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## **Director’s Report**
**For the period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 Sabotage Theatre Company CIO**
## **1. Introduction and Charitable Purposes**
Sabotage Theatre Company CIO is established _“to promote, maintain, improve and advance education and appreciation of the art of theatre for the public benefit by providing original, contemporary live shows and arts-related educational activities.”_
The Trustees confirm that, in planning and delivering our activities during the year, they have _given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit_ as required by the Charities Act 2011. All activities undertaken this year were designed to further our charitable purposes and provide clear, measurable public benefit, particularly for children and young people with limited access to the arts.
## **2. Governance**
This year marked a significant stage in our organisational development as Sabotage Theatre transitioned from a Community Interest Company (CIC) to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This shift strengthens our long-term governance, legal structure and financial resilience. Trustees were appointed through professional connections to the company and form the founding Board.
Throughout the year, the Trustees worked to establish clearer systems for oversight, decisionmaking and risk management as the charity grows. The Board met regularly and undertook the development of new governance documents, including collaborating with an Environmental Sustainability Expert to formalise our Environmental Policy.
The Artistic Director also undertook professional development supported by a DYCP grant, advancing skills in wooden puppet carving, leather mask making and performance—enhancing the creative quality of future charitable activities.
## **3. Artistic and Educational Activities for Public Benefit**
## **The Púca – Development Phase**
A major focus of the year was the development of _The Púca_ , a new performance-workshop designed to build mental health resilience in young people. The end of this financial year we started our tour, which continued into the Summer term. By the end of March 2025 we had reached 84 participants. This project directly furthers our charitable purpose by using theatre, puppetry and creative learning to support emotional wellbeing and enrich artistic education.
During the reporting year, we completed:
- workshop design and development
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- a devising-led creative process
- creation of new puppetry and mask-based learning activities
- collaboration with a mental health supervisor to ensure safe practice
- preparation for delivery in secondary schools from April 2025
The Púca enriches cultural learning by exposing young people to a range of specialist art-forms— such as mask work (full face and half leather mask), puppetry, clowning and imagination exercises. Alongside this artistic exposure, the workshop models practical emotional resilience tools (including visualisation, self-compassion and temporal distancing), helping participants better understand and manage their inner emotional world.
The project was designed in consultation with Arts Partnership Surrey (APS). Working with APS, we prioritised schools in areas of significant deprivation, ensuring that financial and geographical barriers to arts access were removed by providing the workshop entirely free of charge.
## **Public benefit delivered includes:**
- enhancing creativity and confidence through hands-on engagement with theatre arts
- supporting emotional resilience in young people at a crucial developmental stage
- addressing reduced arts access following the pandemic
- offering culturally enriching, curriculum-linked learning opportunities
Funding from Arts Partnership Surrey and Arts Council England supported the development period and enabled us to prepare for further touring in Surrey in the Spring and Summer term, expanding our touring network into a new region.
## **4. Touring and Performances: After the Rain**
In addition to new project development, we continued touring _After the Rain_ , our children’s puppet show about natural habitats. Touring this work continues to advance our charitable purpose by providing high-quality, accessible theatre to families, schools and communities.
During the year, performances took place at:
- Brighton Fringe
- Norwich Puppet Theatre
- Into the Trees Festival
- The Applause Rural Touring Network (including The Lighthouse, Deal, and East Sussex Libraries)
- JimJam Arts, Folkestone (Christmas programme)
In total these performances reached 424 audience members.
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These bookings demonstrate ongoing demand for our work and reflect our growing regional reach. The production teaches children that insects, plants and animals need to have homes too, while fostering appreciation for puppetry and live theatre—core aspects of our charitable service.
## Audience feedback
"I have never seen my child enjoy a show as much as this. He loves nature and crows are his favourite, so we were happy to know the crow didn’t end up being the bad guy like in a lot of fiction. Thank you for such a wonderful show that kept his attention the entire time. The activity pack is also wonderful."
"Really high-quality puppet show. Highlight of the Living Advent Calendar."
## **5. How Our Activities Further Our Charitable Purposes**
Across all programmes this year, Sabotage Theatre furthered its charitable aims by:
- delivering and developing arts-based educational activities
- providing accessible theatre to underserved communities
- enriching cultural appreciation among children and young people
- Creating bold original work with puppetry, mask-making and devised performance
- reducing financial and geographic barriers to arts participation
Our work continues to prioritise public benefit by bringing high-quality, imaginative theatre directly into community settings—schools, libraries, halls and rural venues—where children and families might otherwise have limited access to the arts.
## **6. Financial Review**
The Trustees are satisfied that the charity remained financially stable throughout the reporting period and ended the year in a strong position to continue delivering its charitable activities.
Total income for the year amounted to **£35,543. £26,141** of which was derived from grants from Arts Council England and **£5901** Surrey Arts Partnership Fund, both in support of _The Púca._
**£3501** came from fees collected from performances of _After the Rain._
The charity’s expenditure on charitable activities was **£17,817** , covering performer fees, costumes and props, rehearsal and workshop space, technical costs, venue hire, training, travel, and essential safeguarding checks. These costs reflect direct investment in delivering high-quality artistic and educational work for public benefit.
Expenditure on overheads and governance—including freelance administrative support, marketing and publicity, accountancy, insurance, motor expenses, website costs and office-related expenditure —totalled **£1,544** . These are necessary costs to ensure the sustainable and compliant operation of the charity.
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After accounting for all expenditure, the charity recorded an in-year surplus of **£4,619** . This surplus strengthens our reserves and supports the continuity of our activities into the next financial year.
The year-end balance carried forward was **£25,303** , represented by **£24,803** held in the bank, **£800** in debtors, and **£300** in accruals. The Trustees consider this level of reserves appropriate for the size of the charity and necessary to support cash flow, maintain stability during project-based grant funding cycles, and enable forward planning of artistic and educational work.
This report has been reviewed and approved by the undersigned Trustees at the board meeting on Sunday 14th December 2025.
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CAROLINE LYONS
Name ……………………………………….
12/15/2025
Signed ………………………………………
Penelope Mustill
Name ……………………………………….
12/9/2025
Signed ………………………………………
Carl Boardman
Name ……………………………………….
12/12/2025
Signed ………………………………………
Sea Shucksmith
12/8/2025
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Sea Shucksmith
Carl Boardman
12/8/2025
12/12/2025
CAROLINE LYONS
12/15/2025
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
Penelope Mustill
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
12/9/2025
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SABOTAGE THEATRE
TRUSTEE REPORT
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
TRUST DOCUMENT
The Trust is a Registered Charity governed by the Trust Deed dated 13 March 2024
Charity Number-
1207426
TRUSTEES
Penny Mustill
Caroline Lyons
Carl Boardman
Clare Shucksmith
Caroline Bowman
METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
The power of appointing a new trustee is vested in the existing Trustees.
CORRESPONDENT
Zoe Hinks
Flat 3, Holland Road
HOVE
East Sussex
BN3 IJE
ACCOUNTANTS
EJP Accounting Services Ltd
95 Priory Way
Hayward5 Heath
West Sussex
RH16 3NS
BANKERS
HSBC
153 North Street
Brighton
East Su55ex
BNI ISW
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SABOTAGE THEATRE
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025
2025
Not•
Bal
nce8 blf
Bank balance
20.364
Debtor¥
320
20,684
Incomin
Resource8 from Charfi
Performances
Grants
ble Aetivites
3,501
32,042
To¢al Income
35.543
Less.. Charitablg a¢tlvltlèty ex
Perforrners, fees
Costumes and props
Rehearsal space
L vJht and sound
Workshop space
Venue hire I box office
Performers, training
Travel and subsistencè
OBS checks
ndlturè
12.27S
860
750
312
300
300
633
2,181
206
Profit before Ov•rheads
17,817
17.726
LewJ Overh•adB
Charitable actlvilies
Freelancers (Zoe)
Ptsblirjty and marketing
7,930
3,633
overnance
Aecounlancy
Insurancè
Motor Expensès
Websrte costs
IT costs
Printing, posta9e and stationery
Repairs and renewals
Bank charges
11.563
300
231
377
48
55
177
TOTAL GOVERNANCE
1,544
TOTAL
13,107
Surplus I defielt in
4,619
8alan¢e elf
25,303
sre
ank
resénted b
24.803
eblors
800
ccruals
13001
lance elf
2S,303
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CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report lo the trustees
Chaoly Naffie
On accounts for the year
ended
]/ 202r
Charity no
(if any)
/20 7*2
Set out on pages
Ireniernbef lo iii-IL,'de the page numbers ol a¢diiion31 shéélsl
I report to the truslees on my examination of the accounts of the above
chanty I'lhe Trust") for the year endedjl &)S 2a2f
As Ihe Charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
("the Act")
Re$ponslbilities and
basis of report
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in Garrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chariiy Commission
under section 145(5}{b} of the Act.
Independent
examiner's ststement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination fotttertht
-d1) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect."
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act., or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
Conrning the form and content of accounls sel out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in
order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date:
Signed:
12. 262J-
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification{sl or body
ALNA
IER
Oct 2018
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lif any):
Addrèss:
/*È
EJr JUJJ c?
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and
guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
IER
Oct 2018