Report of the trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
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COMMEDIA OF ERRORS
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Commedia of Errors
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019),
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims .
The company exists for the benefit of the public to: produce performances in the UK and Ireland; promote and develop the performing arts for the benefit of the public; encourage appreciation and participation in performing arts activities, encourage and stimulate artistic creativity and present, promote, organise, manage and produce work of cultural and educational value.
Commedia of Errors creates art that responds to, challenges and questions the changing times in which we live. It aims to grow, develop and inform audiences, beneficiaries and the arts sector and to broaden and deepen engagement by overcoming barriers to arts participation.
List of Trustees
Chairperson: Sally Campton Secretary: David Gould Treasurer: Neill Cauwood Member: . Jenny Cooke (resigned 19/02/2025) Fiona McAnespie . Mark Francos Michael Weir (resigned 24/07/2024) Rebecca Mairs (joined 29/04/2024)
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COMMEDIA OF ERRORS . Report of the trustees : FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025 — OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Significant Activities . : In 2024/25 Commedia of Errors continued to showcase its diverse range of[creative][activities][through][the][production][of] a new play, the revival of two productions and beginning a major expansion of Plays Aloud. During this time the company also welcomed two new staff members and a move in premises.
This year marked many firsts. In September we premiered Rose+Bud at the Dublin Fringe Festival, followed by a successful run in the Lyric Belfast and two shows at the Derry Playhouse. Rose +Bud has also secured a place on the Pleasance National Partnership programme, and will enjoy a run at the Pleasance Edinburgh in August 2025. The production marked the first professional work as both playwright and performer for Rose Coogan. A revival of Shakespeare 's Women also hit the road in November, marking the first time we have programmed two plays in the same season. Following a sold out run at the Grand Opera House Studio, the tour was also the first time working with arts centres in Ireland in Roscommon, Cavan and Mullingar.
Following receipt of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund we brought on board a new staff member in a brand-new position, as Project Coordinator for Plays Aloud. Hitting the ground running, they maintained our usual output of performances but also began our new workshop programme with eight workshops being delivered across ten schemes. Feedback for this new work has been excellent.
Towards the end of the year our Artistic Director and Co-Creative further developed their relationship with the Lyric Theatre, remounting the highly successful 2022 production of The Gap Year, selling over 9,000 tickets across three weeks. Finally in March we staged our inaugural Creative Arts in Care settings event as part of Belfast Learning Festival. Offering learning and networking opportunities, artists, care staff and the public enjoyed a day-long.event in Clifton House.
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2024/25 was a positive year for both funding and output despite the ever more challenging funding climate and the ongoing issues the arts sector faces. : Public Benefit Commedia of Errors is established predominantly (but not exclusively) to produce performances in the UK and Ireland and in particular to: e Promote and develop the performing arts for the benefit of the public. e Encourage appreciation of and participation in performing arts activities. . e Encourage and stimulate artistic creativity by the provision of artistic performances, training, support and facilities for artistic expression. Present, promote, organise, manage and produce work of cultural and educational value, including (but not limited to) dramas, comedies, operas, operettas, burlesques, films, broadcasts, television shows, concerts, musical pieces, puppet shows, ballets, procure to be written and printed, published, issued, distributed and circulated, reports or periodicals, books, pamphlets, leaflets or other documents or information.
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e Recruit, train and employ volunteers with relevant skills, for the furtherance of the above aims.
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e Promote and carry out, or assist in promoting and carrying out, research, surveys and investigations provided the useful results are published.
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e Co-operate to such an extent as may be necessary with the statutory authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in the furtherance of the above objects or ofany of them. .
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e Raise and accept money by way of grants, donations, bequests, legacies or other lawful method and give, donate or disburse grants and loans to such related organisations or projects as are by law deemed charitable, provided that in the exercise thereof Commedia of Errors shall not engage in any form Of permanent, non-primary purpose trading.
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e Purchase, take or lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the attainment of the said objects. Subject to such consents that may be required by law to sell, let, mortgage, dispose or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of Commedia of Errors which shall be deemed necessary for the furtherance of Commedia of Errors. All such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objects. :
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COMMEDIA OF ERRORS
Report of the trustees . FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025 _ FINANCE REVIEW The Trustees are extremely grateful for the continued financial support provided by the following on general and project funding: Df{C-Future Screens NI, ACNI, Halifax Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston, Belfast City Council and Radius Housing.
Financial Results
At the end of the financial year the company’s assets totalled £90,294 (£40,204 in 2024) with liabilities of £2,986 (£583 in 2024), giving net assets of £87,308, an increase of £47,691 from 2024. As at 5 April 2025 total funds were £87,308 comprising unrestricted funds of £34,505, £11,802 of designated unrestricted funds and ‘general unrestricted funds of £22,703, plus restricted funds of £52,803.
Reserves Policy
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The company’s Reserves Policy sets out details of the purpose, reasons and management of its Designated Unrestricted Reserves in accordance with the five broad categories specified in the Charity Commission’s CC19 document, principally the risk of unforeseen emergency or unexpected need for funds. The balance on the Designated Unrestricted Reserves at 5 April 2025 was £11,802. Despite the challenges, the company’s reserves remain comfortably positive (see above), facilitating an eventual total reserves target equivalent to six months’ core outgoings. i
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The company’s paper on Risk Assessment Policy and a sub-group have established a Risk Framework to identify and address major risks. .
The Trustees are of the view that financial sustainability is the major risk for the company, in particular: e = The termination ofa major source of funding e A negative change in funding policy on the part of government or any major funding body Risks of a non-financial nature include:
e Changes in law pertaining to charities or the arts sector e A substantial decline in demand within the theatrical sector .
STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document . The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Trustee Induction and Training
New trustees attend an induction session at which.they are issued with a “Board Induction Information” brochure setting out detailed data explaining the duties and responsibilities of the Board Member under charity and company law. Trustees are regularly given the opportunity and are encouraged to attend a variety of external training events relevant to their role.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
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COMMEDIA OF ERRORS
Report of the trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025 re eee rs Registered Company Number NI676327
Registered Charity Name Commedia of Errors Errors
Registered Charity Name : Commedia of Errors Errors Registered Charity Number . NIC108049 : Registered Office ‘ 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HD, Northern Ireland Staff Benjamin Gould Gould — Artistic Director ; Clare McMahon — Co-Creative Co-Creative Director Carrie Neal Neal — Project Project Assistant (joined 29/04/2024) 29/04/2024) Charlotte Smith — Project Coordinator — Project Coordinator Project Coordinator Coordinator (joined (09/09/2025) , Independent Examiner Daniel McFaul ACA Chartered Accountants Ireland 41 Castleburn Road Carrickfergus BT38 7NY :
Registered Charity Number . NIC108049 :
Registered Office ‘ 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HD, Northern Ireland
Staff
Benjamin Gould Gould — Artistic Director ; Clare McMahon — Co-Creative Co-Creative Director Carrie Neal Neal — Project Project Assistant (joined 29/04/2024) 29/04/2024) Charlotte Smith — Project Coordinator — Project Coordinator Project Coordinator Coordinator (joined (09/09/2025) ,
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Approved a Febrtas2h by order of the Board of Trustees on A. EA bo 2 and signed on its behalf by:
LL, Goin
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