The Criterion Theatre Trust

Analysis

The Criterion Theatre Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02759117). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Criterion Theatre Trust reported income of £4.4m and spending of £3.7m, spending 84% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.9m to £4.4m (+127%), an average of +23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 69%. Over the whole period it spent 90% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Criterion Theatre Trust sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include National Coal Mining Museum for England Trust Ltd (£4.4m), Culture Warrington (£4.5m) and The Music Venue Trust (£4.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 98% and investments 1.6%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £2.8m would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 46 people.