New Theatre Royal

What New Theatre Royal does

New Theatre Royal (legally Theatre Royal Trust Portsmouth Limited) is a registered charity and Grade II* listed Victorian performing arts venue in Portsmouth city centre, operating since 1856 with architectural lineage to Charles Phipps (1884) and Frank Matcham (1900). The venue runs a 500-seat auditorium across three levels — Stalls, Phipps Dress Circle, and the recently renovated Upper Circle — supported by a proscenium-arch stage, fly tower, orchestra pit, a flexible Stage House configuration for immersive productions, and a Studio for rehearsal and learning. Core programming spans family theatre, comedy, dance, drama, musicals, tribute acts, and educational workshops, complemented by ghost tours and behind-the-curtain tours that monetise the building's heritage.

The company operates a diversified revenue model combining ticket sales (priced £2.50–£30 depending on format and concession), Matcham Membership tiers (£25/year individual, £40/year household), a £1,000-minimum 10-year Matcham Patron programme, Matcham Corporate packages, on-site bar concessions (Matcham Stalls Bar and Phipps Dress Circle Bar), charitable donations, corporate sponsorship, and venue hire for corporate events and school graduations. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via an online booking platform (Ticketmaster-integrated), a telephone Box Office (02392 649000), and an in-person Box Office, with dedicated school-bookings handling and a £10 student standby scheme.

Following the April 2025 merger with Kings Theatre under the Portsmouth Theatres umbrella, the organisation has unified two historic Portsmouth venues under a single management team led by CEO Richard Pearce and Artistic Director/Deputy CEO Jack Edwards. Community-facing programmes — Portsmouth Theatres Arts Academy (Saturday classes Preschool–Year 13 with a £25,000 annual scholarship), Resonate Show Choir (adults 18+), Community Sing sessions, and a partnership with City of Portsmouth College delivering a Level 3 BTEC Foundation Diploma — anchor long-term audience development and education revenue. Marketing runs through the company's website, email newsletter, social media, press coverage, and community-partnership referrals.

Name

New Theatre Royal

Legal name

Theatre Royal Trust Portsmouth Limited

Website

https://newtheatreroyal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Theatre Royal is a Grade II* listed 500-seat Victorian theatre in Portsmouth, UK, operated by a registered charity and delivering live performances, community programmes, and venue hire across the Portsmouth Theatres umbrella formed in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Live theatre performances
• Performing arts venue
• Theatrical productions
• Venue hire services
• Community theatre programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to performances, events, tours, and shows across the theatre's programming including family theatre, comedy, dance, drama, and musicals.
2. Memberships: Matcham Memberships at £25 per annum offering priority booking, discounts on bars and selected tickets. Matcham Patron at £1,000 for 10 years with additional exclusive benefits.
3. Donations: Charitable donations from supporters to help keep the historic stages alive with unforgettable performances.
4. Bar Concessions: Revenue from Matcham Stalls Bar and Phipps Dress Circle Bar offering wines, spirits, beers, soft drinks, and light bites before shows and during intervals.
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnership with the theatre for brand promotion, hospitality packages, and VIP perks through Matcham Corporate packages.
6. Venue and Space Hire: Use of studio and spaces for corporate events, private hire, school event hosting including graduations and celebrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Theatre Royal operates a 500-seat Grade II* listed Victorian auditorium in Portsmouth presenting live theatre performances across family theatre, comedy, dance, drama, musicals, and tribute bands. The venue supplements its ticketed programming with membership tiers, on-site bar concessions, community participation programmes (show choir, sing-alongs), educational outreach for schools, corporate venue hire, and accessible performance formats.

Product overview

New Theatre Royal is a Grade II* listed Victorian theatre venue (est. 1856) in Portsmouth operating as part of Portsmouth Theatres alongside Kings Theatre. The venue operates a single-site performing arts offering centred on its 500-seat auditorium, supplemented by community programmes, education services, and membership products. Core offerings include live theatre performances across genres (family theatre, comedy, dance, drama, musicals, tribute bands), supported by Box Office ticketing and on-site bar amenities (Matcham Stalls Bar and Phipps Dress Circle Bar). The venue's community-facing products include Portsmouth Theatres Arts Academy (Saturday musical theatre classes for ages 3+), Resonate Show Choir (adult show choir), Community Sing (casual sing-along sessions), and School Bookings (educational workshops and theatre tours). Membership products span Matcham Membership, Matcham Patron, and Matcham Corporate tiers. Production activities include in-house Portsmouth Theatres Productions (pantomimes, musicals) and touring productions. The venue also offers Ghost Tours, Behind the Curtain Tours, accessible performances (relaxed, BSL signed, captioned), and the innovative Stage House configuration for immersive experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Portsmouth Theatres Arts Academy: Saturday morning classes for children from Preschool to Year 13, building skills in acting, singing and dancing with opportunities to perform at Kings Theatre and Theatre Royal
• Resonate Show Choir
• Community Sing
• Matcham Membership
• Matcham Patron

Products and services

• Theatre Performances Live theatre productions including family theatre, comedy, dance, drama, musicals, and tribute bands presented at the 500-seat Victorian auditorium.
• Box Office Services Ticket sales and Box Office operations supporting in-person, phone, and online booking. Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, with weekend opening on show days.
• Matcham Stalls Bar Main theatre bar open 45 minutes before showtime, offering wines, spirits, beers, soft drinks, and light bites.
• Phipps Dress Circle Bar Upstairs bar with quieter setting and seating, offering a range of drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.
• Portsmouth Theatres Arts Academy Saturday morning musical theatre classes for ages preschool through Year 13, covering acting, singing, and dancing. Includes theatre trips, guest workshops, and performance opportunities at Kings Theatre and Theatre Royal, with a scholarship programme worth £25,000 annually.
• Resonate Show Choir Adult show choir (18+) performing musical theatre repertoire with opportunities to appear at Theatre Royal and Kings Theatre.
• Community Sing Relaxed midweek sing-along group for adults, held Wednesdays 10-11:30am in the Studio at £2.50 per session. No booking required.
• School Bookings & Educational Visits Tailored programming, creative workshops, theatre tours, and event hire services for schools, nurseries, colleges, and home-education groups. Includes educational rates and tailored curriculum matching.
• Ghost Tours Immersive ghost tour experience set in 1930, where visitors explore the theatre's haunted history with lantern and torch-lit exploration of the theatre's depths.
• Behind the Curtain Tours Private group tours revealing backstage areas and the Grade II* listed building's rich history.
• Matcham Membership Programme Membership programme including Matcham Membership (£25/year) with priority booking and discounts, Matcham Patron (£1,000 over 10 years) with name display and venue tour access, and Matcham Corporate with employee memberships and hospitality benefits.
• Accessible Performances Range of accessible performance options including relaxed performances for guests with autism or sensory sensitivities, BSL signed performances, and captioned performances for D/deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences.
• Stage House Venue Hire Innovative theatre configuration placing both audience and performance directly on the stage itself, enabling immersive experiences and bespoke venue hire.
• Portsmouth Theatres In-House Productions In-house theatrical productions including annual pantomime, Easter musicals, and shows like Surinderella, showcasing local talent on an iconic stage.
• Level 3 BTEC Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts Practice Further education programme delivered in partnership with City of Portsmouth College, designed for those pursuing theatre at a higher level.
• The Tiger Who Came to Tea Olivier Award nominated West End touring production, a family theatre show about a tiger who arrives for tea. Approximately 55 minutes with no interval.
• HAF Fun Pompey: Lights, Camera, Broadway! Two-day musical theatre workshop for young performers celebrating film-to-stage adaptations, held in The Studio.
• Curtains Musical Portsmouth Theatres Arts Academy production of the murder mystery musical Curtains, performed by academy members at £18 per ticket.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55+ events available across multiple genres including family theatre, comedy, dance, and workshops
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kings TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025Merger with Kings Theatre in April 2025 created Portsmouth Theatres umbrella organisation. The combined entity includes both historic theatres under unified management to deliver expanded programming, shared resources, and coordinated creative direction.
• City of Portsmouth CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Portsmouth College to offer a Level 3 BTEC Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts Practice, providing educational pathways for young people looking to pursue theatre at a higher level.
• Theatretrain PortsmouthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal performance group that produces large-scale youth musical productions at the theatre, such as Grease School Edition with over 100 young performers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mayflower Theatre: Large regional theatre in Southampton with comparable touring musicals, family shows, and comedy programming, serving a similar South Coast catchement and competing for the same regional touring productions.
• Sheffield Theatres: UK regional producing theatre operating multiple performance spaces, including in-house productions, touring work, and significant community and education programming.
• Birmingham Repertory Theatre: Major regional producing theatre with repertory seasons, community engagement, and educational programmes. Comparable as a non-profit producing theatre with broad audience programming.
• Theatre Royal Bath: Heritage UK theatre presenting a mix of touring and in-house productions, with a producing arm and educational programmes. Comparable as a Victorian-era venue with mixed-genre programming.
• Chichester Festival Theatre: Regional repertory theatre producing its own season alongside touring work. Comparable as a producing regional venue with strong community and education programming in the South East of England.
• Kings Theatre Portsmouth: Sister venue in Portsmouth that merged with New Theatre Royal in April 2025 under the Portsmouth Theatres umbrella. Operates as a comparable historic theatre in the same city, hosting similar family theatre, comedy, and music programming.
• Theatre Royal Brighton: Historic Victorian-era regional theatre hosting touring musicals, comedy, and family productions. Comparable scale and programming model to Theatre Royal Portsmouth.
• Royal & Derngate Northampton: Regional theatre with both producing and presenting programming, strong education and community outreach, and a comparable scale of operation as a mid-sized UK regional venue.
• Curve Theatre Leicester: Modern regional producing theatre in the East Midlands with mixed-genre programming, in-house productions, and community engagement. Comparable as a contemporary non-profit producing venue.

Broad incumbents

• National Theatre: UK flagship producing theatre with a much larger scale, producing work that subsequently tours to regional venues including Theatre Royal Portsmouth. Functions as a supplier of productions rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newtheatreroyal
• Facebookfacebook.com/newtheatreroyal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-theatre-royal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Theatre Royal