Rent-A-Role Drama Service
Analysis
Rent-A-Role Drama Service is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Plymouth. It was registered in June 1989, 37 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 02323701). It says it provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Rent-A-Role Drama Service reported income of £508k and spending of £567k, spending 112% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £413k to £508k (+23%), an average of +5.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 63%. 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, Rent-A-Role Drama Service sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Worshipful Company of Musicians Charitable Fund (£508k), Ideas Test (£509k) and St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (£507k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 88% and trading 11%. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 8.6%. Reserves of £36k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 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 0.3%
- Charitable activities 88%
- Trading 11%
- Investments 0.2%
In the charity's own words
i. To promote the education of young people under the age of twenty-five through the medium of dramaii. To relieve those persons with special needs through the medium of dramaiii. To promote the education of young people in the art and science of theatre and dramaiv. To work with disadvantaged individuals and communities using theatre as a tool for social change
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Worshipful Company of Musicians Charitable Fund | London | £508k |
| Ideas Test | Kent | £509k |
| St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery | Hampshire | £507k |
| Rtyds Limited | Wigan | £509k |