Nonsuch Studios

What Nonsuch Studios does

Nonsuch Studios is Nottingham's independent theatre company, creative producer, and registered arts charity (Charity No. 1199099), operating across the East Midlands from its base at Broadway Cinema since February 2024. Founded in 2013 by Edward Boott as Nonsuch Theatre and rebranded in 2017, the organisation produces original touring theatre, runs weekly classes and youth theatre programmes (Homerangers for home-educated children, Script Reading, Sneinton Drama Club, Meadows Musical Theatre Group), and delivers community engagement projects including the £150,000 Esmée Fairbairn Foundation-funded Stage the City programme across Bulwell, Sneinton, and The Meadows. The organisation works with over 13,500 individuals annually and reports 4.5 million+ cumulative UK reach through online programmes and touring productions.

The business model is a diversified charity revenue stack: ticket sales (under £15 per ticket via TicketSolve, phone, and in-person box office), recurring class and workshop fees (£12/week Homerangers with block booking discounts, pay-what-you-can Script Reading at £7.50-£12), Friends/Membership subscriptions, voluntary donations with Gift Aid, merchandise, and institutional grants from foundations and government programmes. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on standard ticketing, email, social media, and community-partner referrals. The wholly-owned subsidiary Nonsuch Studios Trading Limited houses traded services. The organisation explicitly states it receives no core funding, which was a stated driver for the December 2023 closure of its self-operated Lennox Street fringe theatre venue.

The customer base spans individual ticket buyers and class participants, schools and educational institutions (including delivery of Punchdrunk Enrichment programmes), vulnerable and underrepresented groups (Gypsy/Roma/Traveller communities, asylum seekers, refugees, women facing social isolation), and institutional funders. Distribution is multi-channel: a resident presence at Broadway Cinema, satellite community venues across Nottingham, an online ticketing platform, touring productions, and a network of partnerships with universities, cultural education consortia, and community organisations. Strategic posture has shifted decisively from venue operator to community-anchored producer and touring company since the 2024 relocation.

Name

Nonsuch Studios

Legal name

Nonsuch Theatre Limited

Website

https://nonsuchstudios.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nonsuch Studios is Nottingham's independent theatre company and registered arts charity, producing original touring productions, youth theatre classes, and community engagement programmes for over 13,500 individuals annually across the East Midlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre performances, shows, and events through box office. Tickets sold online via TicketSolve platform, over phone, and in person.
2. Class and Workshop Fees: Weekly classes and workshops including Homerangers (£12/week with 20% block booking discount), Script Reading (Pay What You Can £12 or £7.50). Youth theatre and drama clubs.
3. Membership Schemes: Friends and Membership schemes providing benefits to supporters of the charity.
4. Donations: Voluntary donations from supporters, with Gift Aid option for UK tax payers (25% additional value).
5. Charitable Funding and Grants: Funding from foundations and government programmes including Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (£150,000 for Stage the City), National Lottery Heritage Fund (Lennox Street Unlocked), and Holiday Activities Fund grants.
6. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise items through website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nonsuch Studios is an independent Nottingham-based theatre company and registered arts charity (Nonsuch Theatre Limited, Charity No. 1199099) that produces original stage productions, runs youth and adult drama classes, and delivers community engagement projects. The company stages multiple annual productions at venues including Broadway Cinema, while operating workshops, after-school drama clubs, a theatre book club, and outreach programmes such as Stage the City and GET SET. It also hires out its rehearsal studio space to local theatre-makers.

Product overview

Nonsuch Studios is Nottingham's independent theatre company, creative producer and arts charity (founded 2013). The organization operates as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, providing a portfolio of interconnected arts and community services including theatre productions, youth theatre classes (Home Rangers, Script Reading, Drama Clubs, Musical Theatre Groups), community engagement projects (Stage the City, Lennox Street Unlocked, GET SET), youth voice surveys (Notts Youth Trends), education programmes, and venue hire. The company works with over 13,500 individuals annually and is currently based at Broadway Cinema after transitioning from their Lennox Street venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Productions Original stage productions staged annually at Nottingham venues, including original scripts such as How to Curse, Leo & Layla's Christmas, and Sinners, targeted at local audiences and theatre-goers.
• Youth Drama Classes Drama classes and after-school clubs for children and young people, including the Homerangers weekly drama sessions for home-educated children and Sneinton Drama Club for school-age participants.
• Adult Drama Workshops Free musical theatre and drama workshops for adults, including the Meadows Musical Theatre Group, providing accessible performance opportunities for community members.
• Script Reading Club Theatre book club / script reading group for adults interested in reading and discussing plays, providing a literary companion offering to the company's live performance work.
• Community Engagement Programmes Projects including Stage the City, Lennox Street Unlocked (heritage project), and GET SET (creative empowerment programme), as well as the Notts Youth Trends survey — all targeting Nottingham residents with creative, heritage, and social-cohesion activities.
• Studio and Venue Hire Hire of the company's rehearsal studio space at Broadway Cinema, Nottingham, available to local theatre-makers, performers, and community groups.

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ChalleNGecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural education partnership of Nottingham City, Nonsuch Studios has been a member since 2017. Partnership supports increasing access to creative and cultural opportunities across Nottingham.
• CaptivatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural education partnership of Mansfield & Ashfield, Nonsuch Studios has been a member since 2019. Supports cultural education access across the district.
• Creative Pathways (University of Nottingham)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting early-career opportunities in arts administration and production. Nonsuch Studios has been a member since 2019.
• In Good CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting great artists and theatre makers across the East Midlands. Nonsuch Studios has been a partner since 2019, after being one of the inaugural associates of the programme in 2014.
• Strategic Cultural Partnership (Nottingham)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of Nottingham's city-wide Strategic Cultural Partnership since 2020, connecting with city-wide priorities for arts and culture.
• Broadway CinemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonsuch Studios relocated to Broadway Cinema in 2024 as resident company. Broadway is Nottingham's leading independent cinema. The two companies co-lead the Nottingham Immersive Experience Network alongside University of Nottingham's Virtual and Immersive Performance Studio.
• One Vision Partnership (Bulwell)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity organization providing in-kind support for Stage the City programme delivery in Bulwell.
• Pigfoot TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning touring theatre company that brought show HOT IN HERE to Nonsuch Studios. Collaboration on climate-focused theatre with energy-harvesting dancefloor.
• Punchdrunk EnrichmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Punchdrunk Enrichment to bring immersive learning programmes to primary schools across Nottingham. Nonsuch Studios serves as local delivery partner.
• University of Nottingham (City as Lab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Nottingham's City as Lab programme supporting Notts Youth Trends survey. Enables workshops and insight sessions with under 25s across the county.
• University of Nottingham (Virtual and Immersive Performance Studio)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead the Nottingham Immersive Experience Network alongside Broadway Cinema, focusing on digital performance innovation.
• Exchange CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSongwriters and producers providing songwriting support for Meadows Musical Theatre Group's original song 'Our Community' as part of Stage the City.
• Art of FootballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on inclusive World Cup watch parties and panel discussions addressing human rights issues, creating safe spaces for women and non-binary football fans.
• Lakeside Arts (University of Nottingham)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted creative placement student from Lakeside Arts Creative Placement programme, providing work experience in arts administration and production.
• Inspire Learning and MultiplyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Inspire Learning across Nottinghamshire to deliver GET SET creative empowerment programmes supported by Government's Multiply funding.
• Toy LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Wonder Woods project - year-long festival working with families, schools, and artists to bring sessions and festivals to Barker's Wood in Bulwell.
• Creative Quarter CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency for creative and digital sector in Nottingham. Tamily Cookson (CEO) serves on Nonsuch Studios board. Partnership supports creative sector development in Hockley and Sneinton areas.
• GreenSpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Notts Youth Trends Outdoor Life Survey, working with 11-18 year olds across Nottinghamshire on outdoor activity provision research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HOME Manchester: Manchester arts centre combining theatre, film, and gallery programming with community engagement. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary arts venue with producing and participation programmes.
• Battersea Arts Centre: London-based arts centre focused on developing new theatre and community participation. Shares community-led, scratch/development-focused ethos with Nonsuch Studios, though operating at a larger established scale.

Direct peers

• Derby Theatre: East Midlands regional theatre producing new work and running community/education programmes. Comparable as a regional producing theatre with similar community engagement and youth theatre activities.
• The Albany (London): Community arts centre in southeast London delivering participatory arts, young people's programmes, and touring theatre. Shares the community-led, charitable arts delivery model and commitment to under-represented groups.
• China Plate Theatre: Independent producing theatre company developing new work with regional community engagement. Comparable as a small producing theatre working with young people and communities across regions.
• New Diorama Theatre: London independent theatre supporting emerging companies and developing new work. Comparable as a small-scale, independent producing theatre championing fringe and emerging artists.
• Nottingham Playhouse: Nottingham's primary receiving theatre producing plays, musicals, and community engagement. Direct peer given shared Nottingham base, theatre production activities, and arts/community engagement focus serving overlapping regional audiences.

Regional players

• Cast (Doncaster): Doncaster's flagship arts venue producing and presenting theatre with community participation programmes. Comparable regional theatre charity with participatory and producing work in the North/Midlands.

Emerging players

• Take Back Theatre: Independent theatre company producing participatory and community-focused performance. Comparable in scale and approach to small-scale community-engaged producing.
• Punchdrunk Enrichment: Immersive theatre company delivering participatory learning and community programmes. Nonsuch Studios is a delivery partner for their immersive learning programmes in Nottingham schools, and the organizations share an immersive/community-engaged ethos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearenonsuch
• Facebookfacebook.com/wearenonsuch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nonsuch-studios

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 Nonsuch Studios