724
12,597
277
5,089
19,687
2,766
20,211
444
8,165
31,586
12,599
92,069
2,023
37,196
143,887|
|---|---|
||157,143
1,148,320
25,230
463,925
1,794,618|
No governance costs were incurred by the Theatre (2024: £nil).
**8. Net movement in funds for the year**
|**Net movement in funds for the year**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|Net movement in funds for the year is stated after charging:|**£**|**£**|
|Auditor’s remuneration - as auditors|24,250|23,400|
|Auditor’s remuneration - non audit services|-|-|
|Depreciation on tangible fixed assets|165,521|170,031|
23
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
**9. Staff costs**
|**Staff costs**||
|---|---|
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
2,106,555
1,879,542
139,720
107,693
71,055
68,731|
||2,317,330
2,055,966.|
The pension cost charge for the period represents contributions payable by the Company to the NEST scheme and private defined contribution schemes and amounted to £71,055 (2024: £68,731). Contributions amounting to £19,149 (2024: £17,879) were payable to the scheme and are included in creditors.
## Particulars of employees:
The average number of staff employed by the charitable company during the financial year amounted to:
||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|
||No.|No.|
|Employees|112|108|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||No.|No.|
|In the band £60,001|- £70,000|1|1|
|In the band £70,001|- £80,000|1|1|
|In the band £80,001|- £90,000|1|1|
These 3 employees received employers’ pension contributions in year of £10,023 (2024: £9,710).
The key management personnel of the company comprised 3 staff members of the Senior Leadership Team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel, including National Insurance contributions were £235,700 (2024: £226,950).
No Trustee received remuneration from the charitable company during the year. Expenses of £nil (2024: £nil) were paid in the year. The company paid £nil (2024: £nil) during the year in respect of Directors and Officers liability insurance.
## **10. Tangible fixed assets**
|
**Cost or valuation**
On 1 August 2024
Additions
Revaluation
On 31 July 2025
**Depreciation**
On 1 August 2024
Charge for the year
Revaluation
On 31 July 2025
**Net book value**
On 31 July 2025
On 1 August 2024|**Leasehold buildings**
**Plant and**
**equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
4,411,000
1,282,163
5,693,163
-
487,967
487,967
(218,000)
-
(218,000)|
|---|---|
||4,193,000
1,770,130
5,963,130|
||-
(828,893)
(828,893)
(58,040)
(107,481)
(165,521)
58,040
-
58,040|
||-
(936,374)
(936,374)|
||4,193,000
833,756
5,026,756|
||4,411,000
453,270
4,864,270|
24
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **10. Tangible fixed assets (continued)**
In accordance with FRS102, a valuation of the leasehold building was performed independently by Newmark LLP, Chartered Surveyors, as of 31 July 2025. The valuation was performed in accordance with the Statement of Asset Valuation and Guidance Notes, published by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The historic cost and accumulated depreciation of properties held at fair value is as follows:
|Historic cost
Depreciation
Net book value
**11. Debtors**
Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group companies
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**12. Creditors amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
Accruals
Deferred income
Deferred income at 1 August
Income deferred during the year
Amounts released from prior periods
Deferred income at 31 July|**2025**
**£**
1,011,677
(165,266)
846,411
**2025**
**£**
273,421
32,493
92,775
1,195,659
1,594,348
**2025**
**£ **
117,893
34,326
551,146
270,521
973,886
**2025**
**£ **
222,826
271,458
(223,763)
270,521|**2024**
**£**
1,011,677
(153,980)|
|---|---|---|
|||857,697|
|||
**2024**
**£**
19,737
47,060
25,809
1,557,725|
|||1,650,331|
|||
**2024**
**£**
96,628
32,525
628,392
222,826|
|||1,042,501|
|||
**2024**
**£**
306,556
222,756
(306,486)|
|||
222,826|
Deferred income consists of amounts received for future shows which have not taken place at year end, and for delivery of services which have not been completed at year end.
## **13. Creditors amounts falling due after one year**
|Amounts due to group companies|**2025**
**£ **
2,080,304
2,080,304|
**2024**
**£**
2,100,209|
|---|---|---|
|||2,100,209|
The Theatre has received a loan from the University of up to £2.5m. This loan is repayable (in part or full) 18 months following a demand from the University. No interest is charged on this loan.
25
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **14. Statement of funds – current year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds
Arts Council – NPO grant
University of Derby grant
**Designated funds**
Designated fund
**Revaluation reserve**
Revaluation reserve
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
Arts Council – Place
Partnership
Esmee Fairburn 23-25
Paul Hamlyn Speak Out
Lottery Community Fund
Jerwood Foundation
Plus One
New Horizons
Acts of Kindness
Derbyshire Foundation
Bramblebrook
Levelling Up Fund Grant
Theatres Trust The
Wolfson Foundation
**Total of funds**|**Balance at**
**31 Jul 2024**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**in/(out)**
**Revaluation**
**in year**
**Balance at**
**31 Jul 2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(201,128)
3,153,383
(3,359,626)
175,898
(231,473)
-
813,973
(813,973)
-
-
-
-
550,000
(550,000)
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||(201,128)
4,517,356
(4,723,599)
175,898
-
(231,473)|
||294,602
-
-
(129,221)
-
165,381|
||3,547,422
-
-
(46,677)
(159,960)
3,340,785|
|||
||3,640,896
4,517,356
(4,723,599)
-
(159,960)
3,274,693|
||412,316
68,078
(291,239)
-
-
189,155
83,008
13,055
(96,063)
-
-
-
103,854
-
(85,355)
-
-
18,499
368,771
1,541
(151,961)
-
-
218,351
31,875
-
(21,083)
-
-
10,792
3,754
790
(370)
-
-
4,174
39
-
-
-
-
39
-
26,779
(6,148)
-
-
20,631
-
30,000
-
-
-
30,000
-
652,167
-
-
652,167
-
17,437
-
-
-
17,437|
||1,003,617
809,847
(652,219)
-
-
1,161,245|
|||
||4,644,513
5,327,203
(5,375,818)
-
(159,960)
4,435,938|
26
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
**Statement of funds – prior year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds
Arts Council – NPO grant
University of Derby grant
**Designated funds**
Designated fund
**Revaluation reserve**
Revaluation reserve
**Total unrestricted funds**
**Restricted funds**
Arts Council - Derby CAN
Arts Council - YPPF
Arts Council – Place
Partnership
Esmee Fairburn
Esmee Fairburn 23-25
Plus One
Big House
Paul Hamlyn Speak Out
Lottery Community Fund
DCEP Might Creatives
Jerwood Foundation
New Horizons
**Total of funds**|**Balance at**
**1 Aug 2023**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**in/(out)**
**Revaluation**
**in year**
**Balance at**
**31 Jul 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(99,901)
2,744,580
(2,924,294)
78,487
(201,128)
-
809,628
(809,628)
-
-
-
-
550,000
(550,000)
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||(99,901)
4,104,208
(4,283,922)
78,487
-
(201,128)|
||414,355
-
(22,819)
(96,934)
-
294,602|
||3,626,897
-
-
(47,103)
(32,372)
3,547,422|
|||
||3,941,351
4,104,208
(4,306,741)
(65,550)
(32,372)
3,640,896|
||489,872
-
(555,422)
65,550
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
629,256
54,355
(271,295)
-
-
412,316
-
-
-
-
-
-
143,848
64,170
(125,010)
-
-
83,008
11,435
-
(7,681)
-
-
3,754
-
-
-
-
-
-
165,000
-
(61,146)
-
-
103,854
462,942
-
(94,171)
-
-
368,771
-
-
-
-
-
-
31,875
-
-
-
-
31,875
-
39
-
-
-
39|
||1,934,228
118,564
(1,114,725)
65,550
-
1,003,617|
|||
||5,875,579
4,222,772
(5,421,466)
-
(32,372)
4,644,513|
## **Description of funds**
## **Arts Council Place Partnership**
Restricted funding to support a unique partnership project working with leading cultural organisations across the city. It provides young people the opportunity to participate in exciting and high-quality arts and cultural activities in their communities.
## **Esmee Fairburn 23-25**
Restricted funding to continue to build upon the Theatre’s ongoing work with care-experienced young people.
## **Paul Hamlyn Speak Out**
Restricted funding received from Paul Hamlyn’s Teacher Development Fund to support the needs of pupils experiencing inequity and embedding learning through the arts in the curriculum through teacher professional development.
## **Lottery Community Fund**
Restricted funding received to support the ‘Working with our Communities’ project, which aims to engage and develop the skills of people of Normanton and Bramblebrook and build community cohesion through an engaged programme of arts activity co-created with them.
27
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **Jerwood Foundation**
Restricted funding to support early-career producers across 2 years to develop their professional practice in a meaningful and practical way.
## **Plus One**
Restricted funding from public donations following a campaign by local cultural providers to give free opportunities for looked after young people, care leavers and their families to take part in cultural events and a range of creative workshops and projects.
## **New Horizons**
Restricted funding arising from donations received to support a project to build a new purpose-built studio and make major improvements to the city’s beloved venue.
## **Acts of Kindness**
Restricted funding arising from donations received to fund tickets for those in need who would otherwise be unable to access trips to the Theatre.
## **Derbyshire Foundation Bramblebrook**
Restricted funding from Foundation Derbyshire to deliver a weekly Performing Arts Club
## **Levelling Up Fund Grant**
Restricted capital funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the Levelling Up initiative to increase the performance, community, participation and learning spaces at the Theatre.
## **Theatres Trust The Wolfson Foundation**
Restricted funding received to install domestic LED fittings and movement sensors.
## **Derby CAN**
Restricted funding received for the Derby CAN (Derby Creative Arts Network) project in which organisations come together to create theatre and live events in partnership with people who live in Derby and the surrounding areas.
## **YPPF (Reimagine)**
Restricted funding received for the Young People’s Performance project which has developed five Reimagine hubs to provide opportunities for Derby youth to be involved in Theatre.
## **Esmee Fairburn**
Restricted funding to support the Theatre’s ongoing work with care-experienced young people.
## **Big House**
Restricted funding received for the Big House project which helped creative and digital businesses to grow across the Nottingham and Derbyshire areas. The project was part-funded by the EU and is delivered through a partnership of business support organisations.
## **DCEP Mighty Creatives**
Restricted funding received to support development of a sustainable, strategic response to flourish post-March 2023.
## **Designated Fund**
This designated fund has been established from Culture Recovery funding (grants 2 and 3) received from Arts Council England. Both grants had some elements that were ringfenced for specific purposes, and that portion of the funding has been recorded as restricted. The remainder of each grant was given to establish a designated fund supporting the sustainability of the Theatre over the longer term.
## **Revaluation Reserve**
This reserve is created following the revaluation of the fixed asset property portfolio. The reserve is amortised over the lease of the property resulting in a transfer between revaluation reserve and unrestricted reserves.
28
**UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **15. Analysis of net assets between funds – current year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due over one year
Total|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Revaluation**
**reserve**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
1,685,971
-
545,733
3,340,785
5,572,489
1,136,746
165,381
615,512
-
1,917,639
(973,886)
-
-
-
(973,886)
(2,080,304)
-
-
-
(2,080,304)|
|---|---|
||(231,473)
165,381
1,161,245
3,340,785
4,435,938|
**Analysis of net assets between funds – prior year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Creditors due over one year
Total|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**Designated**
**funds**
**2024**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**Revaluation**
**reserve**
**2024**
**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
£
£
£
£
£
1,316,848
-
-
3,547,422
4,864,270
1,562,604
294,602
1,003,617
-
2,860,823
(980,371)
-
-
-
(980,371)
(2,100,209)
-
-
-
(2,100,209)|
|---|---|
||(201,128)
294,602
1,003,617
3,547,422
4,644,513|
## **16. Operating lease commitments**
At 31 July 2025, the theatre had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases for leased properties as follows:
|**Amounts payable:**
Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
Later than 5 years|**2025**
**£**
57,394
125,351
-
182,745|
**2024**
**£**
57,394
182,745
-|
|---|---|---|
|||240,139|
## **17. Capital Commitments**
|Authorised and contracted for
Authorised but not contracted for|**2025**
**£**
13,509
9,462,311
9,475,820|
**2024**
**£**
-
733|
|---|---|---|
|||733|
## **18. Company status**
The charitable company is a company limited by guarantee. At the year end, there were eight Trustees, each of whom, under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, has undertaken to contribute a maximum of £1 in the event of a winding up of the charitable company.
29
## **UNIVERSITY OF DERBY THEATRE LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025**
## **19. Related party transactions**
During the year, the charitable company transacted with its parent, University of Derby and fellow subsidiary, In Good Company Limited as follows:
||**Income**|**Expenditure**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Received**|**incurred**|**Balance at**|
||**2025**|**2025**|**31 July 25**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|University of Derby|883,607|116,474|(2,080,304)|
|In Good Company Limited|226|23,879|32,493|
||**Income**|**Expenditure**||
||**Received**|**incurred**|**Balance at**|
||**2024**|**2024**|**31 July 24**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|University of Derby|892,425|138,665|(2,100,209)|
|In Good Company Limited|-|44,500|47,060|
The charitable company has, or had, representation on the management boards of the following organisations:
||**Income received by**|**Expenditure incurred**|**Balance receivable /**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Derby Theatre 2025**|**by Derby Theatre 2025**|**(payable) at 31 July**|
||**(£)**|**(£)**|**2025 (£)**|
|Derby Museums|
-|4,428|(834)|
|Maison Foo|-|9,555|-|
|Rafia Hussain Productions|-|5,000|(5,000)|
||**Income received by**|**Expenditure incurred**|**Balance receivable /**|
||**Derby Theatre 2024**|**by Derby Theatre 2024**|**(payable) at 31 July**|
||**(£)**|**(£)**|**2024 (£)**|
|Anthony Gell School|
388|-|-|
|Derby Museums|-|5,376|238|
|Derby QUAD Ltd|-|27,635|-|
|Milk Presents Ltd|-|11,277|-|
|Maison Foo|-|300|-|
## **20. Ultimate parent undertaking**
The charitable company’s ultimate controlling party is the University of Derby. Copies of the ultimate parent company’s consolidated accounts can be obtained from the Secretary at Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB.
30