Commedia of Errors Theatre Company

Public benefits

1) Promote and develop the performing arts for the benefit of the public. The direct benefits of this are a greater awareness of the performing arts in general, improving their reach and raising the standard. These benefits are demonstrated through audience numbers and the numbers of people working with and alongside the company. There is no risk

of harm from this purpose. The beneficiaries are the general public throughout the UK, Ireland and abroad, but with a focus on Northern Ireland. The only private benefit from this purpose is to theatres who will receive improved revenues and to the staff running the company, but this is incidental to the charity's work. 2) Encourage appreciation of and participation in performing arts activities. The direct benefits of this purpose include engaging people who don't commonly go to the theatre. This can be demonstrated through audience numbers in areas with low performing arts participation records. There is a potential harm as staff could be working in high risk areas and with people at risk, but all necessary risk assessments will be carried out to minimise this risk and the benefit will outweigh any potential harm. This purpose's beneficiaries are areas of social and cultural deprivation throughout the UK, Ireland and abroad, but with a focus on Northern Ireland. The only private benefit is to individuals employed by the company to carry out the outreach work necessary to achieve this goal. 3) Encourage and stimulate artistic creativity by the provision of artistic performances, training, support and facilities for artistic expression. The direct benefits of this purpose include an improvement to the standard of performances available and to the standard of performers. These benefits will be demonstrated through workshop attendance figures and feedback forms. There is a small risk of injury in the carrying out of this purpose as workshops are very physical but the benefits outweigh the risk as performers gain a new understanding of physicality and a new skill set. Beneficiaries are actors and students and the performing arts scene in general throughout the UK, Ireland and abroad, but with a focus on Northern Ireland. The only private benefit is to the individuals paid to facilitate the workshops and this is necessary achieve the charity's purpose. 4) Present, promote, organise, manage and produce plays of cultural and educational value, including (but not limited to) dramas, comedies, operas, operettas, burlesques, films, broadcasts, television shows, concerts, musical pieces, puppet shows, ballets, entertainments and exhibitions. The direct benefit is entertainment for the general public. This can be demonstrated through audience attendance numbers and feedback plus reviews. As shows are very physical, there is a small risk of injury to audience and performers, however, this is controlled and kept minimal and is outweighed by the benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are the general public throughout the UK, Ireland and abroad. The only private benefit from this purpose is to theatres who will receive improved revenues and to the staff running the company, but this is incidental to the charity's work.

What your organisation does

Commedia of Errors Theatre Company work with new writing and modern adaptations of classic texts, utilising the tenets of Commedia dell'Arte to create a new, exciting style of theatre. They also provide training in this highly expressive, physical and comedic style and other facets of theatre.