Accidental Theatre Company
Annual Report 2022 / 2023
For the year running 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 108109 accidentaltheatre.co.uk
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Purpose of Charity
Accidental Theatre creates theatrical productions and outreach & education projects for the public of Northern Ireland. These are for the entertainment, education and inspiration of our audiences and the general public. We use theatrical productions and methodologies as we believe they are the best ways to directly engage, transform and involve the public in our work and in using art to effect change in their lives and in deprived areas of Northern Ireland. Our work is public and directly accessible to all members of our society, with many projects being free or low cost. We aim to inspire communities and individuals through large scale theatrical art that captures the imaginations of large audiences. And then more directly engage and educate the public through less visible outreach work. All of our work focuses upon empowering individuals, and giving voices to the often voiceless in society. Raising levels of well-being in communities through artistic engagement, cultural creativity and creating new opportunities to work and engage in the arts. Theatre can have a transformative impact upon individuals, communities and cultures. Once a person learns how to freely express themselves and recognise the importance of this, their lives are no longer the same. We want every citizen of Northern Ireland to have that chance. And the rest of the world to be able to see and appreciate the unique creativity and culture of this country.
List of Trustees
Chair Person
Mr Richard Phillips
Board
Miss Cathy Walker Miss Christine Morrow Mr Thomas Clarke
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 108109 accidentaltheatre.co.uk
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Director’s Report
In 2022-2023, Accidental Theatre continued to showcase a diverse range of activities and performances, highlighting its commitment to promoting the collision of diverse perspectives, art forms, and unusual collaborations. We continued to be a hub for diverse and eclectic performances, embracing a range of art forms and collaborations. The theatre maintained its commitment to hosting a wide array of events, from comedy and music to theatre and cabaret, thus ensuring that its audience always experienced something new and exciting. Our programming highlights included: Handmade Music , the Accidental Comedy Club , Sonorities Festival , The Wife and Me and My Sex Doll Ruby , Iranian Night , Iron Annie Cabaret , Lies Where it Falls & Never Seen It Film Club .
During this period, Accidental featured events like an extended evening of improvised and experimental music, as part of the Handmade Music series. This event, started in February 2023, included performances from both local and international acts, demonstrating the theatre's focus on vibrant and ambitious storytelling through various art forms. It will initially run for 5 years, in partnership with Sonic Arts Research Centre at Queen’s and Moving on Music.
In addition to live performances, Accidental also pioneered a new approach to remote theatrical and streaming production, known as The Belfast Method . This initiative included training opportunities for those interested in live streaming systems and setup, collaborative digital technologies, camera techniques, sound design, video editing, and more. The training was designed to be practical and hands-on, with a focus on live events such as music, theatre, comedy, and improv shows.
Accidental continued to offer Rehearsal Space, Workshop Space, Offices, Meeting Spaces and much more to the local community as well as to further afield. And this remains one
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 108109 accidentaltheatre.co.uk Page of 3 7
of the main activities that Accidental supports the wider Belfast arts community as well as a more general community.
also offers memberships and room bookings for meetings, rehearsals, and other activities, emphasising their role as a hub for collaborative arts in Belfast. This approach reflects their mission to support diverse perspectives and art forms through curious and adventurous storytelling.
Notable new funders were the Foyle Foundation
Overall, Accidental Theatre's activities in 2022-2023 illustrated its ongoing dedication to fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts environment in Belfast, with a focus on supporting a range of artistic expressions and collaborations.
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 108109 accidentaltheatre.co.uk
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Finance Overview
The organisation is funded primarily by earned income, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Foyle Foundation and the Belfast City Council. It is with tremendous thanks to these three bodies that Accidental has been able to grow for the public benefit within Northern Ireland. In the financial year of 2022/23 Accidental’s accounts broke down as follows:
| INCOME | INCOME | EXPENDITURE | EXPENDITURE |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACNI | £ 44,350.00 |
Production Costs | £ 77,234.82 |
| Foyle Foundation | £ 15,000.00 |
Core Team | £ 82,896.82 |
| Other Grants | £ 74,491.00 |
Supplies (offce and operating) | £ 4,608.64 |
| Box Offce, Workshops & Books | £ 43,944.78 |
Marketing | £ 527.63 |
| Rental & Rooms | £ 35,939.00 |
Travel & Accommodation | £ 0.00 |
| Hires | £ 49,047.03 |
Facilities | £ 5,717.78 |
| Advertising | £ 0.00 |
Accounting & Legal | £ 295.36 |
| Other | £ 6,309.12 |
Rent | £ 16,500.00 |
| Telephone | £ 273.48 |
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| Internet | £ 7,917.31 |
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| Electricity & Water | £ 5,299.61 |
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| Insurance | £ 804.32 |
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| Website | £ 712.62 |
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| Misc. (unspecifed) | £ 1,441.27 |
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| Memberships | £ 719.85 |
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| £ 269,080.93 |
£ 204,949.51 |
The bulk of our income and expenditure goes towards theatrical and community productions for public benefit. With low overheads, we are a lean organisations that continues to grow even in a trying funding environment. The company continues to run all projects on tightly monitored budgets, which all break even. No deficits are held by the charity.
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 108109 accidentaltheatre.co.uk
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Accidental Theatre was established to define a new theatre style indicative of the unique culture and people of Northern Ireland. With specific public benefit stemming from the company’s purpose to promote the enjoyment, better understanding and general advancement of the arts and sciences. In particular the art of advanced new theatre making techniques and styles combined with new theatre writing for the benefit of the general public in Northern Ireland.
We continue to do this through four main strands:
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Major Productions
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Early Career Artist Support & Facilitation
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New Production Research
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Community Projects & Productions
The four strands are designed for the creation of new theatrical performance that transcends the traditional ideas of what theatre can be and confounds expectations. Accidental aims to provide support for artists to trailblazer their own way, build their own audiences, learn new skills and provide new benefits to the public of Northern Ireland. Our theatre practices are inspired by different forms, styles and influences, providing the greatest depth and diversity of work available in Northern Ireland.
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Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The trustees (who are also the directors of Accidental Theatre Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 30th January 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
RICHARD PHILLIPS - Chair
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