Fourth Monkey
Fourth Monkey is a London-based UK drama school and registered charity founded in 2010, offering undergraduate and postgraduate acting programmes validated by Falmouth University, alongside corporate training, studio hire, and an Emerging Artists Fund supporting over 2,000 artists annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Fourth Monkey does
Fourth Monkey is a London-based drama school and registered UK charity (Charity No. 1164406; Fourth Monkey Education Ltd, Company #9560983) founded in 2010 and headquartered at The Monkey House in Finsbury Park, North London. The organisation delivers actor training across undergraduate pathways (BA Hons Acting, BA Hons Acting Accelerated, and Cert HE Acting & Theatre Making) and a postgraduate MA Physical Theatre-Making, all validated and awarded by Falmouth University. Operating from a single-site facility with 8 studios, the school deliberately caps cohort sizes (e.g., maximum 12 students on the MA) to deliver ensemble-based, physical theatre-making methodology and a formally recognised decolonised curriculum. Postgraduate graduates are expected to form their own touring theatre companies by completion.
The organisation generates revenue across multiple streams: tuition (e.g., £11,100 for the one-year MA Physical Theatre-Making), corporate training via its Executive Ensemble division (workshops priced £65–£175 per delegate across half-day, full-day, online, and 1:1 coaching formats delivered at client sites, online, or at Ensemble HQ), studio and venue hire at The Monkey House (including the Emrys Johns Studio), ticketed public performances (Adult £17, Concession £12, Alumni £5, students free), branded merchandise (hoodies £33, t-shirts £20, caps £25) with profits directed to charity, and tiered donor packages ranging from £100 (Friend) to £10,000 (Champion) annually. As a registered charity, Fourth Monkey also administers the Emerging Artists Fund, which has awarded over £400,000 in scholarships since 2010 and supports free access-and-participation workshops reaching over 2,000 emerging artists per year.
Fourth Monkey's go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer recruitment (UCAS for undergraduates, direct application for postgraduates, online Q&As, open days, and a "Drama School For A Day" experience) with enquiry-based B2B sales for its corporate training arm. Distribution is domestic (United Kingdom only; international applicants requiring a Student Route Visa are not accepted without settled/pre-settled status). The company operates as a charitable social enterprise with no external investors, no parent company, and no disclosed funding rounds, governed by an Artistic Director & CEO (Steve Green) and Director of Training & Deputy CEO (Charleen Qwaye), both founders. Notable ancillary programmes include Shizaru (the graduate ensemble), the Full Circle Festival, and the Act of Rebellion annual fundraiser co-presented with Backstage and Acting For Others.
Fourth Monkey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fourth Monkey
- Legal name
- Fourth Monkey Education Ltd
- Website
- https://fourthmonkey.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fourth Monkey is a London-based UK drama school and registered charity founded in 2010, offering undergraduate and postgraduate acting programmes validated by Falmouth University, alongside corporate training, studio hire, and an Emerging Artists Fund supporting over 2,000 artists annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Fourth Monkey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fourth Monkey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition: BA (Hons) Acting (3-year and Accelerated 2-year) and Cert HE Acting & Theatre Making courses validated by Falmouth University. Applications open for September 2026.
- Postgraduate Tuition: MA Physical Theatre-Making course priced at £11,100 for one-year full-time study. Eligible for Postgraduate Loans.
- Scholarships and Bursaries: Over £400,000 awarded in scholarships and bursaries since 2010 to support students with fees, travel, and living costs. Funded through charitable donations and patron support.
- Donations and Charitable Support: Fourth Monkey is a registered charity (No. 1164406) accepting donations to support the Emerging Artists Fund, scholarships, and community outreach programmes.
- Executive Ensemble Corporate Training: Corporate workshops using theatre and performance techniques for professional development. Offered at client locations, online, or at HQ with tiered pricing from £85-£175 per delegate.
- Studio Hire: Professional studios and performance spaces available for hire at The Monkey House. Includes Emrys Johns Studio (19m x 6m with fully sprung floor).
- Ticket Sales: Public performances and shows ticketed at £17 (Adult), £12 (Concession), £5 (Alumni), free for current students.
- Merchandise: Branded merchandise including hoodies (£33), t-shirts (£20), tote bags (£18), and caps (£25) with profits supporting the charity's work with emerging artists.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | MA Physical Theatre-Making annual tuition |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Theatre production tickets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Executive Ensemble corporate workshops at client location |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Executive Ensemble corporate workshops at Ensemble HQ |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Online Executive Ensemble workshops |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise items |
| Other | Annual | Donor support packages |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Fourth Monkey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fourth Monkey is a registered UK charity and drama school delivering accredited performing arts education — undergraduate BA (Hons) Acting (3-year and 2-year accelerated), Cert HE Acting & Theatre Making, and a postgraduate MA Physical Theatre-Making — all validated by Falmouth University. Beyond formal courses, it sells corporate training (Executive Ensemble), studio hire, public performance tickets, and branded merchandise, with scholarships and bursaries funded through charitable donations.
Product overview
Fourth Monkey is a UK drama school and registered charity founded in 2010, offering a portfolio of accredited higher education programmes validated by Falmouth University. The core educational offerings include three undergraduate pathways: BA (Hons) Acting (3-year), BA (Hons) Acting Accelerated (2-year), and Cert HE Acting & Theatre Making, alongside a postgraduate MA Physical Theatre-Making programme. Beyond formal education, Fourth Monkey operates as a social enterprise providing studio hire services, corporate training through its Executive Ensemble division, public ticket sales for productions, a merchandise shop (with proceeds supporting the charity), and community outreach through its Access & Participation Programme. The organisation also runs annual events including the Full Circle Festival and Act of Rebellion fundraiser, while supporting graduates through the Emerging Artists Fund and Shizaru professional ensemble.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shizaru - The Fourth Monkey Ensemble: Professional theatre company of Fourth Monkey graduates and alumni offering professional employment opportunities
- Executive Ensemble
- Emerging Artists Fund
Products and services
- BA (Hons) Acting Three-year full-time undergraduate acting degree validated by Falmouth University, focusing on versatile actor training for stage and screen. Designed for aspiring professional actors applying via UCAS.
- BA (Hons) Acting Accelerated
Quantifiable outcome
- Over £400,000 awarded in scholarships and bursaries since 2010
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Fourth Monkey
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fourth Monkey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fourth Monkey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.
- BackstagemoderateBackstage is a co-presenter of the Act of Rebellion annual industry event, a creative industries and performing arts festival raising funds for the Emerging Artists Fund.
- Acting For OthersmoderateActing For Others co-presents the Act of Rebellion annual event with Fourth Monkey, bringing together industry connections, workshops, and entertainment for emerging artists.
- Falmouth UniversitycoreAwarding and validating partner for all higher education courses. Falmouth University is one of the UK's leading specialist universities for the creative industries. All BA and MA qualifications are awarded by Falmouth University, which has formally celebrated Fourth Monkey's decolonised curriculum.
- Creative UK FederationminorMember of Creative UK Federation, demonstrating commitment to the creative industries community and access to industry resources and networking.
- Cultural Philanthropy FoundationminorFourth Monkey is partnered with the Cultural Philanthropy Foundation as part of the Culture Makes Campaign, supporting access to arts and culture.
- Equity UKmoderateFourth Monkey collaborates with Equity UK on breaking down barriers initiatives, including advocacy for the abolition of audition fees. The school is a founding advocate for no-fee drama school auditions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fourth Monkey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: Specialist conservatoire in Bristol offering undergraduate and postgraduate acting programmes, validated by the University of the West of England. A comparable small UK drama school with a similarly applied training philosophy.
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA): One of the UK's oldest and most prestigious drama schools, offering undergraduate and postgraduate acting programmes validated by the University of Kent. Directly competes with Fourth Monkey for aspiring professional actors in the UK.
- Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: London-based drama school (now based in Peckham) offering BA and MA acting, musical theatre, and theatre-making programmes validated by partner universities. Comparable in scale and mission to Fourth Monkey.
- Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts: Long-established London performing arts school (recently moved to Clapham) offering acting and musical theatre diplomas and degrees. Comparable London location, degree-validated training, and small-cohort pedagogy.
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: Scotland's national conservatoire offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in acting, musical theatre, and production. Direct peer offering validated performing arts degrees, though operating from Glasgow rather than London.
- Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: University of London constituent drama school offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degrees in acting and theatre practice. A direct peer offering similar degree-validated actor training.
- East 15 Acting School: University of Essex drama school offering BA Acting, BA Acting (International), and a community theatre practice pathway. Strong overlap with Fourth Monkey's applied/community-focused approach and postgraduate physical theatre offer.
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA): Leading London drama school offering conservatoire-level acting, musical theatre, and technical theatre training. Directly competes for the same UK and international acting applicant pool as Fourth Monkey.
- ArtsEd: London performing arts school offering degree programmes in acting and musical theatre, validated by City, University of London. Directly comparable on acting/musical theatre degree offerings and London-based delivery.
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama: Major London conservatoire (subsidised by the City of London) offering acting, technical theatre, and production arts degrees. A direct peer competing for the same prospective actors and postgraduate theatre-makers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fourth Monkey social profiles
Digital presenceFourth Monkey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fourth Monkey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fourth Monkey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fourth Monkey 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 Fourth Monkey
What does Fourth Monkey do?
Fourth Monkey is a registered UK charity and drama school delivering accredited performing arts education — undergraduate BA (Hons) Acting (3-year and 2-year accelerated), Cert HE Acting & Theatre Making, and a postgraduate MA Physical Theatre-Making — all validated by Falmouth University. Beyond formal courses, it sells corporate training (Executive Ensemble), studio hire, public performance tickets, and branded merchandise, with scholarships and bursaries funded through charitable donations.
Is Fourth Monkey a public or private company?
Fourth Monkey is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fourth Monkey founded?
Fourth Monkey was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fourth Monkey based?
Fourth Monkey is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fourth Monkey make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are postgraduate Tuition, scholarships and Bursaries, donations and Charitable Support, executive Ensemble Corporate Training, studio Hire, ticket Sales and merchandise.
Who are Fourth Monkey's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, East 15 Acting School, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), ArtsEd and Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Does Fourth Monkey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fourth Monkey.