Quaternaire

What Quaternaire does

Quaternaire is an independent performing arts agency registered in France under the 1901-law non-profit association form, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Paris (5 rue Gabriel Laumain, 75010) with a secondary office in Limoges. The firm operates as a creative producer and international booking agency, representing a curated roster of contemporary performing artists — including Handspring Puppet Company, Akram Khan Company, Brett Bailey, Dada Masilo, Hotel Pro Forma, Marie Brassard, The Tiger Lillies, and projects involving the Andy Warhol estate — and producing cross-disciplinary works spanning opera, concert, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts.

The business generates revenue through three primary streams: production and co-production fees (where Quaternaire shares production costs and creative control with international festivals and theatres), international booking and representation commissions (where Quaternaire books represented artists for venues globally, sometimes worldwide and sometimes territory-specific, e.g., Akram Khan Company in Europe excluding the UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Flanders), and tour management fees. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; fees are negotiated bilaterally with venues and festivals based on production scale and touring logistics. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven: direct sales to enterprise customers (international festivals and major theatres) backed by co-production arrangements in which 6-9 institutional partners typically pre-commit to a project.

Quaternaire works with a small team (1-10 employees), relies on a bilingual website (quaternaire.org) and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo) for visibility, and operates without external investors, parent companies, or subsidiaries. Its represented artists' work has been presented in 30+ countries through co-productions with premier venues including the Festival d'Automne Paris, Kunstenfestivaldesarts Brussels, Thalia Theater Hamburg, Sadler's Wells London, Sydney Opera House, National Theatre London, and the Andy Warhol Museum.

Name

Quaternaire

Legal name

Quaternaire

Website

https://quaternaire.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Quaternaire is a Paris-based (with Limoges office) independent performing arts agency founded in 2006 that represents an internationally curated roster of contemporary artists — including Handspring Puppet Company, Akram Khan Company, and Brett Bailey — and co-produces and books opera, dance, theatre, and visual-arts works with major global festivals and theatres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Talent Agency & Representation Services (HSACAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services (MPAGAAAF), Entertainment Programming & Curation (Lineups, Run-of-Show, Scheduling) (HSACAHAO)

Keywords

• Performing arts agency
• Artist representation services
• International booking agency
• Creative producing services
• Contemporary performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Limoges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Production and Co-production Fees: Quaternaire produces and co-produces contemporary performing arts works (opera, concerts, dance, theatre, performance, visual arts) with international venues and festivals, generating revenue through production fees and shared production costs.
2. International Booking and Representation: As a booking agency, Quaternaire represents artists internationally and books their productions for venues and festivals worldwide, earning commissions from these booking arrangements.
3. Tournament Fees: The company manages international touring of represented artists, with tour management fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Quaternaire is a creative producing and international booking agency that represents internationally acclaimed contemporary performing artists and develops cross-disciplinary productions spanning opera, concert, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts. The agency supports its roster of artists in developing new projects, produces original and co-produced works, and books international touring engagements with major festivals, theatres, and cultural venues worldwide.

Product overview

Quaternaire is an international performing arts production and booking agency established in 2006, based in Paris and Limoges, France. Rather than a unified software product, the organization offers artist representation and creative producing services for contemporary, innovative cross-art form productions spanning opera, concerts, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts. The portfolio includes represented artists (Akram Khan Company, Andy Warhol projects, Brett Bailey, Dada Masilo, Handspring Puppet Company, Hotel Pro Forma, Marie Brassard, and The Tiger Lillies) and performance productions (13 Most Beautiful…, Celebration Parade, Chotto Desh, Constellations, Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace, Faustus in Africa!, FaustX, Flammenwerfer, Hamlet, Il Ritorno d'Ulisse, Jimmy, The Ether, Life & Times of Michael K, Neoartic, Orfeo, A Macbeth Song, The Stranger, Thikra, and War Sum Up).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artist Representation & Booking Services International artist representation and booking agency services for contemporary performing artists, connecting them with venues, festivals, and cultural institutions worldwide. Includes exclusive worldwide or territory-specific booking rights for artists such as Akram Khan Company, Handspring Puppet Company, Hotel Pro Forma, and The Tiger Lillies.
• Creative Producing Services Creative producing services for contemporary, innovative cross-art form productions including operas, concerts, dance, theatre, performance, and visual arts. Includes project development, co-production arrangement, and tour management for represented artists.
• Faustus in Africa! A collaboration between William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company, reworking their multi-award-winning 1995 production exploring themes of compromise relevant to climate emergency, combining theatre and puppetry.
• FaustX Brett Bailey's free adaptation of Goethe's Faust II performed by masked South African performers, exploring themes of technological expansion, war, and human ambition.
• Hamlet Dada Masilo's contemporary dance reinterpretation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, featuring eleven dancers plus two actors and three musicians, set in urban South Africa with themes of betrayal and gender fluidity.
• Thikra Akram Khan Company production meaning 'memory/remembrance' in Arabic, exploring the past-present journey through tradition to honor ancestors, featuring an all-female international cast of Contemporary and Bharatanatyam dancers.
• Flammenwerfer Music theatre performance by Hotel Pro Forma inspired by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Hill's life and art, featuring Blixa Bargeld and vocal ensemble IKI, with music by Blixa Bargeld and Nils Frahm.
• The Ether (L'éther) Marie Brassard's new theatrical work exploring intense hallucinatory experience and memories of loved ones who have passed away, featuring composer Alexander MacSween with extensive sonic experimentation.
• Jimmy Marie Brassard's surrealist solo theatre piece about Jimmy, a homosexual hairdresser who comes to life in the dream of a homophobic American general, exploring themes of dreams, identity, and transformation.
• Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace Multimedia concert by The Tiger Lillies diving into Edgar Allan Poe's dark and sinister world, featuring French-American director Paul Golub, video designer Mark Holthusen, and Swedish playwright Peder Bjurman.
• A Macbeth Song Show-concert merging The Tiger Lillies' live music with La Perla 29's aesthetic, retelling Shakespeare's Macbeth through accordions, pianos, and unreleased songs.
• Life & Times of Michael K Stage adaptation by Lara Foot of JM Coetzee's Nobel Prize-winning novel, in collaboration with Handspring Puppet Company, following Michael K's journey through war-torn South Africa.
• Chotto Desh Family dance theatre production adapted from Akram Khan's DESH for children aged 7+, blending dance, text, visuals and sound to tell the story of a young man's dreams from Britain to Bangladesh.
• 13 Most Beautiful...Songs for Andy Warhol Screen Tests Multimedia concert featuring Dean & Britta performing original music to Andy Warhol's silent film Screen Tests from 1964-1966.
• Neoartic Hotel Pro Forma's eco-performance on the Anthropocene, featuring 12 choristers performing 12 songs across 12 soundscapes about the ruins of industrial civilization and ecological changes.
• Orfeo Hotel Pro Forma's opera production reimagining the Orpheus myth, known for its fusion of music, light, movement and architecture, having toured globally including Europe, USA, and Australia.
• War Sum Up Hotel Pro Forma's visual opera combining music, manga aesthetics, and theatrical performance, depicting the nature of war through characters of The Soldier, The Spy, and The Warrior with 12 singers of the Latvian Radio Choir.
• Il Ritorno d'Ulisse William Kentridge's restaging of Monteverdi's opera set in mid-20th century Johannesburg, combining music with Kentridge's animated charcoal drawings and life-size puppets by Handspring Puppet Company.
• Celebration Parade Site-specific performance involving 150+ children from presenting partner communities, featuring five life-size elephant puppets designed by Handspring Puppet Company to create cultural exchange and animal conservation awareness.
• Constellations Promenade event created by Brett Bailey for pandemic era where small groups of spectators follow trails in nature at night, spending time at campfires hosted by 'Guardians' - artists, writers, musicians or performance artists.
• The Stranger Brett Bailey's contemporary theatrical adaptation of the Orpheus myth, with distinct versions created in different parts of the world with local performers, exploring themes of immigration and xenophobia.

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

51 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Festival TransAmériques (Montreal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coproducer of The Ether and Jimmy by Marie Brassard.
• National Arts Centre's National Creation Fund (Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coproducer of The Ether by Marie Brassard.
• Centro Servizi Culturali Santa Chiara (Trento, Italy)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coproducer of The Ether by Marie Brassard.
• Scène nationale / Théâtre d'Orléans (France)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coproducer of The Ether by Marie Brassard.
• Théâtre de la Ville Paris / Festival d'AutomnecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Major coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025 (Quaternaire/Paris coproduction). Theatre de la Ville is a prestigious Parisian venue that co-presents international contemporary performing arts.
• The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. South Africa's premier university theatre complex and coproducer of Life & Times of Michael K.
• Centre d'art Battat (Montreal)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. Montreal-based arts center.
• Cité européenne du théâtre - Domaine d'O - Montpellier / PCM2025majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. Montpellier theatre festival.
• Fondazione Campania - Campania Teatro Festival (Naples)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. Italian theatre festival.
• Grec Festival (Barcelona)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. Barcelona international arts festival.
• Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. Major Brussels contemporary arts festival.
• Thalia Theater (Hamburg)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of Faustus in Africa! 2025. Leading German theatre.
• Les Théâtres de la Ville de LuxembourgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of FaustX (Brett Bailey).
• Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers-CDN (France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of FaustX (Brett Bailey).
• Kleist Forum Frankfurt (Oder) (Germany)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproducer of FaustX (Brett Bailey).
• Kunstfest Weimar (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Created for Kunstfest Weimar 2025. International coproduction.
• Spier Wine Farm (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Created with support from Spier Wine Farm, South Africa.
• Malmö Live Concert Hall (Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coproducer and premiere venue for Flammenwerfer by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Malmö Art Museum (Sweden)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated with Hotel Pro Forma for Flammenwerfer video projections of Carl Fredrik Hill works.
• The Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Jointly commissioned 13 Most Beautiful... Songs for Andy Warhol Screen Tests with Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Holds film collection and restoration rights.
• Pittsburgh Cultural TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Jointly commissioned 13 Most Beautiful... with Andy Warhol Museum for Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts 2008.
• La Monnaie/De Munt (Brussels, Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 19931998 original production of Il Ritorno d'Ulisse by Handspring Puppet Company and William Kentridge.
• Wiener Festwochen (Vienna, Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 19931998 original production of Il Ritorno d'Ulisse.
• Théâtre du Volcan Bleu (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace featuring The Tiger Lillies.
• Maison de la musique de Nanterre (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace.
• Le Théâtre de l'Union - Centre Dramatique National du Limousin (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace.
• La Scène Nationale de Sète et du Bassin de Thau (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace.
• Bergen International Festival (Norway)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of Edgar Allan Poe's Haunted Palace.
• Wadi AlFann, Valley of the Arts, AlUlamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by Wadi AlFann, Valley of the Arts, AlUla for Thikra by Akram Khan Company.
• Bagri FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary Co-producing Partner for Thikra by Akram Khan Company.
• Berliner Festspiele (Germany)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor adaptation co-producer of Thikra.
• Montpellier Danse Festival (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor adaptation co-producer of Thikra.
• Pina Bausch Zentrum (Germany)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor adaptation co-producer of Thikra.
• Sadler's Wells (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor adaptation co-producer of Thikra.
• Théâtres de la Ville de LuxembourgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor adaptation co-producer of Thikra.
• MAC BelfastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of Chotto Desh by Akram Khan Company.
• Sadler's Wells LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally co-commissioned Chotto Desh by Akram Khan Company.
• DanceEast (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally co-commissioned Chotto Desh by Akram Khan Company.
• Mercat de les Flors BarcelonamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally co-commissioned Chotto Desh by Akram Khan Company.
• Biennale de la danse de Lyon 2016majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally co-commissioned Chotto Desh by Akram Khan Company.
• Stratford Circus Arts Centre (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally co-commissioned Chotto Desh by Akram Khan Company.
• Latvian Radio ChoircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer and performer for Neoartic by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival (Norway)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Neoartic by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Concert Hall Aarhus (Denmark)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Neoartic by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Royal Danish Theatre (Denmark)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Neoartic by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Odense Theatre (Denmark)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Neoartic by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Latvian National OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of War Sum Up by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Nordic Culture PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported War Sum Up by Hotel Pro Forma.
• Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducer of Life & Times of Michael K with The Baxter.
• National Theatre LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced War Horse with Handspring Puppet Company, establishing them as one of the most influential puppet companies globally.
• Alan Brodie Representation LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCopyright agent for FAUST I and II (Robert David Macdonald estate). Represents rights for international touring.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HarrisonParrott: Major international artist management agency headquartered in London with a performing arts division. Comparable in representing classical and contemporary performing artists for international booking, but operates at significantly larger scale and a broader artist base than Quaternaire.
• IMG Artists: Global artist management firm representing classical musicians, conductors, and dance companies worldwide. Comparable in international booking of performing artists and touring management, though it operates a much larger and more diversified roster than Quaternaire's curated slate.

Direct peers

• Pomegranate Arts: US-based international producing and booking agency for contemporary performing arts. Directly comparable in producing and booking experimental cross-disciplinary work, including puppetry, dance, and theatre, with institutional co-production partners globally.
• Askonas Holt: UK-based international artist management and performing arts booking agency. Directly comparable as a boutique firm representing conductors, instrumentalists, directors, and dance/theatre companies for global touring, with a similar institutional co-production model.
• Opus 3 Artists: International performing arts management and booking agency representing orchestras, ensembles, soloists, dance companies, and presenters. Directly comparable in managing international touring and co-productions for contemporary performing artists.
• Interartistes: Paris-based performing arts agency booking French and international artists for festivals, theatres, and cultural institutions. Highly comparable as a Francophone booking agency in the same geographic market with a similar artist representation model.

Others

• Sadler's Wells (presenting/programming): London's leading dance house and a frequent co-production partner of Quaternaire-represented artists (Akram Khan, Dada Masilo). Comparable as a counterparty in the international contemporary dance ecosystem rather than a competitor.

Regional players

• Théâtre de la Ville / Festival d'Automne Paris: Major Parisian presenting venue and festival that is one of Quaternaire's most active co-production partners (e.g., Faustus in Africa! 2025). Comparable as a programming/curation institution in the same Francophone performing arts ecosystem, though as a presenter rather than an agency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/quaternaire
• YouTubevimeo.com/quaternaireparis
• Facebookfacebook.com/quaternaire.paris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Quaternaire