Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap is a Bradford-based registered charity (founded 1988) that produces inclusive theatre with learning disabled and autistic artists, operating an integrated Theatre, Academy, and Community model with national and international touring, accredited training, and weekly engagement programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersBradford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mind the Gap does
Mind the Gap (legal entity: Mind the Gap Studios) is a registered charity in England and Wales (company no. 234 8556, charity no. 328 476) founded in 1988 by Susan Brown and Tim Wheeler in Bradford. The organisation collaborates with learning disabled and autistic artists to produce bold, inclusive, and original theatre, operating an integrated three-pillar model covering Theatre, Academy, and Community. Theatre outputs include touring productions such as The Invite (2025), ZARA, A Little Space, Mia, Contained, Mirror Mirror, and Lighthouse, performed regionally, nationally, and internationally. The Academy provides a tiered training pathway: a three-year Level 4 Performance Academy accredited by York St John University, intermediate Arts Academy courses, and entry-level Partner Courses run with Totally Arts. The Community programme delivers weekly engagement sessions (Social Club, Free Flow, Art Club, Youth Theatre, My Creative Club, Calderdale Arts Academy) across Bradford and Calderdale venues.
The organisation's underlying operational technology is built on inclusive theatre devising methodologies in which learning disabled and autistic artists are employed to co-create all productions. Physical infrastructure centres on MTG Studios in Lister Mills (a Grade II* listed former silk warehouse), comprising a 122-seat theatre, three studios, two meeting rooms, and a central gathering space. Digital assets include a 2025-relaunched accessible website, active social channels, a YouTube presence with audio-described content, and the Creative Doodle Book (developed with York St John University's Institute for Social Justice).
Revenue is generated across five streams: performance and touring fees (one-time licensing), Academy course fees of approximately £60 per day (typically funded via Adult Social Care Personal Budgets), MTG Studios venue and equipment hire, charitable donations including a £5/month recurring programme, and public funding from Arts Council England, the Creative Foundation Fund (£100,000 in 2026), the National Lottery Community Fund, and Bradford Council (including a historic £2.4m capital project in 2008). The customer base spans individual community participants, Academy students, touring audiences, and institutional commissioning partners such as Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, Walk the Plank, Gecko, Without Walls, and Leeds Playhouse.
Mind the Gap firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mind the Gap
- Legal name
- Mind the Gap Studios
- Website
- https://mind-the-gap.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mind the Gap is a Bradford-based registered charity (founded 1988) that produces inclusive theatre with learning disabled and autistic artists, operating an integrated Theatre, Academy, and Community model with national and international touring, accredited training, and weekly engagement programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mind the Gap industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Inclusive Theatre and Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)
Keywords
Where Mind the Gap is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bradford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Mind the Gap business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Performance and Touring Revenue: Revenue from theatre performances, national and international touring of productions, and programming fees for hosting The Invite and other shows
- Academy Course Fees: Performance Academy course fees of approximately £60 per day, typically funded through Adult Social Care Personal Budgets; Arts Academy and Partner Courses generate additional revenue
- Venue and Equipment Hire: MTG Studios offers venue hire for events, meetings, rehearsals with theatre, studio spaces, and equipment rental; Open Space programme offers free access during quieter months for qualifying artists
- Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from supporters, monthly giving programmes starting from £5 per month, funds creative work and community initiatives
- Public Funding and Grants: Funding from Arts Council England, Creative Foundation Fund (£100,000 for building upgrades), Lottery Community Fund, and other public bodies supporting arts and disability inclusion
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Performance Academy - Three-year full-time course |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Social Club - Weekly community session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Free Flow - Dance and movement session |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | My Creative Club - Family community programme |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Partner Courses (Totally Arts, Totally Theatre) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Mind the Gap product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mind the Gap is a performing arts company that creates original theatre productions devised and performed by learning disabled and autistic artists, delivers accredited performing arts training (Performance Academy, Arts Academy, Partner Courses) for learning disabled and autistic students, and runs community engagement programmes connecting local disabled people to creative activities. The organisation also operates MTG Studios, a 122-seat theatre and studio venue available for hire, with activities delivered from its base in Lister Mills, Bradford.
Product overview
Mind the Gap is a theatre company, training academy and community engagement specialist that operates as a unified platform across three interconnected areas: Theatre, Academy, and Community. The Theatre division produces bold original performances by learning disabled and/or autistic artists including current production The Invite and past productions ZARA, Mia, A Little Space, Contained, Mirror Mirror, and Lighthouse. The Academy offers three distinct training pathways: Performance Academy (a 3-year Level 4 accredited programme with York St John University), Arts Academy (intermediate-level theatre, dance, and music courses), and Partner Courses (entry-level beginner courses with Totally Arts). The Community programme provides ongoing engagement through Social Club, Free Flow, Art Club, Youth Theatre, and My Creative Club. Additionally, MTG Studios offers professional venue hire including a 122-seat theatre and studio spaces to external clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Theatre Productions Bold and original theatre performances created by learning disabled and/or autistic artists, touring across the UK and internationally. Productions are devised and co-created by learning disabled and autistic artists as the company's core artistic output.
- Performance Academy Three-year full-time performing arts course leading to Certificate of Education in Performing Arts Level 4, accredited by York St John University. Covers theatre, dance, music production, composition and industry studies with personalised support for learning disabled and/or autistic students aged 18+. Course fees are approximately £60 per day, typically funded through Adult Social Care Personal Budgets.
- Arts Academy Intermediate-level weekly courses in theatre, dance, and music for learning disabled and/or autistic people. Includes Theatre Academy (Mondays), Dance Academy (Thursdays), Music Academy, and Calderdale Academy serving the Calderdale area. Designed for students building skills and confidence in an accessible setting.
- Partner Courses Entry-level courses for total beginners delivered in collaboration with Totally Arts (Totally Inclusive People). No auditions required, with the ability to join anytime throughout the year. Includes Totally Arts (creative movement, storytelling, music) and Totally Theatre (character development, drama games) sessions.
- Community Programme Engagement projects connecting learning disabled and autistic people of all ages to creative activities. Includes Social Club, Free Flow (dance and movement, £2.50 per session), Art Club, Youth Theatre (ages 11-19), My Creative Club (free, for neurodivergent children ages 6-12 and families), and Calderdale Arts Academy. Sessions delivered at community venues across Bradford and Calderdale.
- MTG Studios Venue Hire Professional venue facilities at Lister Mills featuring a 122-seat theatre, three studio spaces, two meeting rooms, and a central gathering space, available for hire for events, meetings, and rehearsals. Equipment hire catalogue is available, and the Open Space programme offers free venue access during quieter months (June-September) for qualifying artists.
Quantifiable outcome
- First cohort of Performance Academy students awarded Certificate of Education in Performing Arts Level 4 by York St John University (2024)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mind the Gap
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Mind the Gap technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Mind the Gap partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bradford 2025 (UK City of Culture)coreCommissioning partner for The Invite - immersive theatre experience created for Bradford 2025. Also supported Lighthouse production through BD: is LIT event. Key strategic partnership for city's cultural programming.
- York St John UniversitycoreSince 2021, collaboration with YSJ's Institute for Social Justice to offer Level 4 Certificate in Higher Education. Performance Academy students study theatre, dance, music production and composition over three years. First cohort graduated 2024 at York Minster. Joint graduation ceremonies planned for 2027.
- GeckocorePhysical theatre company collaboration on 'A Little Space' - a powerful piece of physical theatre devised and performed by five learning disabled artists. Production toured nationally 2019-2020. Karen Bartholomew co-created the work and served as Movement Director for related productions.
- Walk the PlankcoreCo-production partner for ZARA, a giant outdoor theatre event with 100+ performers, cherry pickers, tanks, and 3D projections. MTG's biggest project to date reaching audiences of 8000+ in Halifax and London. Also in association with Emergency Exit Arts.
- Arts Educational Schools and Guildford ConservatoireminorNational drama school partners for Staging Change advanced training programme in 2004, providing vocational training for 8 learning disabled artists.
- York St John University - Institute for Social JusticecoreOngoing collaboration exploring themes of belonging and place. Students from YSJ Drama and Acting programme collaborate with MTG Performance Academy students on creative projects culminating in performance lectures. Partnership includes development of Creative Doodle Book during Covid pandemic.
- Totally Inclusive People / Totally ArtscoreDelivery partner for Partner Courses (Totally Arts, Totally Theatre) - entry-level creative opportunities welcoming new students year-round with no auditions required. Vicky Ackroyd leads partner programmes as Access Champion.
- HOME and The PlaceminorCommissioning partners for A Little Space co-production with Gecko.
- Without WallsminorCommissioning partner for Mirror Mirror street theatre production.
- Norfolk and Norwich FestivalminorCommissioning partner for Mirror Mirror.
- Hat FairminorCommissioning partner for Mirror Mirror.
- The KazimierminorCollaboration partner for Mirror Mirror creation.
- Leeds PlayhouseminorVenue partner hosting MTG productions including Mia and 7 Carriages from Performance Academy students. Karen Bartholomew worked with the venue; Anna Gray appeared in their 2019 production of Be My Baby.
- Totally ArtscorePartner for delivering collaborative creative opportunities all year around for people to explore creativity at their own pace through Partner Courses.
- Bradford Producing HubminorLisa Mallaghan, former MTG Senior Producer, now Executive Director of this charity dedicated to creating fairer, more representative arts ecology in Bradford. Jamie Saye leads sustainability partnership with Bradford 2025 through SAIL.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mind the Gap competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hijinx Theatre: Welsh inclusive theatre company creating work with learning disabled and non-disabled artists, employing learning disabled performers in professional productions. Direct peer in the UK inclusive theatre space working with a co-creation model strikingly similar to Mind the Gap's Special Effects Theatre Company.
- Access All Areas: London-based inclusive theatre company creating work with learning disabled artists through professional training and productions. Direct peer serving the same population with the same inclusive theatre and ensemble model as Mind the Gap, including an Academy-Plus talent development pathway.
- Birds of Paradise Theatre Company: Scotland's leading disability-led touring theatre company producing bold and innovative work with and for D/deaf and disabled artists. Direct peer in UK inclusive theatre with comparable touring productions and similar National Portfolio funding model via Arts Council England equivalents.
- Spare Tyre Theatre: London-based inclusive theatre company creating participatory performances with disabled people and other marginalised communities. Direct peer in UK accessible theatre with a similar artist-led co-creation ethos and touring model.
- Graeae Theatre: London's leading D/deaf and disabled-led theatre company producing bold new work for over 40 years. Comparable UK peer producing major work created by and for disabled artists, with similar scope, ambition, and Arts Council National Portfolio status.
- Candoco Dance Company: Internationally recognised UK-based inclusive dance company working with disabled and non-disabled dancers. Direct peer in UK performing arts inclusive of learning disabled artists, with similar professional touring model and co-creation ethos.
- Shape Arts: UK charity supporting Deaf and disabled artists through residencies, commissions, professional development programmes, and exhibition opportunities. Comparable as a UK organisation supporting learning disabled and autistic professional artists across multiple disciplines.
Regional players
- Back to Back Theatre: Geelong, Australia-based internationally renowned theatre company working with intellectually disabled artists to create bold, large-scale productions such as Ganesh versus the Third Reich and The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes. International peer with a near-identical inclusive ensemble model, mission, and critical profile.
- Restless Dance Company: Adelaide-based inclusive dance company creating performances with and for artists with and without disability. International peer in the inclusive performing arts space with comparable professional touring work and learning-disabled-led company structure.
- StopGap Dance Company: Waterloo, Ontario-based inclusive dance company creating performances with dancers with and without disabilities. International peer in inclusive performing arts, particularly contemporary dance, with comparable co-creation model and touring ambitions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mind the Gap social profiles
Digital presenceMind the Gap financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mind the Gap leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Mind the Gap funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mind the Gap M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mind the Gap
What does Mind the Gap do?
Mind the Gap is a performing arts company that creates original theatre productions devised and performed by learning disabled and autistic artists, delivers accredited performing arts training (Performance Academy, Arts Academy, Partner Courses) for learning disabled and autistic students, and runs community engagement programmes connecting local disabled people to creative activities. The organisation also operates MTG Studios, a 122-seat theatre and studio venue available for hire, with activities delivered from its base in Lister Mills, Bradford.
Is Mind the Gap a public or private company?
Mind the Gap is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mind the Gap founded?
Mind the Gap was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mind the Gap based?
Mind the Gap is headquartered in Bradford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Mind the Gap make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Performance and Touring Revenue is the primary driver. The others are academy Course Fees, venue and Equipment Hire, donations and Fundraising and public Funding and Grants.
Who are Mind the Gap's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hijinx Theatre, Access All Areas, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, Spare Tyre Theatre, Graeae Theatre, Candoco Dance Company and Shape Arts. Regional players are Back to Back Theatre, Restless Dance Company and StopGap Dance Company.
Does Mind the Gap have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mind the Gap.
What industry is Mind the Gap in?
Mind the Gap's product category is Inclusive Theatre and Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAA, Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture). Its NAICS code is 7111.