The Playhouse Backwell

Analysis

The Playhouse Backwell is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bristol. It was registered in January 1986, 40 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and recreation, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Playhouse Backwell reported income of £46k and spending of £66k, spending 144% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £18k to £46k (+154%), an average of +26% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2024, when income rose by 122%. Over the whole period it spent 106% 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 Playhouse Backwell sits at the 68th percentile: it is larger than about 68% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 59th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Yorkshire Philosophical Society (£46k), Suffolk Young People's Theatre (£46k) and Medical Artists Education Trust (£46k).

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.