What Kings Theatre does

Kings Theatre Portsmouth is a registered charity (No. 1088254) operating a Grade II* listed Edwardian theatre in Southsea, Portsmouth, originally opened on 30 September 1907 and designed by architect Frank Matcham. The theatre is one of approximately 25 surviving Matcham theatres out of 150+ he designed. It presents a mixed programme of in-house produced shows (most notably the annual #PompeyPanto and Easter musicals such as the announced Shrek The Musical for April 2027), visiting touring productions (including West End musicals like We Will Rock You and Mischief Theatre's Christmas Carol Goes Wrong), tribute concerts, comedy, and family entertainment, serving Portsmouth-area families, theatre enthusiasts, community and education groups, and corporate clients.

The venue operates a direct-to-consumer, event-driven ticketing business with a multi-channel box office (24/7 online, telephone, in-person across both Kings Theatre and Theatre Royal Portsmouth post-merger), a tiered membership programme (Matcham Membership at £25/yr, Matcham Patron at minimum £1,000 donation over 10 years, and Matcham Corporate), a food and beverage operation with bars and a Dines pre-ordering partnership, costume hire, venue hire, and donations/legacy fundraising. The core technology stack consists of the Ticketsolve ticketing platform, Sennheiser Mobile Connect for WiFi-based assistive listening, Google Analytics and Cloudflare for web operations, and standard integrations for refund protection (Booking Protect) and gift vouchers (Theatre Tokens, accepted at 260+ UK venues).

The operating model is anchored by a recent April 2025 merger with New Theatre Royal under the Portsmouth Theatres banner, a permanent CEO appointment in 2024, and a £4m-£5m 1907 Elevation regeneration project approved for 2026 construction. The organisation is overseen by a Board of Trustees chaired by Damon Repton and employs 51-100 staff plus casual workers. Revenue streams comprise ticket sales, bar/F&B, memberships, donations and Gift Aid, corporate sponsorships, costume hire, and parking, with no disclosed revenue figure.

Name

Kings Theatre

Legal name

The Kings Theatre Trust Limited

Website

https://kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kings Theatre Portsmouth operates a Grade II* listed Edwardian theatre in Southsea, presenting in-house productions, touring shows, and community programmes, and merged with New Theatre Royal in April 2025 to form Portsmouth Theatres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue / Live Entertainment

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre performances
• Pantomime productions
• Musical theatre hosting
• Performing arts venue
• Community arts 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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for in-house and touring productions, including standard tickets, concessions, group bookings, and student standby tickets
2. Food and Beverage: Bar sales one hour before shows with contactless card/mobile payments. Partnership with Dines for pre-ordering drinks and snacks.
3. Membership Programs: Matcham Membership at £25 per annum offering priority booking, 10% bar discount, ticket savings, and exclusive offers. Matcham Patron at minimum £1,000 donation with 10-year subscription and premium benefits.
4. Donations and Legacies: Registered charity (No. 1088254) relying on fundraising from audiences, individuals, corporate sponsors and charitable foundations. Gift Aid scheme for UK taxpayers.
5. Venue and Costume Hire: Hiring out costumes from successful in-house productions. Venue spaces available for corporate events and private hire including VIP packages.
6. Parking Revenue: Partnership with Waitrose for public parking, with theatre customers receiving parking information via pre-show emails.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kings Theatre Portsmouth is a Grade II* listed Edwardian live entertainment venue operating a year-round programme of in-house productions (notably the annual Pompey Panto and Easter musicals such as Shrek The Musical) and visiting touring shows including musicals, comedy, tribute acts, and family entertainment. The theatre is operated by The Kings Theatre Trust Ltd as a registered charity, generating revenue through ticket sales, Matcham Membership tiers, donations, on-site bars, costume and venue hire, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

Kings Theatre Portsmouth is a Grade II* listed Edwardian theatre (est. 1907) operated by The Kings Theatre Trust Ltd as a registered charity. The theatre operates as a live entertainment venue offering a diverse programme of productions and services. Core offerings include in-house produced shows (Portsmouth Theatres productions such as the annual #PompeyPanto pantomime and Easter musicals), touring productions (musicals, comedy, drama, tribute shows), and community engagement programmes (Konnect community scheme, KSPA performing arts academy, theatre tours). Supporting services include ticketing via Box Office, Matcham Membership tiers (standard, Patron, Corporate), accessibility services (wheelchair access, assisted listening, BSL performances), food & beverage (bars, Dines pre-ordering), VIP packages, costume hire, and casting services. The theatre is undergoing major regeneration (1907 Elevation project) to expand facilities while preserving heritage. Revenue streams include ticket sales, memberships, donations, legacy giving, corporate partnerships, and community hire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shrek The Musical Portsmouth Theatres' in-house produced family musical based on the DreamWorks film, featuring local talent in a large-scale theatrical production with elaborate staging and costumes. Family entertainment priced from £17.
• Jack and the Beanstalk (Pompey Panto 2026) The 2026 festive season pantomime featuring Jack Edwards as Dame Trott and Shaun Williamson as villain Fleshcreep, with audience interactions and traditional panto elements. A Portsmouth tradition known as the #PompeyPanto.
• Adult Panto | Jack and the Beanstalk Adult-only version of the annual pantomime featuring explicit content, innuendo, and adult humour while maintaining the same production values. Strictly 18+.
• Christmas Carol Goes Wrong Visiting Mischief Theatre production featuring the fictional Cornley Amateur Drama Society performing a disastrous version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Comedy for general audiences.
• We Will Rock You Visiting jukebox musical featuring Queen's greatest hits, with choreography, sets, and live music. BSL performance available.
• Tribute Act Shows Touring tribute performances including Tina Live (Tina Turner tribute at £32.50), This is Elvis (Elvis Presley tribute by Ben Portsmouth at £34), ELO Again (Electric Light Orchestra tribute at £15), TaylorMania (Taylor Swift tribute at £28), The Dr Hook Songbook, and Genesis Connected (Genesis tribute).
• Comedy Shows Stand-up comedy performances featuring established comedians such as Stewart Lee, and adult comedy events hosted at the venue.
• Matcham Membership Annual subscription membership at £25 per annum (joint household £40) offering priority advanced booking, 10% bar discount, ticket savings, exclusive offers, and free ticket transfers. Renewed annually.
• Matcham Patron Premium patronage programme requiring a minimum £1,000 donation, with a 10-year subscription to Matcham Membership, name displayed in theatre, 1st priority booking, ticket savings, and access to venue tours.
• Matcham Corporate Corporate membership packages offering benefits including discounted tickets, logo display, studio access for events, private viewing areas, and VIP hospitality for businesses.
• VIP Packages Bespoke VIP experiences in the exclusive Private Stage Bar for up to 24 people, including private service, selected drinks, snacks, and goody bags from £20 per person plus show tickets. Minimum 15 places, available Thu, Fri, Sat evenings.
• Ghost Tours Immersive theatrical ghost tour experience set in 1930s, where participants explore the Grade II* listed theatre guided by fictional newspaper reporters uncovering mysteries. OAP and Under 16s receive £5 off, age 14+. Multiple dates available.
• Theatre Tours Various guided tours including history tours, toddler tours, technical tours, and school tours for educational and community engagement purposes.
• Kings School of Performing Arts (KSPA) Performing arts academy offering training for children and young people in various performing arts disciplines, including a youth theatre programme.
• Konnect Community Engagement Programme Community engagement programme making arts, visual and performing arts accessible to all, including workshops, theatre tours, talks, work-based learning, and apprenticeships.
• Costume Hire Rental service for costumes from previous Portsmouth Theatres productions, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory costume sets, available to other productions and groups.
• Venue Hire Event space available for community groups, meetings, workshops, and productions, with enquiries handled by the Konnect community team.
• Donations and Legacy Giving Charitable donations supporting community programmes, facility improvements, and theatre restoration, including Gift Aid option for UK taxpayers (25% additional from HMRC) and legacy programme allowing supporters to leave bequests in wills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 awards won at inaugural Spotlight Awards June 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Theatre Royal Portsmouth (NTR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Historic merger in April 2025 uniting both of Portsmouth's flagship venues under the Portsmouth Theatres banner. The Kings Theatre and Theatre Royal now operate under combined management with shared creative teams, casting, and productions including annual pantomime.
• Portsmouth City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Portsmouth City Council purchased the theatre in 2001 after a successful campaign by AKTER to keep it open. The council leases the building to The Kings Theatre Trust Ltd. Theatre also shares data with Portsmouth City Council under a Service Level Agreement.
• TicketmasterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party ticket agent that transfers personal data to the theatre when customers purchase tickets for events.
• Theatre TokensminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational theatre gift vouchers accepted at over 260 venues nationwide including Kings Theatre. No expiry date on vouchers.
• DinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for pre-ordering drinks and snacks. Mobile ordering via links for Stalls or Dress/Upper Circle areas. Skip bar queues and collect at chosen time.
• WaitroseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic parking available at Waitrose Marmion Road (8 minute walk from theatre). Limited to 3 hours for daytime shows; no restrictions 5pm-8am. Pre-show parking information sent to booked customers.
• Express FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station partner. Co-created the Spotlight Awards in partnership with the theatre to celebrate amateur theatre talent in Hampshire. Generates earned media coverage.
• First BusminorOthersBus service number 2 passes directly past The Kings Theatre with stops outside heading in both directions.
• StagecoachminorOthersBus service number 18 passes Outram Road and Elm Grove, a 5-minute walk from The Kings Theatre.
• Historic EnglandcoreOthersProvided listed building approval for the 1907 Elevation regeneration project. Grade II* listed status requires their involvement for any significant building changes.
• Portsmouth CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution partner visible in theatre's community partner logos section.
• Queen's Hotel PortsmouthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal hospitality partner visible in theatre's community partner logos section.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ambassadors Theatre Group (ATG): Largest UK theatre operator running dozens of venues nationwide. Operates many regional theatres with comparable touring, panto, and event programming; relevant peer given the corporate scale versus Kings Theatre's single-venue charity structure.
• Birmingham Hippodrome: UK's busiest single-auditorium theatre hosting the largest in-house panto in the country alongside major touring productions. Comparable as a large-scale regional theatre operator with established panto franchise and family programming.

Direct peers

• Chichester Festival Theatre: Regional repertory theatre in West Sussex producing in-house productions alongside touring shows. Comparable as a Grade-listed regional theatre with strong in-house production capability, festival programming, and family-oriented season calendar.
• Brighton Dome: Grade II* listed heritage venue complex in Brighton presenting music, dance, theatre, comedy, and family shows. Closest comparable heritage-listed South East England venue with mixed arts programming and strong community/education engagement.
• Marlowe Theatre: Canterbury's main receiving house for touring West End productions, musicals, comedy, and panto. Comparable regional theatre with similar panto tradition, mix of in-house and touring content, and reliance on tourism plus local family audience.
• Mayflower Theatre: Southampton's largest theatre hosting West End musicals, opera, ballet, and comedy. Closest large-scale regional theatre peer in Hampshire, with comparable programming of touring productions, panto, and in-house productions for a similar South Coast demographic.
• New Wimbledon Theatre: Grade II listed Edwardian theatre in South London presenting West End touring musicals, panto, comedy, and tribute shows. Directly comparable as a heritage regional receiving house with similar in-house panto production and touring model.
• Lyceum Theatre Sheffield: Grade II listed Edwardian theatre in Sheffield presenting musicals, drama, panto, comedy, and concerts. Comparable heritage venue with similar mix of in-house Christmas panto and visiting touring productions.
• Theatre Royal Portsmouth: Now merged with Kings Theatre under the Portsmouth Theatres banner following the April 2025 merger. Was historically the second flagship Portsmouth venue serving touring productions, drama, and comedy with similar community focus.

Others

• Theatre Tokens: National theatre gift voucher scheme accepted at 260+ venues including Kings Theatre. Ecosystem partner/distributor enabling cross-venue gift redemptions that drive incremental audience reach for member theatres.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kingstheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kingstheatresouthsea
• Facebookfacebook.com/kingstheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-kings-theatre-trust-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/kingstheatre
• TikToktiktok.com/@kingstheatre?lang=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Kings Theatre