Chickenshed Theatre

What Chickenshed Theatre does

Chickenshed Theatre is a UK-registered charity (Chicken Shed Theatre Trust, Charity No. 1012369) operating an inclusive performing arts organisation from a purpose-built facility in Southgate, London. Founded in 1974-1975 by Mary and Jo Collins in a disused chicken shed in Barnet, the organisation has grown over 50 years into a 101-250 employee enterprise serving 15,000+ children and young people annually, with 60%+ of participants facing isolation due to mental or physical health challenges, disabilities, bullying, or caregiving responsibilities. The model is built on the principle of absolute inclusivity — no auditions, open to all regardless of ability, background, or circumstance — and combines professional theatre production with a structured education and community outreach programme.

The core product portfolio spans professional theatre productions (main stage shows, Tales from the Shed children's series, youth-led performances), a tiered education pathway (BTEC Level 3, Foundation Degree in Inclusive Performance at £6,355 tuition, BA Hons top-up), and a community engagement programme (Sunday Shed, Young Company, Planet Play, RISE Programme, Community Choir). Supporting services include venue hire (The Rayne Theatre, Studio Theatre, Bar Space, Dance Studio, rehearsal rooms, from £25/hour to £650/day), FlexPass subscription bundles for shows and workshops, and Tales Birthday Parties. Distribution combines direct on-site engagement at the Southgate facility, touring Tales from the Shed productions across UK venues, and outreach programmes delivered in schools, hospitals, young offender institutions, and prisons.

The financial model is diversified across earned income streams (ticket sales, workshop fees, venue hire, tuition) and charitable sources (Friends of Chickenshed donations, corporate fundraising, and grants including The National Lottery Community Fund). Sub-brands include Tales from the Shed, Planet Play, Sunday Shed, Young Company, RISE Programme, and The Space Between Us. The organisation is governed by a board of trustees chaired by Tony Gibbon (since 2019), with Ashley Muldoon (CEO of Global Switch) as Deputy Chair, and managed by Louise Perry (Managing Director since 1986).

Name

Chickenshed Theatre

Legal name

Chicken Shed Theatre Trust

Website

https://chickenshed.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chickenshed Theatre is a UK inclusive theatre charity operating a purpose-built Southgate venue, serving 15,000+ children, young people, and adults annually through performances, education courses, workshops, and community outreach, with no auditions and open access to all abilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Theatre and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

Keywords

• Inclusive theatre services
• Performing arts education
• Children's theatre workshops
• Community arts programmes
• Venue hire events

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre show tickets including main productions, Tales from the Shed children's shows, and seasonal performances.
2. Workshop and Class Fees: Fees from Sunday Shed workshops, Children's Performance Project, Young People's Performance Project, adult workshops, and holiday programmes. Priced from £8 per session with FlexPass bundle options available.
3. Venue and Space Hire: Rental income from hiring out performance spaces including The Rayne Theatre, Studio Theatre, Bar Space, Dance Studio, Large Shed, Small Shed, and 3-in-One room to external organisations for events, rehearsals, and performances.
4. Education Courses: Tuition fees from BTEC Level 3 in Performing Arts Practice, Foundation Degree in Inclusive Performance, and BA (Hons) Inclusive Performance top-up courses.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from Friends of Chickenshed programme, individual donations, corporate fundraising events, and grants from trusts and foundations including The National Lottery Community Fund.
6. Birthday Parties and Special Events: Revenue from Tales Birthday Parties and other bespoke event services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chickenshed Theatre is an inclusive performing arts charity that produces and stages professional theatre shows for all ages, runs creative workshops and classes for children, young people and adults, and delivers accredited education courses (BTEC Level 3, Foundation Degree, BA Hons) in inclusive performance. Additional offerings include sensory sessions for babies/toddlers (Planet Play), community choir, venue hire of multiple performance spaces, birthday party packages, and outreach programmes delivered to schools, hospitals, young offender institutions and prisons.

Product overview

Chickenshed Theatre operates as a single unified organisation offering inclusive performing arts programmes. The core offering centres on theatre productions and creative workshops for all ages and abilities. The portfolio comprises professional theatre shows, educational courses (BTEC, Foundation Degree, BA), and community programmes including Young Company, Sunday Shed workshops, Tales from the Shed children's theatre, and Planet Play sensory sessions. Additional services include venue hire facilities (The Rayne Theatre, Studio Theatre, and flexible spaces), FlexPass subscription bundles for discounted access to shows and workshops, and birthday party packages. The FlexPass system covers Tales shows, Planet Play, Community Choir, Children's Performance Project, and Young People's Performance Project sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tales from the Shed: Vibrant, inclusive theatre shows for young children aged 0-6 years
• Planet Play
• Sunday Shed
• Young Company
• RISE Programme
• The Space Between Us

Products and services

• Theatre Productions (Shows)
• Workshops and Classes
• Education Courses (BTEC, Foundation Degree, BA Hons)
• Young Company
• Sunday Shed
• Tales from the Shed
• Planet Play
• Community Choir
• Venue Hire
• Tales Birthday Parties
• FlexPass Subscription
• Outreach Programmes

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ children and young people supported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Shared ExperienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatrical collaboration with Shared Experience, a theatre company known for community-focused and physical theatre work. Collaborative projects have enriched practices at Chickenshed.
• Cardboard CitizensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cardboard Citizens, a theatre company working with homeless and marginalised communities. Joint projects have informed inclusive practices.
• PhosphorosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship with Phosphoros theatre company, contributing to Chickenshed's youth and community theatre programmes.
• Tarunya (Dhaka, Bangladesh)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with Tarunya based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, extending Chickenshed's collaborative network internationally.
• The Finborough TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRachel Yates, Creative Producer, has worked as Assistant Director on productions at The Finborough Theatre, contributing to industry connections.
• Saffron Hall and Britten Sinfonia OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRachel Yates established 'Come Together' creative community in partnership with Saffron Hall and Britten Sinfonia Orchestra in summer 2019.
• Pimlico Musical FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRachel Yates facilitates community workshops for Pimlico Musical Foundation, extending Chickenshed's community arts methodology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Young Vic Theatre: Established London theatre with significant community, young-people, and participation programmes (Taking Part, Schools Programme). Comparable as a London theatre operator with embedded community engagement, though it is a broader artistic institution rather than a specialist children's/youth operator.
• Royal Court Theatre: Leading London new-writing theatre with a large participation, young writers, and schools programme. Comparable as a London theatre charity with substantive participation and education arms; much larger and focused on adult new writing rather than inclusive children's theatre.
• Theatre Royal Stratford East: Long-running East London theatre with a mission-driven community and youth focus, including extensive participation and education work. Comparable to Chickenshed's community-driven, inclusive ethos and education/outreach model, though it operates across adult and family programming.
• Battersea Arts Centre: South London arts venue offering programming, participation, and venue hire for community and creative projects. Comparable as a multi-space London arts charity venue with a community/participation focus, though broader than Chickenshed's children/youth specialism.

Direct peers

• Polka Theatre: Purley/Wimbledon-based children's theatre with a dedicated venue producing shows for ages 0–13, plus participation and learning programmes. Highly comparable to Chickenshed's Tales from the Shed / Planet Play / Sunday Shed portfolio in audience age range and inclusive ethos.
• National Youth Theatre: UK-wide youth theatre charity producing plays and delivering training for 14–25 year-olds, including formal education pathways. Comparable to Chickenshed's Young Company and degree-level inclusive performance training, though NYT operates at a much larger national scale.
• Unicorn Theatre: London-based children's and family theatre company producing work for young audiences (0–18), with a strong inclusivity and education remit. The most direct UK comparable to Chickenshed's children's/youth theatre focus, operating from its own purpose-built venue in London Bridge.
• Little Angel Theatre: Islington-based puppet and family theatre with a year-round programme for children and families, plus outreach and education work. Comparable to Chickenshed in being a London children's/youth theatre with a strong workshop and schools offering.

Emerging players

• Shared Experience Theatre: London-based theatre company known for community-focused and physical-theatre work and a documented collaboration partner with Chickenshed. Comparable in mission-driven, community-engaged practice but with a different artistic specialism and smaller scale.
• Cardboard Citizens: UK theatre company working with homeless and marginalised communities through participatory theatre. Comparable to Chickenshed's inclusive outreach mission and identified as an active Chickenshed collaboration partner; operates as a smaller specialist rather than a venue-based operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Chickenshed_UK
• Facebookfacebook.com/chickenshed

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 Chickenshed Theatre