BATS Theatre
BATS Theatre is a Wellington-based performing arts venue hosting a year-round programme of theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work that supports emerging New Zealand artists. Founded in 1989, it operates from a historic three-level building serving local audiences and the NZ arts community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What BATS Theatre does
BATS Theatre is a Wellington-based performing arts venue operating from a repurposed three-level historic building at 1 Kent Terrace. Founded in 1989, the organisation presents a year-round programme of theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work, with an explicit focus on supporting emerging New Zealand artists and showcasing new NZ performance. The venue runs a continuous programming calendar that includes recurring events such as Student Nights, The Lumen Quiz comedy nights, and festival participation through NZ Fringe 2026.
The venue's core offering is a curated live performance programme, supported by operational infrastructure including on-site box office, a main office, and an online ticketing system powered by the PatronBase platform. The BATSmail newsletter and active Facebook and Instagram accounts form the primary digital audience-engagement channels. The organisation also operates an artist resources programme, accessibility services, and venue/space hire for external producers and community groups.
BATS generates revenue from multiple streams: venue hire and box office ticket sales, space hire to external users, corporate sponsorship, individual donations, and a bequest programme. The organisation is supported by core financial partners Creative New Zealand and Wellington City Council. Management has stated publicly that BATS spends more supporting shows than it recovers through venue fees, indicating an artist-development mission that is structurally subsidised by grants, sponsorship, and donations. The headcount sits in the 11–50 employee band and the venue serves Wellington-based theatre-goers, students, and the NZ emerging arts community.
BATS Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BATS Theatre
- Legal name
- BATS Theatre
- Website
- https://bats.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BATS Theatre is a Wellington-based performing arts venue hosting a year-round programme of theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work that supports emerging New Zealand artists. Founded in 1989, it operates from a historic three-level building serving local audiences and the NZ arts community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BATS Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)
Keywords
Where BATS Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
BATS Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Venue Hire and Box Office: Revenue generated from venue fees charged to artists putting on shows, supplemented by box office sales from ticket purchases. The theatre explicitly states it spends more supporting shows than it recovers through venue fees.
- Sponsorship and Donations: The theatre receives financial support through corporate sponsorship and individual donations, including a bequest programme.
- Space Hire: Revenue from hiring out theatre spaces to artists and community groups.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
BATS Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BATS Theatre operates a year-round performing arts venue in Wellington, New Zealand, presenting a programme of theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work by emerging New Zealand artists. The venue hires out its performance spaces at low fees to artists putting on shows and sells tickets to audiences through a box office and the PatronBase online ticketing platform.
Product overview
BATS Theatre operates as a performing arts venue offering a single unified programme rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their core offering is a year-round live theatre and performance programme featuring theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work. Supporting offerings include venue hire, artist development resources, the PatronBase ticketing system for bookings, and various events such as the Lumen Quiz, student nights, and NZ Fringe participation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Theatre and Performance Programme A year-round programme of live theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental performances curated to showcase emerging New Zealand artists for Wellington theatre audiences.
- Venue and Space Hire Low-fee hire of BATS Theatre's performance spaces to artists, companies, and community groups putting on shows or events.
- Box Office Ticketing Ticket sales for BATS Theatre productions handled through the in-venue box office, by phone, and online via the PatronBase booking platform.
- The Lumen Quiz Comedy Nights
Companies that use BATS Theatre
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BATS Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BATS Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The LumenminorThe Lumen is a partner in co-presenting The Lumen Quiz Night events at BATS Theatre. This is a recurring comedy quiz night programme delivered in partnership between BATS and The Lumen.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BATS Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Basement Theatre: Small Auckland-based performing arts venue focused on emerging and experimental New Zealand work, with a comparable alternative/emerging-artist programming model and similar community-led GTM approach to BATS.
- Q Theatre: Auckland performing arts venue presenting diverse theatre, dance, comedy, and experimental work with comparable year-round programming and a focus on developing New Zealand artists.
- Circa Theatre: Wellington-based professional theatre company operating its own venue with year-round programmed seasons, directly comparable as a Wellington performing arts venue competitor and counterpart.
Broad incumbents
- Auckland Theatre Company: Largest professional theatre company in New Zealand, producing and presenting a wide slate of productions; overlaps with BATS in the NZ performing arts ecosystem but at significantly larger scale and broader remit.
Regional players
- Court Theatre: Christchurch-based professional theatre company operating its own venue with year-round programming; comparable operating model as a venue-resident NZ theatre company, though serving a different regional market.
- Fortune Theatre: Dunedin-based professional theatre company and venue, the southernmost professional theatre in the world; comparable as a single-venue NZ regional theatre with similar scale and programming structure.
Others
- The Lumen: Wellington-based comedy and events partner of BATS that co-presents The Lumen Quiz Night programme; adjacent venue and ecosystem participant with overlapping audiences.
- NZ Fringe Festival: Annual New Zealand fringe festival in which BATS participates as a host venue; comparable as an ecosystem enabler for emerging NZ performance and a recurring driver of BATS audience traffic.
- Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School: New Zealand's national drama school producing graduating performers and productions that often debut at venues like BATS; comparable as a talent pipeline and development partner in the emerging NZ performance ecosystem.
- Wellington City Council Arts & Culture: Civic funding body and partner of BATS Theatre providing grants and venue support; relevant as a stakeholder comparable to other municipal arts funders underwriting venue operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BATS Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceBATS Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BATS Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BATS Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BATS Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BATS Theatre
What does BATS Theatre do?
BATS Theatre operates a year-round performing arts venue in Wellington, New Zealand, presenting a programme of theatre, dance, improv, stand-up, and experimental work by emerging New Zealand artists. The venue hires out its performance spaces at low fees to artists putting on shows and sells tickets to audiences through a box office and the PatronBase online ticketing platform.
Is BATS Theatre a public or private company?
BATS Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BATS Theatre founded?
BATS Theatre was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BATS Theatre based?
BATS Theatre is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does BATS Theatre make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Venue Hire and Box Office is the primary driver. The others are sponsorship and Donations and space Hire.
Who are BATS Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Basement Theatre, Q Theatre and Circa Theatre. Auckland Theatre Company is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Court Theatre and Fortune Theatre. Others are The Lumen, NZ Fringe Festival, Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and Wellington City Council Arts & Culture.
Does BATS Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for BATS Theatre.
What industry is BATS Theatre in?
BATS Theatre's product category is Performing Arts Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses), with a secondary code of THAHAAAG, Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.