hroughout 2025, House of Damnation CIC used drag, cabaret, workshops and community engagement to increase access to LGBTQ+ culture and create opportunities for participation, connection and creative development across Cornwall and the wider South West. A key community benefit was increasing access to queer cultural activity outside established LGBTQ+ venues and larger urban centres. By delivering and participating in events in places including Truro, Newquay, Hayle, Stithians and Probus, we enabled people to encounter LGBTQ+ performers and culture within their own communities, broadening the geographic reach of queer cultural activity across Cornwall. Our activities also created inclusive opportunities for LGBTQ+ people and allies to socialise, celebrate identity and participate in queer culture. Events such as Out Out, Quiz & Cabaret and the Eurovision viewing event provided dedicated social and cultural spaces, while appearances at wider community events such as Geek Expo and Probus Fun Week brought queer performance into mixed community settings. This supported LGBTQ+ visibility and enabled audiences who may not ordinarily attend a dedicated queer event to engage with LGBTQ+ performers and culture. We also benefited LGBTQ+ performers by creating paid performance opportunities and spaces in which performers could develop and showcase their work. Alongside performance opportunities, our workshop activity included a Plymouth Pride session attended by 28 participants, providing a more participatory route into queer creativity and performance. Across the year, House of Damnation CIC took part in 13 engagements spanning performances, community events, workshops and outreach. Known attendance included approximately 50 people at Out Out, around 70 at Quiz & Cabaret, around 60 at Eurovision, and audiences of approximately 400 at each of two Cornubia performances in Hayle. These figures demonstrate the breadth of engagement, but where we participated in larger public events we have not treated whole-event footfall as direct House of Damnation audience reach unless this could be evidenced. The company’s resources were used to further its community purpose rather than to maximise private financial return. Income and organisational capacity were reinvested into continued community activity, performer opportunities and future development in accordance with the CIC’s asset lock and community purpose.

House of Damnation CIC consulted with a range of stakeholders during 2025, including LGBTQ+ community members, event attendees, performers, community partners and relevant local or statutory stakeholders. Consultation took place primarily through informal and embedded engagement rather than standalone consultation events. This included direct conversations with audiences and performers at events, engagement with community partners, and discussion with relevant local and statutory stakeholders where appropriate. Feedback and stakeholder input informed the development of the company’s activities and future planning, including how and where events were delivered, how community access could be improved, and how future projects could better respond to the needs of LGBTQ+ people and performers in Cornwall. Stakeholder engagement also informed the early development and feasibility work for future community-focused projects.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration