TINDERBOX THEATRE COMPAIYY Report of the Trustees FOR I'HE YII AR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 The trustees who are also directot% of the charity foi. tlie purposes of the Coinpanies Act 2006, present theii. report with the finaii¢ial statenients of the charity for the year elided 31 st Mai'ch 2023. The tISteeS have adopted tlie pi'ovisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities-. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to chai'itie5 preparing theii. accouiits in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l Januai'y 2019). OBJFCTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Tiiiderbox We are an artist collective driven and shaped by artistic process for the creation of new perfoi'inances und projects. We collaboi'ale equally with artists. pai'licipant5 and audience5 to ci'eate new aiid aiiibitious creative experieiices. Tinderbox has received iininense recognition for our productions and creative training prograinines with paiticipants and audiences alluding to the celebration of playfulness, imagination and einpoweiinent for all. Tinderbox radically shifted ils approach to aitistic collaboi'ation providing a space foi. all artists and participants to share and uiiite thi'oligh live pei'forinatice. We provided space for artists to explore inulti- arltstic forjms to fuel their own practice. We have ¢xplored the dynai)ii¢s of Play with 300 artists tlii'ough Ilic Play Macliine prograiiiine and have facililaled woi'kshops iii schools, pi'isons and coijiinunity envii'oninents. The Vislon: Ignite the ci'eative spai'k through artistic perfoi'mances and projects. Chainpion ¢i'ealive pi'ocess Ihi'ough developinenl, training and perforinaiice prograinines. Inspii'c collaboralioii with ai'tists, audiences, parlicipaiils and site-responsive spaces. Play with Freedom. Play willi liilegrity. Play with the creative process. Iinpleinent creative Inelhodology and thernp¢ulic approaches lo eni'ich and inspire tlie creative process foi. eveiyone. Mlsslon Stateinent: Pi'oduction.. We devise live pei'fonnances to challenge, provoke and inspire. We chainpion collaboration, inclusion and Iniiovation. Pi'ocess.. We woi'k with tlle al'listic process. We acknowledge the creative process of each artist and paiticipant and create spaces to discover and chainpioi) authenticity. Play School: We deliver conteniporaiy training in thealre making and devising at the Crescent Arts Centre. We Inanage the Makei's Network where artists engages aiid practice across Tinderbox projects and platfoiims. Play foi- Change.. We collaboi'ate with arlisls, coinmunities and audiences. We create a livirkg space for aiti5ts, coIMnunitie5, audiences to Co[eCt and share 5toi.ies with each other. We fight for Equality, Inclusion and Ac¢e.ssibility in society. Values: Transforinative. Playful. Spontaneous. Truthful. Abandon. Collaboration. Necessary. Disruptive. Ignite. Spontaneous combustion. History: Foi. thiity-five years, we have championed new writing. producing world-¢lass perfomiances from Northern Ii'ish writers to critical and international acclaiin. We are a leading player iii creative innovation, expei'iinentation and conteinporaiy theatre. Since 2016, 1'inderbox have explored the fundainenlal nature of performance practice. questioning structure and forni, challenging coiiventional narrative and posing an alternative inodel of creative engageinent with our curiEnl arts ecology. We believe that access to the i]nagination without restriction is the key to dynamic practice and performance and we have created multiple pi'ogl.anIcS such as Take Away Theatre. Play Machine, Engii)e and Fuel for everyone to access their unique cieative individuality.
TINDIRBOX THEATRE COMPANY Report ofthe Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 OBJECTIVES AND ACI'IVITIES Objectives aild aims SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES Aehievements alld Pei-formanee Ilirds of Passage in tlie Trlall Light by Kat Woods premiered as part of Edinburgh Fi'iiige 2022 at the Gilded Balloon, followed by a two-week i'un at the Duncairn Arts Centi'e, Belfast. The prodLtction was supported by a pai'ticipatoi'y programme at the Dlincairn Aits CentTe, including an arl installation at the venue. Tinderbox Theatr¢ Company in partnei'ship with the MAC delivered the Rage against tlie Play Maehine progj'ainnie. a one week physical theatre intensive exploring creative activisin and Protest iheatre. Our theatre practice aclivcly reflects and provokes the nLed for social change <ind previous productions such as Ubu the Kiiig, The Man Who Fell to Pieces, Sylvan by Jonallian M. Daley, Iiniiiaculate by Louise Mathews and oiir Inlei'national collaboi'ation with Manifesto Poetico are radical examples of rebel theatr'e both in fonii and conlent, Most iiiipoitanlly. we ci'eate spaces foi. artists to ie-discovei. and i'e-spark Iheii. authentic storie5, voice and bodies so they can feel fi'e¢doin, sti'englli and confidence in their own ¢r¢ative practice. Tinderbox Theatre Coirpany in partnersliip with the Crescent Arts Cenlre delivered Tlic PIAY Muehine pi'ograiiiiMe. Tlii.s pi'ogramine exploird the fundainenlals ot. devisin& and exploring the imaginations, liinitalions and inanipulatioiis of the body, Inind and space to creale an unforbFettable process in conteinpornry thealre inaking. Tindei'box established a brand new network for Theatre Makers in Belfasl called lilcubgte. The network will create space foi. artistic connection, coininiinication and creativity. The development of the netwoi'k will be facilitated and let by Tindei'box bui guided by tlie artists involved. First netsvork Ineeting held in January 23. Tliis will lead lo the InLubator Festival in 2024. Through the Arts & Business Invesl fund, Tindei'box developed Deconstruct. project looking at divei'sity and equality in the workplace with Poitview Conslru¢tion. Pati'ick's play Dirssed for Space was selected io feature as part of ECRN residency In Rottei'dAm. He speiit two weeks credting a new show on the Hofpooth focussing on iheines of Inigration and cliinate change, usiiig Theatre Gi'een Handbook for the ciration of the work. Something Different by Keith Singleton was premiered at The MAC in Belfast in Marcli 2023. The cast was Keith Siiigleton and Nicky Harley. The produclioii looked ai the coinplicated nature of relationships and particularly thos¢ which are polyainoi'ous. 14aving secui'ed funding tlii'ough the Art Work FundlFutLre Screens, Ciaran Haggerty was appoll)ted as Ci'eative Development Practitioner, starting in July 2022 Alice Malseed was appointtnent a5 Tinderbox's new General Manager, taking over froin Meg Magill in June 2022. This job title then cljanged to Creative Producer. The coinpany also delivered and took part in numemus other sectoral developinent events and initiatives. FINANCIAL RCI VIKW Finallcial position Finances al'e inanaged on a daily basis by the Creative Producer. The company continue5 to run all projects Dn tightly monitoi'ed biidgets, which all break even. The charity has set a policy of building reserves to a level that equates to 250/0 of annual administs'ation overheads. This policy has been iinpleinented as pai't of the organisation'5 risk reduction Strategy and would be Lltilised in the ev¢nt of a future shortfall in funding. Due to the ongoing effects of the pandeinic and the cost of living crL51S, ttLe coinpany wa5 not able to add to theii. ieserves foi. the year 2022123 however building reserves remains a tai'get for 2023J24.
TINDERBOX THEATRE COMPANY Report Df tlie Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 FUTURf PLANS April to December 2023 The HAP School is a 4 day prograinme in June 2023 offering specialist artist training coinpleinented by creative therapy lechniques to iiivite paiticipanls to engage in creating a sti'onger and healthier foundation for balance, restoi?tion and self-einpowerinent. 20 artislslparticipants are part of the prograinjne. Dressed Foi. SpAce is an absui'dist comedy abolit city rooftop5. fantasy and freedoin. It is a stoi'y tliat touches on th¢ acceptance of ourselves, being comfortable in our own bodies and Ininds and the aspiratiov] of feeling coiinecled with out. collective space. Pati'ick was artist residencc with the Rolle)ain DakenDageii irj 2022 and the festival pi'ogramined the show foi. 2-4 June. Tindei'box Theatre Coinpany are thrilled to premiei'e Patrick J O Reilly's new adaptation Ilhino at the Lyric Theatre as pait of the Belfast Internvdtional Arts Festival. A bold and darkly coinic reiiiix of Eugene lonesco's absui'disl niastei'piece Rhinoceros. Tlirough a POWLrft]I coi)Ibination of physical theatre aiid multi-media design. IiHINO is suit to cciment itself as a l(IndiMark piece or Ihis year's theatrical calendar, one thal will leave you reflecting loiig aftei. the lights have faded. Coinbining the absurdist comedy of Eugene lonesco's 'Rhinoceros' witli the provocalivc ¢dge of Neiflix's 'Black Mirroi RHINO offers a tl)rilling perspective of our 'Brave New Woi'ld,. Rhino is an iinaginative journey into the hall of mii'i'ors with no escape. Expect an iininersive perfonnance riot briiiging together live stoi'ytelling, film, sound design and coinplete logical nonsense. Pati'ick is delivering a sei'ies of workshops for Women's Aid Nl on Healthy Relalionships and ihe impact of domestic violence on woinen and young peopl¢, Ciaran will delivei. a six-week screen writing workshop prograiiin)e at the Crescent Arts Centre - Thinliing In Fraine Ail(en and Eleelric Ireland Tinderbox coininission lo deliver a new 20 iniiiute play focusing on resilience and gil'ls in spoit. We aiin to delivei. a full perlorindnce for tlie Coini)aiiy at theii. all-lreland event in f4elfast. Date TBC. Alice is writing the play and Ciai'an is directing the work. Jaiiuary to M&reh 2024 Jai)uary - Holding Ground by Jack Dawson, plus a series of workshops and talks exploring doincstic violence, and masculiiiity, pi'esented at the Bi'ian Friel Theatr¢ Mai'ch - Incubatoi. Festival at tlie Mac Belfast, a feslival of the work of I I Incubate Artists, Mai'y O'Loan, Cai'ley Magee, Loiiise Pai'ker, Ashton, Jane McKeev¢r, Aoibh Jol)nsioii, Matthew Shary)e, Richard Mcferran, FL'ancis Mezza, Fei'gus Wachala-Kelly lind Colm Mccready Jai)uary - Mai'ch - Play Machine training Prograinnie March - HAP School- Tl)e Holistic Arls Practice Training School Begimniiig April 2024: The lllferno Programme, a series of fiery new theatre productions and projects, This prograine is created by artists wl)o are dctennined to question the status quo. It creates space for new diveiBe voices to be hcai'd on national creative plalfonn5. As well as telling conteinporary stories, Inferno will also delivei. exceptional training and workshop5 on themes such as. Iheatre mak'ing. self-produciiig. financial well-being for artists. creative ai'ts thei'apies and film-lnaking, The Ii)ferno prograinme includes- a new adaptation of Yerma (by Fedei'i¢o CJarcia Lorca, al Lyric Theatre)., a new studio-production Marcus (by Matthew Sharpe, exploring his experience of being bi-racial, to be presented at the Mac and al Dublin Fringe). a i'eLnount of Somcthiiig Different (by Keith Singleton with Tinderbox, presented at Edinburgh Fi'inge Festival (pitching to Pleasance Theatre))- -march 2024 a studio-pi'oduction of The Incredible Secret Life Inside the Upside-Dowii House (by Ciai'an Haggerty. tell the slory of a gay man in his 30s revi51ting his teenage romance in West Belfast). June 2024 Lysisti'ata (by Aristophanes, reinterpreted for Conteinporary Belfast by Alice Malseed, site-specific in Belfast). - plu5 two new intemational collaborative productions with European theatre companie5. We will a150 ¢ontinue to support a cohort of Incubate Artists as they develop work for stages in Edinburgh Fi'inge with futui'e poteiitial in UK platfoiins. We al'e confident that Tinderbox is in a position to continue trading throughout the fortlicoining year and beyond.
TINDERBOX THEATRE COMPANY Report of the Trustees FOR THI YEAR ENDFD 31ST MARCH 2023 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Triistees The trustees who served the charity diiring the period w¢re a5 follows- Neil Alan Collins (i'csign¢d 0910512022) Stefunie Florence Lehnei. (Irsigned 0910512022) Stephen David Beggs (Cliaii.) Lisa McGinley Janine Mai'ie Walker Sarah Rees Lee Robb Racliel Leitcli Ch]'is Ti'avei. Matthew Jeffrey The ti'ustees are responsible for establishing and Inaintaining coinpany policy and overseeing th¢ Inanagemenl of its dclivei'y. Risli management The ti'iistees are irsponsible for ensuring that all Risk Manageinent issues are managed by the Producer and Artislic Dii-eclor. Management Responsibility foi. the ongoing riinning of the coimpany lies wilh the Aitistic Dii'ector and the Producer. The Artistic Diiecloi. is i'esponsible foi. ensuring that planned serviccs are deliveied according lo coinpany policy, that key indicaloi's are Inet, ai)d that agi'eed pi'ocedures are opci'alive. Appi'oved by ol'der of the board of Iru5tees on 7th December 2023 and signed on its behalf by: Lee Robb - Secretary