Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited
Analysis
Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Liverpool. It was registered in June 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03802476). It says it provides services.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited reported income of £6.7m and spending of £7.0m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £4.5m to £6.7m (+49%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 107% 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, Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust Limited sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% 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 Grantscape (£6.7m), Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Limited (£6.7m) and Tate Foundation (£6.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 79%, trading 11% and donations and legacies 2.4%. Charitable activities took 92% of spending and raising funds 8.1%. Reserves of £1.3m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 273 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 2.4%
- Charitable activities 79%
- Trading 11%
- Investments 0.9%
- Other 6.9%
In the charity's own words
The Trust manages two theatres, the Liverpool Playhouse and the Everyman Theatre. Both are producing theatres. The Everyman Theatre places an emphasis on the production of new work and new writers. Both theatres also host a programme of visiting companies presenting theatre and dance. A significant element of the theatres' work comprises outreach, education and writer development programmes.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Grantscape | Salford | £6.7m |
| Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Limited | London | £6.7m |
| Tate Foundation | London | £6.6m |
| Soho Theatre Company Limited | London | £6.8m |