What The Paper Birds does

The Paper Birds is a UK-based registered charity (Charity Number 1182736) and devised theatre company founded in 2003 in Maldon, Essex, and operating with 11-50 staff. It creates original devised verbatim theatre productions addressing social and political themes through a proprietary methodology it codifies as the '5 Key Ingredients' — Verbatim (real testimony and interviews), Movement, Character & Narrative, Exposing the Method, and Motif. The company serves three principal markets: UK secondary schools and colleges (where it is recognised as an AQA prescribed practitioner for A Level Drama); theatre venues and festivals booking touring productions; and young people aged 13-25 participating in workshops and digital arts programmes. Annual reach exceeds 20,000 young people through productions and participation work.

Its product portfolio spans touring theatrical productions (most recently 'Feel Me', touring 2023-2025 nationally and internationally, and forthcoming '48 Thoughts Per Minute' premiering January 2027), education packs priced £10-£50 attached to each major production, video and in-person CPD courses for drama teachers (£30-£200), a physical Theatre Creativity Cards product (£150), school workshops priced at £300+VAT per 2-hour or £525+VAT per full day, and digital programmes including the School of Hope digital arts project, Navigate creative careers resource, and a digital workshop series on subscription. Distribution runs through an owned e-commerce shop, direct school booking, and touring partnerships with venues including New Wolsey Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, Live Theatre, Sheffield Theatres, and international partners in Indonesia, Belgium, Canada, and the USA.

The Paper Birds operates a hybrid non-profit revenue model. Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status, achieved in November 2022 on the fourth application, provides ongoing baseline public funding. Project-specific grant capital is layered on top from the British Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Rayne Foundation, and Essex County Council Arts and Cultural Fund. Earned income comes from workshop delivery (professional services), educational product sales (one-time license and subscription), and production touring fees, with a recurring donations campaign ('Join Our Nest') providing additional supporter income. The company is led by Co-Directors and co-founders Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh, supported by Executive Producer Charlotte Kalantari-Gregory and Participation Manager Georgie Coles, and is governed by a Board of Trustees.

Name

The Paper Birds

Legal name

The Paper Birds Theatre Company

Website

https://thepaperbirds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Paper Birds is a UK-based charity and devised verbatim theatre company that creates original touring productions and delivers workshops, CPD courses, and education resources to schools, drama teachers, and theatre venues, reaching over 20,000 young people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Maldon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop Delivery: Direct delivery of devising theatre workshops to schools, colleges, and youth organizations. Revenue generated from 2-hour and full-day workshop sessions priced at £300+VAT and £525+VAT respectively, with digital workshops at £200+VAT for 2 hours.
2. CPD Courses: Continuing Professional Development courses for drama teachers delivered both in-person and as video downloads. In-person courses priced at £160-£200 including VAT; video courses at £30-£50 including VAT.
3. Education Resources: Sale of education packs, scripts, videos, and Theatre Creativity Cards. Education packs range from £10-£50; Theatre Creativity Cards at £150; playtexts at £9.99.
4. Production Touring: Revenue from touring theatrical productions to venues and festivals domestically and internationally.
5. Donations and Support: Charitable donations from supporters through the 'Join Our Nest' campaign to sustain the organization's work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Paper Birds creates and tours original devised verbatim theatre productions built around its proprietary "5 Key Ingredients" methodology, addressing social and political themes. It complements its productions with an educational programme of in-person and digital workshops for schools, CPD courses for drama teachers, Theatre Creativity Cards, education packs, and digital arts projects (The School of Hope, Navigate), serving both institutional and individual customers.

Product overview

The Paper Birds is a UK-based devised theatre company offering a portfolio of productions, educational resources, and professional development. Their core product is original devised theatre productions that tour nationally and internationally. Educational offerings include Theatre Creativity Cards (physical devising resource with 4 suits), CPD courses (both in-person and video-based), Education Packs for productions (including scripts, videos, and teaching resources), and free classroom resources. The School of Hope is a digital arts project for young creatives, while Navigate provides digital careers resources for schools. Workshops range from 2-hour (£300) to full-day (£525) in-person sessions and digital workshop series. Productions span from their 2002 debut to current work like Feel Me (2023-2025) and 48 Thoughts Per Minute (premiering 2027). The company is recognized by AQA as a prescribed practitioner for A Level Drama.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Theatre Creativity Cards: A set of cards supporting the generation of ideas when devising theatre, with 4 suits: Emotional, Thoughtful, Physical, and Playful
• Navigate
• The School of Hope

Products and services

• Feel Me Interactive devised theatre production where audiences use mobile phones to vote on who/what they care about, exploring empathy through stories of displacement, borders, and migration. Tourable to mid-scale and international venues.
• 48 Thoughts Per Minute Fast-paced devised verbatim theatre production about the thoughts humans think but do not say, co-developed with comedian Jessica Fostekew. Premiering January 2027 at New Wolsey Theatre.
• Ask Me Anything Immersive devised theatre production responding to letters from young people, inspired by magazine problem pages. Co-produced with Live Theatre, featuring original music by Rosie Doonan.
• Goldfish Bowl Devised theatre production created in collaboration with poet Caleb Femi and DJ/rapper Lex Amor, exploring defining life moments through spoken word, theatre, and music.
• Mobile Intimate 40-minute devised theatre show set in a caravan for up to 8 people, exploring home, belonging, aspiration, and social mobility through interviews, video projection, and original music.
• Broke Devised verbatim theatre production about poverty and debt in the UK, based on interviews exploring displaced families, gambling addiction, and minimum wage realities.
• Blind Beatboxing-led devised theatre production starring UK beatboxing champion Grace Savage, charting her rise to becoming 2x UK Beatboxing Champion.
• On the One Hand Devised theatre production marking the company's 10-year anniversary, exploring what it means to age through six women at different life stages.
• Thirsty Devised theatre production examining UK's binge drinking culture, fusing live music, verbatim text, and physical theatre.
• Others Devised verbatim theatre production based on letters and emails exchanged with a prisoner, a celebrity, and an Iranian artist, exploring 'Other' women.
• In a Thousand Pieces Award-winning devised verbatim theatre production exploring sex slavery in Britain through verbatim accounts. Won the Scotsman Fringe First Award and Fringe Review Award in 2008.
• Theatre Creativity Cards Physical set of cards designed to support students in devising theatre, featuring 4 suits (Emotional, Thoughtful, Physical, Playful) to aid character building and theatre-making. Includes workshop booklet with rules, tips, and three workshop sessions. Priced at £150 including VAT.
• Cardiau Creu Welsh-language version of the Theatre Creativity Cards, translated by Carys Edwards, supporting devising theatre education in Welsh-language schools.
• CPD Course - Making Verbatim Theatre (In-Person) Full-day in-person Continuing Professional Development workshop for drama teachers and theatre facilitators, covering The Paper Birds' approach to making original verbatim theatre including research, interviewing, editing, finding throughline, and staging approaches. Priced at £160-£200 including VAT.
• Structuring Devised Performance - CPD Video Download 90-minute video-based CPD course teaching drama teachers how to structure devised performance for GCSE and A Level students, enabling creation of thought-provoking, multi-faceted devised performances. Priced at £50 including VAT.
• Introduction To The Paper Birds - CPD Course Video Video-based CPD course introducing The Paper Birds' 5 Key Ingredients methodology (Movement, Verbatim, Character & Narrative, Exposing the Method, Motif), with practical exercises such as Dot to Dot Choreography, Recreate the Image, and Memory Moments. Priced at £50 including VAT.
• Flying Higher - CPD Webinar CPD webinar covering the 5 Key Ingredients of The Paper Birds' devised theatre work (Verbatim, Movement, Exposing the Method, Character & Narrative, Motif), with accompanying PDF resource pack. Priced at £45 including VAT.
• Distanced Devising - CPD Webinar CPD webinar exploring The Paper Birds' distanced devising approach, suitable for socially distant or remote teaching environments. Priced at £30 including VAT.
• Devising Theatre Workshops In-person devised theatre workshops delivered to schools by skilled practitioners, available as 2-hour (£300+VAT) or full-day (£525+VAT) sessions. Includes Devising Theatre Workshop, Devising in the Style of The Paper Birds, and Intro to Devising for Key Stage 3.
• Digital Workshop Series 4x 1-hour video workshops covering Verbatim, Movement & Motif, Character & Narrative, and Exposing the Method. Sold as an annual subscription at £395+VAT for 1-year access.
• Feel Me Education Pack Educational resource pack accompanying the Feel Me production, providing teaching materials and lesson content exploring empathy and displacement themes. Priced at £15 including VAT.
• Feel Me Video & Documentary & Resource Pack Comprehensive educational package for Feel Me including full video of the show, documentary content, and resource pack for teaching the production in educational settings. Priced at £50 including VAT.
• Broke Education Pack + Script + Video Education pack for the Broke production including script, video, and teaching resources about poverty and debt in the UK, designed for classroom delivery.
• Ask Me Anything Video + Digital Scheme of Work 4-lesson digital scheme of work bundle for KS4 & KS5 students including video of the Ask Me Anything show, resource pack, cast/creative video, and practical exercises exploring themes and devising techniques.
• In a Thousand Pieces Education Pack + Script + Video Education pack for the In a Thousand Pieces production exploring sex slavery, including video, script, and teaching materials for classroom use.
• Mobile Education Pack + Video Education pack with video for the Mobile production, exploring themes of home, belonging, aspiration, and social mobility for classroom delivery.
• Thirsty Education Pack + Script + Video Education pack for the Thirsty production about binge drinking culture in the UK, including script, video, and teaching materials.
• Navigate - Digital Creative Careers Resource Digital package of short films and resources exploring diverse careers and routes into the creative industries for students aged 13-18. Includes 4 documentaries, 10 digital interviews, 10 workshop tasks, and PDF resources. Sold as an annual subscription at £120+VAT for unlimited school/college access.
• The School of Hope Socially engaged digital arts project for young creatives aged 13-25 exploring empathy through art, commissioned 5 video artworks and partnered with 9 organisations across 5 countries and 3 continents.
• Ask Me Anything Playtext Playtext of the Ask Me Anything production, published by Oberon Books in January 2020. Priced at £9.99 including VAT.
• Feel Me Documentary Documentary film capturing the Feel Me production and its exploration of empathy, sold as a standalone educational and engagement resource.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% of audience members took action as a result of seeing Feel Me show
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Unicorn TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partner on Primary Creativity Cards development. Hosting facilitator audition workshops at their London venue.
• Theatre CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Theatre Centre co-commissioned and co-produced Feel Me production. Partnership for developing interactive theatre about empathy targeting young audiences.
• New Wolsey TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023New Wolsey Theatre is Associate Artist partner and co-producer of Feel Me. Hosted preview performances and serves as key UK touring partner. Also partner for 48 Thoughts Per Minute premiere.
• Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja (PSBK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Indonesian arts organisation partnering on Empathy Spaces project and School of Hope. Working with young creatives in Indonesia, mentoring artists, and collaborating on digital interactive theatre.
• The Mercury (Colchester)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021UK commissioning partner for The School of Hope, hosting workshops and supporting the digital arts project delivery.
• CAST (Doncaster)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021UK commissioning partner for The School of Hope project.
• Sheffield TheatrescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021UK commissioning partner for The School of Hope and co-commissioner of 48 Thoughts Per Minute production.
• National Theatre Young People's ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021UK commissioning partner for The School of Hope project.
• Victoria Deluxe Arts Center (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021International commissioning partner for The School of Hope project.
• Vancouver International Children's Festival (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021International commissioning partner for The School of Hope project.
• Boom Arts (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021International commissioning partner for The School of Hope project.
• Mercury Theatre (Colchester)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Part of Mercury Creatives programme - a support, mentoring and growth programme. The Paper Birds served as both mentors and mentees in this EU Regional Development Funded programme.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Idle Motion: UK devised physical theatre company of similar size producing original touring work with movement-driven storytelling. Comparable in devising methodology and small-team touring model.
• Live Theatre: Newcastle-based new writing and devised theatre company. Co-produced Ask Me Anything with The Paper Birds, with directly comparable portfolio of original devised work, touring productions, and youth-engagement programming.
• Stan's Cafe: Birmingham-based devised theatre company of comparable size and structure producing original work and touring nationally/internationally. Previous employer of Paper Birds' Executive Producer Charlotte Kalantari-Gregory, indicating close methodology and scale overlap.
• Tangled Feet: London-based devised and physical theatre company of comparable scale producing original work with educational and participation programmes. Comparable methodology and audience engagement model.
• Theatre Centre: London-based touring theatre company creating socially engaged work for young audiences. Directly comparable as a UK devised-theatre-for-young-people specialist and co-commissioning partner on Feel Me with The Paper Birds.
• Action Transport Theatre: Ellesmere Port-based theatre-in-education company creating work for and with young people. Comparable in scale and educational focus, particularly relevant given Paper Birds' school workshop delivery and education pack model.
• Vamos Theatre: UK devised physical theatre company based in Worcestershire with similar headcount and touring model. Also a previous employer of Paper Birds' Executive Producer, indicating overlap in devised theatre methodology and operational scale.
• Pilot Theatre: York-based touring theatre company producing work for young audiences including co-productions with theatres like Sheffield Theatres. Comparable as an NPO-status touring company focused on young people with educational programming.
• Curious Directive: Nottingham-based devised theatre company creating original work combining verbatim, movement, and digital technology. Comparable in size, methodology, and multi-platform delivery model including educational outreach.

Broad incumbents

• National Youth Theatre: Larger and more established UK organisation serving young people in theatre. Not a direct devised theatre peer but a broad incumbent in the same youth-arts space that Paper Birds operates in, often commissioned by schools and funders for youth programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePaperBirdsTheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-paper-birds-theatre-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepaperbirds
• Xx.com/ThePaperBirds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Paper Birds