Théâtre équestre Zingaro

What Théâtre équestre Zingaro does

Théâtre équestre Zingaro is a French equestrian theatre company founded in 1989 by Bartabas (legal name Henri Carballido), operating from a purpose-built wooden theatre designed by architect Patrick Bouchain in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis. The company invented and continues to define the art form of "théâtre équestre" — a hybrid live performance genre that integrates haute école equestrian dressage with theatrical direction, dance, music, singing, comedy, and visual arts, treating horses as central artistic collaborators rather than secondary props. It serves performing-arts audiences, equestrian enthusiasts, and cultural tourists through original productions staged at its permanent Aubervilliers venue, recurring international tours at venues including the Salzburg Felsenreitschule and Grand Palais de Paris, and a permanent weekend repertoire show staged at the wholly-owned subsidiary Académie équestre de Versailles inside the Château de Versailles domain.

The core product is a continuous cycle of original live productions — the Academy alone has produced 20+ shows since 2003 and Zingaro maintains a parallel repertoire spanning 30+ years — supported by an extensive catalogue of DVD films, books authored by Bartabas (most recently a debut novel at Éditions Gallimard in 2026), and branded merchandise distributed through an in-house e-commerce platform with international shipping. Operations are anchored by tangible assets including on-site stables, an audience-facing restaurant, caravan lodging for visitors, and a touring big-top tent, alongside a proprietary talent-development pipeline at the Academy that trains riders in an interdisciplinary curriculum combining equestrian art with dance, artistic fencing, singing, and Japanese kyudo archery.

Revenue is generated primarily through ticket sales for live performances (€16–€28 per seat at the Academy), e-commerce sales of physical media and merchandise (DVDs €5–€20, books €7–€38, apparel €7–€49), private venue hire and corporate event privatisation, and guided tours of the theatre and stables. The model is materially supplemented by French public funding: both SARL Zingaro and the Académie hold "entrepreneur de spectacles" licenses issued by DRAC Île-de-France, and the company receives ongoing institutional support from the Région Île-de-France, the Ville d'Aubervilliers, the Ville de Versailles, and the Établissement public du Musée et du Domaine national de Versailles, which also serves as host institution for the Academy at the Grande Écurie. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company's own box offices, third-party ticketing platforms (tickandlive.com, Fnacspectacles.com), and an integrated online shop.

Name

Théâtre équestre Zingaro

Legal name

SARL Zingaro

Website

https://bartabas.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Théâtre équestre Zingaro is a French equestrian theatre company founded in 1989 by Bartabas. It produces live performances combining haute école dressage with theatre, music, and dance for cultural audiences at its Aubervilliers venue, in Versailles, and on tour.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts (Equestrian Theater)

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• Equestrian theater performances
• Live performing arts
• Haute ecole dressage
• Equestrian ballet
• Theatrical productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Aubervilliers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Live Performance Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for equestrian theatre performances at the permanent Zingaro venue in Aubervilliers and touring productions at prestigious venues including Grand Palais, Salzburg, and other festival venues.
2. E-commerce Sales: Online store selling DVDs of performances, books written by Bartabas, show programs, and branded merchandise (clothing, accessories). Products include 21+ DVD titles, 24+ books, and branded items.
3. Académie Equestre Performances: Weekly repertoire show 'La Voie de l'écuyer' at the Grande Ecurie du Château de Versailles, with tickets ranging from 16€ to 28€.
4. Venue Visits and Experiences: Revenue from guided visits of the theatre venue, stables, and equestrian facilities, including post-show visits following Academy performances.
5. Privatizations and Corporate Events: The Academy and theatre offer private event hosting for corporate clients and special occasions at their Versailles and Aubervilliers venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Théâtre équestre Zingaro produces and performs live equestrian theater shows that combine haute école dressage, music, dance, comedy, and visual arts, founded and directed by Bartabas. The company presents repertoire productions at its permanent theater in Aubervilliers, touring shows at international festivals and prestigious venues, and a weekly show at its Versailles Academy subsidiary.

Product overview

Théâtre équestre Zingaro operates as an equestrian theater company offering live performances combining horse artistry, music, dance, and comedy under the direction of Bartabas. The core offering consists of theatrical equestrian shows presented at the permanent theater in Aubervilliers, on touring big tops, and through the subsidiary Académie équestre de Versailles which produces its own repertoire show. The company also operates a boutique selling DVDs of past shows, books authored by Bartabas including novels and poetry collections, and branded merchandise. Additional services include on-site restaurant, caravan accommodations, and venue privatization for corporate events. The product portfolio spans live entertainment (spectacles), recorded media (DVDs), publishing (books), and hospitality services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equestrian Theater Performances Live equestrian theater performances combining horse artistry, music, dance, and comedy, created and directed by Bartabas. Performed at Théâtre Zingaro in Aubervilliers and on tour at prestigious venues including Grand Palais, Salzburg Felsenreitschule, La Seine Musicale, and La Villette. Repertoire includes Les Cantiques du corbeau, Cabaret de l'Exil series (Femmes Persanes, Irish Travellers, Yiddishland), Ex Anima, Battuta, Triptyk, Golgota, Calacas, Darshan, and others.
• Académie équestre de Versailles – La Voie de l'écuyer Weekly repertoire show 'La Voie de l'écuyer' performed on Saturdays at 18h and Sundays at 15h at the Grande Écurie of the Château de Versailles. Tickets range from €16 to €28. The Academy operates a unique ballet corps training program combining equestrian art with dance, artistic fencing, singing, and Japanese kyudo archery, and has produced 20+ major productions since 2003 including collaborations with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Les Musiciens du Louvre, and international artists.
• DVD Film Releases DVDs of past equestrian theater productions, sold through the e-commerce store. Pricing ranges from €5 (standard titles) to €15 (Les Chevaux Voyageurs feature documentary) to €20 (Bartabas' Le Caravage). DVDs have also been broadcast on ARTE television. Titles include Les Chevaux Voyageurs, Chamane, Mazeppa, and the Cabaret de l'Exil series.
• Bartabas Books and Publications Books authored by Bartabas, including novels, poetry collections, essays, and art books. Novels and poetry priced €12.50–€21; reference books and essays €17–€23; large-format art books €38; programs and exhibition catalogs €7–€10. Titles include Les cogne-trottoirs, Un geste vers le bas (about Pina Bausch), Les Cantiques du corbeau, D'un cheval l'autre, and Manifeste pour la vie d'artiste.
• Zingaro Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise featuring the Zingaro logo, sold through the e-commerce store. Includes tote bags (€7), notebooks (€12), t-shirts (€17), caps (€15), and sweatshirts (€49).
• Venue Privatization and Corporate Events Private event hosting and venue rental at the Théâtre équestre Zingaro in Aubervilliers and the Académie équestre in Versailles. Available for corporate events, team experiences, and private celebrations.
• Theater Venue Visits and Experiences Guided visits of the Théâtre équestre Zingaro venue in Aubervilliers, including the stables and equestrian facilities. Includes post-show visits following Academy performances at Versailles.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Région Île-de-FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government providing support to the Théâtre équestre Zingaro. Logo displayed on website footer indicating ongoing institutional partnership.
• Ville d'AubervillierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipality hosting the Théâtre équestre Zingaro in Fort d'Aubervilliers. Logo displayed on website indicating municipal support and partnership.
• Établissement public du Musée et du Domaine national de VersaillescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the Académie équestre nationale du domaine de Versailles at the Grande Écurie of Château de Versailles. Provides the historic venue for performances and operations.
• Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d'Ile-de-France (DRAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural affairs authority providing institutional support and funding to the Académie équestre nationale du domaine de Versailles.
• Ville de VersaillescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government of Versailles providing support to the Académie équestre located within the Château de Versailles domain.
• Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio FranceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French orchestra collaborated on productions including 'Le Sacre de Stravinsky' (2018) with 125 musicians. Led by conductor Mikko Franck. First collaboration with Zingaro for 'Triptyk' in 2000.
• Chœur de Radio FranceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational choir collaborated on Stravinsky productions with 64 choristers under direction of Lionel Sow for 'Symphonie des Psaumes' at La Seine Musicale.
• Les Musiciens du Louvre GrenobleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaroque music ensemble led by Marc Minkowski that collaborated on 'Davide penitente' (2015) and 'Requiem de Mozart' (2017) productions at Salzburg and Versailles.
• Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum (Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious Mozart foundation hosting Zingaro productions at the historic Felsenreitschule during Mozart Week. Co-produced 'Davide penitente' and 'Requiem de Mozart'.
• Salzburger BachchormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalzburg Bach Choir participated in Mozart productions at the Felsenreitschule, contributing to the authentic baroque performance tradition.
• Centre Chorégraphique National Roubaix Nord-Pas de Calais (Carolyn Carlson)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production of 'We were horses' (2011) with choreographer Carolyn Carlson, combining 12 riders from Academy with 16 dancers. Tour included Nuits de Fourvière, Monaco Dance Forum, and La Villette (23,600 spectators in 2013).
• Philippe Glass Ensemble / Ossia Saxophone EnsemblemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOssia saxophone ensemble collaborated on 'Partitions équestres' (2008) with music by Philip Glass, creating equestrian choreography set to contemporary minimalist compositions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Knie Circus (Circus Knie): Swiss national circus known for integrating high-level equestrian performance into theatrical circus shows. Comparable to Zingaro on its equestrian-theatre hybrid format and its institutional standing as a culturally recognised Swiss property.
• Théâtre du Châtelet: Historic Parisian theatre hosting large-scale musical and theatrical productions, often with international co-productions. Comparable to Zingaro on the Parisian theatre landscape, premium ticket positioning, and use of prestigious collaborations to anchor programming.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in theatrical circus and live acrobatic performance. While not equestrian-specific, it is the most relevant comparator for Zingaro on combining physical performance, music, and theatrical staging in a touring, destination-entertainment format.
• Comédie-Française: Historic French theatre company with permanent troupe, national-theatre status and public-sector support. Comparable to Zingaro on the model of a long-established, founder-led French performing-arts institution operating from a flagship venue.
• Opéra National de Paris: Prestigious French national opera institution combining classical performance with permanent venue operations, public funding, and high-end cultural partnerships. Comparable to Zingaro on institutional scale, public funding structure and the role of a flagship cultural venue in France.
• Royal Opera House (London): Major European performing-arts venue and company presenting opera and ballet with permanent and touring productions. Comparable on hosting high-prestige international collaborations (e.g. with orchestras) and operating a hybrid ticket/retail/event venue business.

Others

• Festival d'Avignon: France's leading annual performing-arts festival and ecosystem partner for theatre companies seeking prestige exposure, touring demand and institutional visibility. Comparable to Zingaro as a partner platform rather than direct competitor.
• ARTE (TV channel): Franco-German cultural broadcaster that has aired Zingaro/Bartabas DVDs and documentaries. Comparable as a media-distribution partner enabling Zingaro's recorded content to reach international audiences, and as a benchmark for high-end cultural media distribution.
• Salzburg Festival / Salzburg Easter Festival: Prestigious Austrian performing-arts festival that has hosted Zingaro productions at the Felsenreitschule. Comparable as a flagship cultural venue/festival that Zingaro already partners with, signalling the institutional peer set Zingaro operates in.

Direct peers

• Cavalia: Canadian equestrian theatrical production company presenting large-scale live shows under a big-top featuring horses and human performers. It is the most directly comparable peer to Zingaro in combining equestrian art with theatrical staging and music for a touring audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCer418rpNBntq4wQfxPq1Hg
• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/theatreequestre.zingaro
• Instagraminstagram.com/theatrezingaro_bartabas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Théâtre équestre Zingaro