The Upstate Theatre Project Clg

Board leadership

Board member oversight rooted in artistic, financial, and community expertise.

Our directors steward programming quality, risk management, compliance, and public accountability.

Aoife Byrne

Director

Colm Kearney

Chair

Niamh O'Daly

Treasurer

Seán Murphy

Governance Lead

Roisín Clarke

Safeguarding Officer

Patrick Nolan

Community Partnerships Lead

Programs

An accordion view of the programs we run across the year.

Each program combines artistic excellence with measurable participation, wellbeing, and access outcomes.

The lab delivers artist-led workshops in acting, movement, and writing, culminating in a public sharing and mentor feedback.

In the last cycle, 68 participants completed 420 contact hours, with bursaries protecting access for lower-income households.

Annual impact report

A featured report section with headline outcomes and a direct PDF download.

2025 Annual Impact Report

The latest report consolidates delivery metrics, beneficiary feedback, governance updates, and financial oversight into a single board-approved publication.

2,840

Audience and participant engagements

41

Artists, facilitators, and mentors contracted

87%

Participants reporting improved confidence

14

Partner venues, schools, and charities engaged

Governance policies

Four policy access points for public accountability.

Policy 01

Safeguarding

Read our framework for child protection, safer recruitment, and reporting duties.

Policy 02

Conflict of Interest

See how directors and senior staff declare, manage, and record conflicts.

Policy 03

Financial Controls

Review delegated authority, approvals, reserves, and procurement expectations.

Policy 04

Data Protection

Access our approach to consent, retention, access requests, and secure processing.

Financial dashboard

Budget allocation chart for the current operating year.

Spending is monitored by the board finance subcommittee and reviewed against restricted and unrestricted income streams.

Programs

46%

Artists and facilitators

24%

Access supports

12%

Governance and compliance

9%

Fundraising and communications

9%

Case study spotlight

One story arc showing how a local participant moved from access to leadership.

Case study: From first workshop to assistant facilitator

Leah joined the Youth Ensemble Lab after being referred by a school wellbeing coordinator. She had limited prior arts access and low confidence in group settings.

Over two production cycles, Leah progressed into devising, then stage management support, and now co-facilitates warm-ups for younger participants.

Challenge Limited confidence and no clear entry point into structured arts participation.

Intervention Bursary-backed ensemble training, mentoring, and production responsibility.

Result Leadership growth, sustained attendance, and progression into peer support.

Stakeholder testimonials

Partners, donors, and beneficiaries describing value in their own terms.

Upstate combines serious artistic standards with a clear safeguarding culture. That makes them a trusted delivery partner for youth-facing work.

Máire Devlin School partner

Their reporting is direct and evidence-based. We can see where funds go, what changed, and which communities benefited.

David Kinsella Individual donor

I came for one workshop and stayed because I felt listened to. The project made theatre feel possible for someone like me.

Aisling Reilly Program participant

Board meetings and events

An upcoming timeline of governance touchpoints and public-facing milestones.

16 May 2026

Quarter 2 board meeting

Agenda includes risk review, reserves monitoring, and summer program sign-off.

06 June 2026

Community open rehearsal

Stakeholders and local families are invited to observe rehearsals and meet the creative team.

21 August 2026

Summer impact review

Program leads present attendance, access metrics, and participant wellbeing feedback to directors.

02 October 2026

Annual donor briefing

A public webinar covering progress, financials, and priorities for the next funding cycle.

Donor transparency

Impact per euro, presented in plain language.

What each donation level makes possible

We publish unit-cost estimates so supporters can understand how unrestricted giving strengthens participation, production quality, and access.

EUR 25 Provides travel or access support for one participant session.

EUR 75 Covers artist-led facilitation materials for a community workshop block.

EUR 150 Underwrites one bursary place in a youth ensemble cycle.

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