Theatre Development Trust
Analysis
Theatre Development Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 1985, 41 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 01928541). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Theatre Development Trust reported income of £434k and spending of £1.1m, spending 252% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £5.0m to £434k (-91%), an average of -46% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income dropped by 70%. Over the whole period it spent 120% 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, Theatre Development Trust sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 89th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Elmley Foundation (£433k), Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust (£434k) and Alford House (£432k).
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
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
The principal activity of the charity is to promote and advance the dramatic and other performing arts for the benefit of the public through supporting the work of various charitable foundations together with the provision of grants to people in the arts.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Elmley Foundation | Devon | £433k |
| Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust | West Sussex | £434k |
| Alford House | London | £432k |
| The Courtauld Institute of Art Fund | London | £434k |