Annual Report 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year ended 30 April 2025

‘Small Town Boys’ Photo: Maria Falconer

Shaper Caper Limited

Scottish Charity Number: SC047014 Company Registration Number: SC502566

Address

Bankers

Telephone number: +44 (0) 1382 413 007

Company Secretary

Unit 6, Manhattan Works, Dundonald St, Dundee DD3 7PY

Email address: hello@shapercaper.com Website: www.shapercaper.com YouTube / Facebook / Instagram - @shapercaper

Bank of Scotland, 65-69 Murraygate, Dundee DD1 2EA

Yolanda Aguilar

Accountants

Walker Dunnett & Co, 29 Commercial St, Dundee DD1 3DG

‘Dance for Parkinson’s’ class

Foreword from our co-chairs 2024/25 marked a defining year for Shaper/Caper as we moved from a period of rapid expansion into one of sustainable growth and maturity.

Guided by our newly developed five-year Business Plan, we have strengthened our foundation as a company rooted in Dundee with an increasingly national and international outlook.

Under the creative leadership of Thomas Small and executive direction of Yolanda Aguilar our work continues to reveal the extraordinary in people and communities — using dance to spark imagination, connection, and change. From the success of Small Town Boys and Queer & Now to the reach of Well Good across more than a hundred schools, our artistic creation and community engagement programmes exemplify our mission to make space for seldom-heard stories and meaningful participation.

A landmark achievement this year was our selection for Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding from 2025–2028. This represents a new chapter of stability and confidence, allowing us to invest in our team, nurture talent, and plan for the future with greater ambition.

Our Business Plan sets out a clear direction: to invest in organisational development, to create and tour significant work with national and international appeal, to engage audiences in transformative ways, to collaborate across sectors for greater impact, and to operate responsibly within our planet’s finite resources. The progress we have made this year reflects these aims in action — from deepening partnerships with NHS Tayside and The Rank Foundation, to embedding equality, diversity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability throughout our practice.

On behalf of the Board, I extend heartfelt thanks to our staff, freelance artists, and volunteers, whose creativity and commitment bring our vision to life; to our funders and partners for their continued belief in our work; and to the communities who inspire and shape everything we do. As we look ahead, we do so with confidence in the path we have set — one that will see Shaper/Caper continue to grow sustainably, create bravely, and connect deeply with people through the transformative power of dance.

Victoria Simmons and David Wright

Trustees 1. Allan McIntyre 2. Linzi McLagan 3. Jenny Rutter 4. David Wright 5. Dr Aleksandra Webb 6. Victoria Simmons 7. Yolanda Aguilar 8. Thomas Small

Objectives & Activities The company’s objectives The promotion and development of the arts and culture, with the focus on dance, as entertainment, a leisure pursuit or career; using creativity as a tool to connect communities and enhance social justice, encouraging appreciation and participation by all sections of society.

To provide and promote education and engagement of the public, both in dance and through dance, with a focus on creative learning.

The main activities of the company are touring dance-theatre productions and facilitating extensive creative participatory opportunities to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with a focus on social impact and civic agency.

Our Audiences • • • •

Children and Young People Working Class Families LGBTQ+ people Vulnerable People (those with long-term health conditions, in care/custody, etc).

We nurture and develop long-term partnerships with organisations like NHS Tayside, V&A Dundee, and Dundee City Council, among others. We engage with local and national creative and enterprising networks. We provide free-of-charge class access to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. We offer employability opportunities to young people supporting them with training, work experience, and paid traineeships; central to this is our Youth Advisory Council, The Body, a group of young and budding artists looking to get in and get on the creative industries. We have dedicated LGBTQIA+ work that supports and connects people, developing cross-sectoral networks for future professional opportunities.

““Tommy is an amazing talent. His skill and dynamism brings a whole new creative dimension to some of Radio 2’s most iconic output.”

Bob Shennan Managing Director, BBC

‘Small Town Boys’ Photo: Maria Falconer

/

Structure, Governance & Management Description of the charity’s trusts: 1.

Type of governing document: Constitution

2.

How the charity is constituted: Limited Company

3.

Trustee selection methods: elected by the Trustees and senior staff members, appointed by the Chair and Chief Executive. Directorship is open to all and no application for directorship will be refused, other than on reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, political or other opinions.

4. Application for directorship: • Any person who wishes to become a director must sign, and lodge with the company, a written application.

• The Board shall consider each application at the first board meeting which is held after receipt of the application and the Board will, within a reasonable time after the meeting, notify the applicant of their decision on the application.

• If an application has been refused, an appeal may be made in writing to the Board, who shall consider the appeal at its next meeting after the appeal is received, and who shall respond in writing to the applicant within 21 days of the meeting. The decision on such appeals is final.

5. The structure of the Company consists of the directors who are also the Company’s only members and comprise the Board.

The Board have important powers under the constitution, take decisions on changes to the constitution itself, hold regular meetings, and generally control the activities of the Company.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Board is responsible for monitoring and controlling the financial position of the Company.

The individuals making up the Board are referred to in these articles as directors. Additional governance issues: • • •

There are policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; these include the governance of our Youth Advisory Board, The Body.

At the regular meetings and development days, the trustees consider all major risks and implement the systems and procedures to manage them satisfactorily.

The Company was formed in 2015 and incorporated as a limited company by guarantee, registered in Scotland, having no share capital and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. On the 25th of November 2016, we gained charitable status. We are confident in the constitution, relevance, and strength of our governing Board. In line with our strategic planning for the next few years, we will continue to invest in a Board development scheme, providing its members with the skills to cultivate new opportunities that will provide the expertise and knowledge that is invaluable to the future of the charity.

‘Queer & Now’

Vision, Mission, and Values Our Vision is

To contribute to a more socially just, connected, and empathic world through dance-theatre and creativity.

Our Mission

To nurture spaces for innovation and creative thinking through dancetheatre that connects society and reveals the extraordinary in people.

Our Values

Kindness, Respect, Collaboration, Joy.

How we do it

We offer creative opportunities and nurture spaces for innovative, open, and empathic thinking through dance-theatre in three key strands: artistic creation, creative engagement, and professional pathways.

We do this because the arts saved us. Art provides a safe, dynamic, and imagination-sparking world that helps us to understand and respond to the chaotic, unjust, and wonderful world we live in. We have lived experience of this and believe sharing it has the power to make society more connected and empathic.

‘The World is My...’

Achievements & Performance In line with the ambitions set out in our Business Plan 2024–2029, Shaper/Caper has continued to grow sustainably while maintaining artistic integrity and deep community reach.

Shaper/Caper, operating as a registered charity, continues to deliver creative excellence and community impact through dance and theatre. Under the creative leadership of Thomas Small, the organisation remains committed to advancing access to the arts while supporting artistic innovation and professional development.

For the first time ever, and after ten years of significant artistic and social impact, we have become the recipients of Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Funding programme from 2025-2028. Starting in March 2025, this fund provides a base level of financial sustainability never experienced before, which we hope to maximise by leveraging further investment to develop our work and reach.

Partners & Networks •Local and Third Sector: Boomerang, DYW Tay Cities Our Lady’s RSC PS, Rosebank PS, Kingspark ASN school •Cultural: V&A Dundee, Dundee Dance Partnership, Scottish Ballet, Stereo 48 Dance company from Palestine, Dundee & Angus College, Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS), Abertay University, Edinburgh University, Dundee Cultural Agencies Network (CAN) •Other: Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Scottish Theatre, Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Volunteer Organisations (ACOSVO)

Working with Artists Artist development and collaboration remain central to Shaper/Caper’s mission. Our artist development work sits at the heart of our Professional Pathways strand, supporting the sector’s next generation through fair, paid opportunities. During the year, the company commissioned 10 new works as part of the Queer & Now project, reinforcing its role as an incubator for creativity and original voices. Residencies and collaborative opportunities also strengthened our network of artistic partnerships.

Engagement & Audiences Our engagement work continues to embody our belief that dance can be a catalyst for connection, wellbeing, and positive change.

Shaper/Caper is not venue-based, which allows flexibility in reaching communities across multiple settings. This approach enables us to engage with diverse audiences, particularly those who may not traditionally access cultural venues.

Engagement levels continue to reflect both the breadth of activity and the commitment to community reach.

‘Shake, Rattle & Stroll’, V&A Dundee

‘Snow Qween’

Touring & Productions Touring has been a major feature this year. Highlights include: Well Good, (October’24 to June’25) in partnership with NHS Tayside, delivered in 116 primary schools across Tayside to over 7,000 pupils.

Snow Qween (December 2024), an itinerant panto reaching 625 local and regional children and family audiences.

Small Town Boys (July-October 2024), six cities, sold-out, Scottish tour of a dance-theatre work for adults reflects on the social and state stigma put on the LGBTQIA+ community affected by AIDS in the 1980s The work was enhanced by the accompanying travelling exhibition Queer & Now. This mid-scale work with a cast of eight professional dancers and an additional community cast is a milestone in the career and artistic development of Thomas Small, pushing boundaries with complex themes and logistically challenging productions.

Queer & Now (May’24-Feb’25), supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this project supported an oral history, action-based research for 10 emergent artists using different forms (visual arts, digital, photography, film, etc) that created an artistic response to the main themes of Small Town Boys. The exhibition travelled to Perth, Stirling, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, and Dundee, and was visited by 900 people.

This project was independently evaluated by the University of West of Scotland, deeming it a success in terms of “professional and personal outcomes for artists in areas of skills and competencies development in oral history, growth in confidence, stronger voice, assured and consolidated identity as queer artists, and expanded artistic portfolio that is expected to attract paid work or other development and career enhancing opportunities”.

The World Is My…, a new research and development production for 8-13 years olds looking at the environment for awareness raising and practical tools to use in schools, and at home. Supported by Creative Scotland and Aberdeen City Council Creative Learning.

Ship Shape (March-April’25), research and development phase for a new work commissioned by CityMoves dance agency in Aberdeen for the worldwide Tall Ships event celebrated in Aberdeen in summer 2025.

These tours and works demonstrate both scale and range: large-scale productions touring across Scotland and bespoke local community events. Successful productions demonstrate our growing capacity to produce and tour work of national significance while connecting deeply with communities.

Engagement Activity •Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland programme in Fife and Dundee hubs, supported by Parkinson’s UK and RS MacDonald. In person and digital weekly classes for Dundee and Fife to enhance mobility, coordination, fun and provide a space for peer- to-peer support.

•HMP Bella Unit-Female custody suite supported by Creative Scotland.

•Gilbert’s Adventures Through Books, for the under 5s and their adults, supported by Essentia and Creative Scotland. Weekly Saturday sessions followed by a social café.

•Shake, Rattle & Stroll, V&A Dundee programme of participatory creative sessions for little museum audiences.

Professional Pathways The Rank Foundation provided us with access to their Time To Shine programme for emerging workers in the third sector.

This funding has supported a year post for an Administrator.

We hosted a short-term placement for the Rank Foundation during the summer, inviting one young person travelling from England to join our company for a week.

Our programmes provided consistent impact on: •Improved health and wellbeing •Better social and professional connections and networks •Increased future professional opportunities •Enhanced skills development •Economic development •Strengthening civic engagement •Cultural preservation and innovation Our prolific programme of activities contributed to build more connected, resilient, and vibrant communities.

Reach and Impact Across all activity strands, Shaper/Caper reached 9,529 people through 183 performances and 148 engagement activities, reaffirming the company’s role as a catalyst for creativity and social connection.

Across activities, we delivered: •183 Public Performances •148 Engagement Activites •6 Artists Development Events •116 School Workshops

Combined direct reach: 9,529

‘The World is My...’

Marketing & Communications Our consistent increase in social media engagement, as well as the wide scope of our projects across productions, creative experiences, and professional pathways, compounds the previous year’s impact of having a dedicated marketing and content creation role. The diversity of our target audiences, from children and young artists to pro-dancers and the LGBTQ+ community, contribute to this continued growth.

Trends indicate that the most popular content comes from Queer & Now and the Small Town Boys tour, particularly where we’ve leaned into the platform’s growing prioritisation of Reels and video content, such as rehearsal and exhibition clips.

Many of the highest-performing posts are collaborative (e.g. V&A, Dundee and Angus College, and Creative Stirling), highlighting the value of partnering with other accounts to extend reach and boost engagement.

Social Media Reach

Top Moments

30,241 facebook 31,600 instagram

Queer & Now Exhibition

Social Media Profile Visits

5,800 facebook 5,600 instagram Website

15,000 visits 11,000 unique visitors 27,000 page visits ‘Joy in the Shadows’ film with V&A Dundee Photo: Aiesha Duncan

Small Town Boys Recruitment Administrator Recruitment

Financial Review This provides a solid foundation for transparency and for meeting funding body and governance requirements.

£479,789 income

£348,595 expenditure

‘Snow Qween’

Total Income: £479,789

Classes & Workshops £25,016 Touring

£42,944

Creative Scotland £216,164

Other revenue £3,477

Project Income £45,833

Other Grants £145,324

Total Expenditure: £348,595

Development Costs £7,526

Advertising £8,318 Overheads & Other Costs £8,608 Accountancy & Bank Charges £9,215 Equipment & IT consumables £10,567

Wages & related costs £213,523

Props & Materials £14,589

Rent & Hires £21,297 Travel, vehicle running & subsistence

£78,656

Freelancer Costs £157,483

Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves It is the aim and duty of the Board to comply with OSCR recommendations and sector’s best practice, ensuring that the charity has at least 3 months of reserves to cover the costs of staff and overheads. This is currently observed, aiming to increase this level to provide robust economic security.

Donated facilities and services We operate according to the Scottish Government Place Principle and establish numerous mutually beneficial partnerships with local and regional organisations resulting in various in-kind exchanges of services.

We offer our assets to members of the community in need of accessing them.

‘Scratch Capers’

‘Small Town Boys’ rehearsal

Funders and Partners All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Incoming resources include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Creative Scotland NHS Tayside RS MacDonald National Lottery Community Fund National Lottery People’s Project Scottish Government Shared Care Scotland The Rank Foundation V&A Dundee Parkinson’s UK: Dundee, Fife, and Angus groups Rossie, Young People’s Trust Essentia Foundation George and Grace Thomson Fund Scottish Ballet City Moves

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aberdeen Performing Arts Dundee City Council Arnold Clark Community Fund Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Foundation Scotland Graduate Careers Advance Scotland, GCAS-Edinburgh University Braeview Academy University of Dundee Parkinson’s UK Leisure and Culture Dundee Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Museums and Galleries Scotland Dumfries and Galloway Festival

‘There is such a broad scope to his work - it can span from mass participation events to high end performance at a major Arts festival.

I was excited about spending time with Tommy on his amazing artistic journey throughout the year of events on BBC Radio 2.’

Claudia Winkleman, BBC Presenter

‘Small Town Boys’ Photo: Maria Falconer

Future Plans 2024/25 has been a year of creative vitality, resilience, and meaningful impact. Artist commissions, extensive school touring, and deep community engagement have demonstrated Shaper/Caper’s commitment to artistic excellence and social purpose, while reinforcing a strong creative and financial foundation.

Looking ahead, our priorities for 2025/26 reflect the ambitions set out in our Business Plan 2024–2029. We will: •deepen partnerships with schools, communities, and cross-sector collaborators; •strengthen artistic development pathways through our Professional Pathways strand; •diversify engagement to ensure wider access and representation; •sustain financial growth through strategic fundraising and entrepreneurial practice •advance plans for national and international touring using environmentally responsible approaches.

With a stable operational base in Dundee, a growing team, and an ambitious artistic programme, Shaper/Caper is well positioned to deliver the next phase of its five-year plan — continuing to reveal the extraordinary in people and inspire a more connected, fair, and joyful world through dance.

‘Shake, Rattle & Stroll’ V&A Dundee

‘Queer & Now’ V&A Dundee

Additional Information Risk management The board of trustees approved the charity’s business plan for a 5-year period. The latest business plans incorporating the risk register covered the period year ending April 2025. This plan is regularly review and refreshed.

Declaration Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:

Print name: Yolanda Aguilar Designation: Executive Director Date: 07/01/2026

Cover: ‘Small Town Boys’ Photo: Maria Falconer

Back Cover: ‘Small Town Boys’ Photo: Maria Falconer