Watermill Theatre Limited

Analysis

Watermill Theatre Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Berkshire. It was registered in August 1970, 56 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00978279). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Watermill Theatre Limited reported income of £4.7m and spending of £4.7m, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £2.7m to £4.7m (+74%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 99% 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, Watermill Theatre Limited 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 Brymbo Heritage Trust (£4.7m), Kings Place Music Foundation (£4.8m) and Sheffield Theatres Crucible Trust (£4.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 67%, trading 17%, donations and legacies 15% and investments 1.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £4,475. Charitable activities took 83% of spending and raising funds 3.5%. Reserves of £742k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 36 people.