Derby Indepedent Professional Theatre Network

What Derby Indepedent Professional Theatre Network does

Derby Theatre (legally University of Derby Theatre Limited) is a registered charity (no. 1129005) and professional producing theatre founded in 1975 in Derby, England, wholly owned by the University of Derby. It operates from a single venue at 15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter, comprising a 530-seat Main Auditorium and an 80–110 seat Studio. The organisation annually produces 4–6 main-house productions plus 2 studio productions, hosts over 70 touring productions, and serves more than 100,000 visitors and 24,000 community participants per year. Its 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2025.

The core product mix spans professional theatre production, learning and education, and community engagement. Learning programmes include Youth Theatre (ages 8–19), Deaf Youth Theatre, 17–25 Theatre Makers, Future Creatives, DT Ambassadors, and University of Derby undergraduate and masters courses. Community programmes include DT Communities (with hubs in Normanton and Stockbrook), Dementia Carers' Cafés (partnered with Derby Carers and Universal Services for Carers), Sanctuary Seekers Cafés, Matinee Meet-Ups, and the Plus One partnership (with QUAD and Baby People) for looked-after young people. Education revenue includes GCSE English workshops and Macbeth Live creative-revision packages for schools. In Good Company, founded in 2013, is the flagship artist-development programme led by Derby Theatre across 10+ Midlands partner venues, funded by Arts Council England.

Revenue is diversified across ticket sales (£17.50–£38 main-house band), Friends Membership (up to 50% discounts), charitable donations and legacy giving, corporate sponsorship, gift vouchers, venue hire, and grant-funded projects (Arts Council England, Big Lottery's Reaching Communities, formerly European Regional Development Fund). Distribution is primarily direct via an in-person Box Office, 24/7 online booking, a dedicated Group Bookings Team, and Theatre Tokens voucher exchange. Co-productions with Northern Stage, Hull Truck, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Hiccup Theatre, Polka Theatre, and Royal & Derngate extend content reach and share production risk. The company submitted a planning application for a major capital redevelopment in May 2026, indicating an upcoming capacity and footprint expansion. Leadership comprises CEO & Artistic Director Sarah Brigham and Creative Learning Director Caroline Barth.

Name

Derby Indepedent Professional Theatre Network

Legal name

University of Derby Theatre Limited

Website

https://derbytheatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Derby Theatre is a UK registered charity and professional producing theatre owned by the University of Derby, delivering main-stage and studio productions, youth and learning programmes, community engagement, and the Midlands-wide In Good Company artist development network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theatre and Live Entertainment

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Theatre productions
• Performing arts venue
• Community arts programs
• Artist development
• Arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Derby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales for in-house productions, touring shows, and venue hire. Ticket prices range from £17.50 to £38 for main productions, with various pricing bands and discounts for early booking, groups, schools, and Friends members.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations through various campaigns including 'Derby Theatre at 50' anniversary fundraising, general donations, and Acts of Kindness program.
3. Friends Membership: Annual membership program offering up to 50% off selected shows, with benefits including priority booking and exclusive discounts.
4. Corporate Support: Corporate partnerships and sponsorship arrangements with businesses supporting the theatre's work.
5. Legacy Giving: Charitable bequests through wills to support future generations of theatre makers.
6. Venue Hire and Space Rental: Rental of theatre spaces including Community Hub in upper foyer for groups, and various venues for events and productions.
7. Gift Vouchers: Sale of theatre gift vouchers allowing recipients to choose their own shows.
8. Funded Projects: Funding from Arts Council England, Big Lottery's Reaching Communities, and European Regional Development Fund for specific programs including In Good Company artist development and DT Communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Derby Theatre is a professional producing and learning theatre that creates and stages 4-6 main house productions and 2 studio productions each year, while hosting over 70 touring productions in its 530-seat Main Auditorium and 110-seat Studio. Its learning and community strands deliver Youth Theatre programmes, artist development through the In Good Company network, school and college workshops (including GCSE-linked Macbeth sessions), and DT Communities programmes such as the Dementia Carers' Café, Sanctuary Seekers Cafés, and community hubs. Supporting offerings include Friends Membership, gift vouchers, accessible performances, venue hire, and a Theatre Bar & Café.

Product overview

Derby Theatre is a professional producing and learning theatre operating as a single unified venue with multiple programme strands. The core offering comprises main stage productions (4-6 annually in the 530-seat Main Auditorium) and studio productions (2 annually in the 80-110 seat Studio), complemented by an extensive touring programme hosting over 70 productions yearly. The theatre's learning strand includes Youth Theatre (ages 8-19), Deaf Youth Theatre (10-18), 17-25 Theatre Makers, Future Creatives, and DT Ambassadors, while DT Communities delivers community-led activities including Dementia Carers' Café, Sanctuary Seekers Cafés, and community hubs. In Good Company is the flagship artist development programme offering commissions, mentoring, and the Artists' Network across the Midlands. Education offerings include GCSE revision workshops and University of Derby courses. Accessibility features (BSL, captions, audio description, relaxed performances) are integrated across productions. Additional services include Friends Membership, gift vouchers, and venue hire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Professional theatrical productions staged in the 530-seat Main Auditorium, including spring, autumn and Christmas seasons, often produced in partnership with associate artists and co-producing theatres such as Northern Stage, Hull Truck Theatre, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Hiccup Theatre and Polka Theatre. Targeted at general theatregoing audiences, families, and schools.
• Studio Productions Two studio productions annually in the 80-110 capacity Studio, featuring contemporary theatre, comedy, and family theatre programmed Friday-Sunday. Targeted at audiences seeking smaller-scale, contemporary work.
• Touring Programme Hosting of over 70 touring productions per year across the Main Auditorium and Studio, including drama, musical theatre, contemporary dance, and comedy one-nighters. Targeted at general audiences seeking visiting professional work.
• Youth Theatre Weekly term-time sessions for young people aged 8-19 developing acting and performance skills with professional artists. Targeted at children and teenagers in the Derby area.
• Deaf Youth Theatre Fully accessible Wednesday-evening theatre group for young people aged 10-18 who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. Targeted at Deaf and hard-of-hearing young people in the Derby area.
• 17-25 Theatre Makers Monday-evening term-time theatre company for young adults aged 17-25 working alongside arts professionals to explore theatre-making. Targeted at older young adults progressing from Youth Theatre.
• Future Creatives Hands-on backstage programme for ages 11-25 involving participants in production processes of real professional Derby Theatre events. Targeted at young people interested in technical and backstage theatre careers.
• DT Ambassadors Fortnightly Wednesday sessions where young people experience theatre, create content, and influence Derby Theatre events and programming. Targeted at young people seeking leadership and influence opportunities.
• Plus One Free creative partnership with QUAD and Baby People providing tickets, workshops in dance, digital media, music and theatre, and creative projects for looked-after young people, care leavers, and their families aged 11+. Targeted at vulnerable young people in Derby.
• Early Years Sessions Monthly Friday sessions for early years children featuring creative activities including wiggle, paint, play, and imaginative play. Targeted at pre-school children and their families.
• Dementia Carers' Café Monthly free gathering on the last Friday of each month for unpaid carers and people living with dementia, offering hot drinks, creative activities, and peer support. Targeted at dementia carers and those living with dementia in the Derby area.
• DT Communities Community-led programme comprising Sanctuary Seekers Cafés, Scratch Events, the Dementia Carers' Café, Matinee Meet-Ups, and community hubs in Normanton and Stockbrook. Targeted at Derby residents and specific community groups including sanctuary seekers.
• In Good Company Flagship creative and business development programme for Midlands theatre makers, offering commissions, mentoring, performance opportunities, and the Artists' Network. Lead partner is Derby Theatre with 12+ regional venue partners including Curve Leicester, Nottingham Playhouse, Royal & Derngate (Northampton) and The Core at Corby Cube. Funded by Arts Council England.
• Departure Lounge Festival Annual fringe theatre festival (14th year running) featuring fresh, bold, boundary-pushing performance, panels, and networking opportunities. Targeted at artists, theatre makers, and adventurous audiences.
• Artists' Network Digital and physical network for Midlands theatre makers offering a fortnightly e-newsletter, social media community, and 1-2-1 sessions with the In Good Company team. Targeted at emerging and professional artists across the Midlands.
• University of Derby Courses at Derby Theatre Undergraduate and masters courses delivered in partnership with the University of Derby, allowing students to work alongside professional theatre makers on real Derby Theatre productions. Targeted at higher education students studying theatre and performing arts.
• Mastering Macbeth: GCSE English Workshop

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 visitors annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universal Services for CarerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joint hosting of Carers' Café supporting those living with dementia and their carers. Community Engagement Coordinator Kuljit Tambur involved in programme delivery.
• In Good Company Partners NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Derby Theatre founded and leads In Good Company, a flagship creative and business development programme for theatre makers in the Midlands. Partners include: Attenborough Arts Centre, Burton Brewhouse, Lincolnshire One Venues, Mansfield Old Library, Arena Theatre (Wolverhampton), Nonsuch (Nottingham), Curve (Leicester), Nottingham Playhouse, Royal and Derngate (Northampton), and The Core at Corby Cube. Funded by Arts Council England.
• University of DerbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDerby Theatre is part of the University of Derby, providing training for higher education students and serving as a home for theatre arts education. Registered office at Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB.
• QUADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Plus One creative partnership project delivering free cultural opportunities to looked after young people and care leavers.
• Baby PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Plus One creative partnership project providing free workshops in dance, digital media, music and theatre.
• Derby CarerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in hosting Dementia Carers' Café, providing friendly and relaxed environment for people to share experiences.
• Talking BirdsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided valuable free residency space during research and development phase of Everywhere dementia awareness play.
• Normanton Community HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity hub in Normanton supported by Derby Theatre through DT Communities programme with monthly community-led events.
• Stockbrook Community HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity hub in Stockbrook supported by Derby Theatre through DT Communities programme with monthly community-led events.
• Curve LeicesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue in In Good Company network, led by Nikolai Foster (Artistic Director).
• Northern StagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Othello with Royal & Derngate partnership.
• Hull Truck TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet with Octagon Theatre Bolton.
• Octagon Theatre BoltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet with Hull Truck Theatre.
• Hiccup TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of The Owl and the Pussycat with Polka Theatre.
• Polka TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of The Owl and the Pussycat with Hiccup Theatre.
• Northern StagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Little Shop of Horrors with Derby Theatre.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Young Vic: London-based producing theatre with a similar producing-house plus learning/community ethos. Operates at larger scale but represents the broader producing-theatre peer set Derby Theatre aspires to.

Direct peers

• Nonsuch Studios: Nottingham-based producing theatre and In Good Company partner. Comparable scale, regional artist-development focus, and touring activity.
• Northern Stage: Newcastle-based producing theatre that co-produced Othello and Little Shop of Horrors with Derby Theatre. Operates a similar producing + touring + learning model.
• Arena Theatre Wolverhampton: Midlands theatre that is a partner in the In Good Company network. Comparable as a regional producing/learning venue serving community and emerging-artist programmes.
• Octagon Theatre Bolton: North-west regional producing theatre and co-producer with Derby Theatre on Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet. Similar producing-house structure and education programme focus.
• Polka Theatre: Children's and family producing theatre in London that co-produced The Owl and the Pussycat with Derby Theatre. Comparable producing model with strong learning strand.
• Hull Truck Theatre: Regional producing theatre in Hull that co-produced Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet with Derby Theatre. Comparable producing-house scale and regional touring model.
• Curve Theatre Leicester: Major East Midlands producing theatre led by Nikolai Foster and a core In Good Company partner. Directly comparable in scale, regional producing focus and community/learning programme structure.
• Nottingham Playhouse: Regional producing theatre in Nottingham and In Good Company partner. Comparable as a producing-and-learning house serving an East Midlands audience with co-productions and community engagement.
• Royal & Derngate: Regional producing theatre in Northampton that co-produced Othello with Derby Theatre and is a partner in the In Good Company Midlands network. Comparable model: producing house, community programmes, and touring host.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DerbyTheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/DerbyTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/derbytheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/derby-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Derby Indepedent Professional Theatre Network