The Players Theatre

What The Players Theatre does

The Players Theatre is a community performing arts organization operating a 225-seat boutique venue at 33a Lord Street, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1963 and incorporated as an association under Australian law, it has run continuously for over 60 years, producing five to six productions per year — including a recurring biennial One Act Play Festival — for audiences in the Hastings region. Programming consists of community theatre productions staged by volunteer performers, supported by local engagement and ticketed public performances.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across multiple small streams: ticket sales for staged productions, membership subscriptions, merchandise, costume hire and venue hire. The venue and costume assets are also made available to external users, generating supplementary fee income. As a volunteer-driven incorporated association, The Players Theatre does not operate with paid professional staff or commercial-scale production infrastructure; its operating model relies on community participation, member support and recurring event programming.

There is no disclosed use of proprietary technology, digital platforms or data systems underlying operations. The business is anchored in a single geographic market (Port Macquarie and the surrounding Hastings region), with no evidence of multi-location expansion, franchising or external capital raises. Strategic posture is focused on sustaining the existing production slate, preserving the venue asset and continuing community-facing cultural programming rather than scaling commercially.

Name

The Players Theatre

Legal name

The Players Theatre Inc.

Website

https://playerstheatre.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Players Theatre is a volunteer-run community theatre in Port Macquarie, NSW, operating a 225-seat venue since 1963 and staging five to six productions annually for the Hastings region, funded through ticket sales, memberships, merchandise, costume hire and venue hire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre / Live Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Live performing arts
• Theatre venue hire
• Costume rental service
• Stage performance venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Macquarie

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for live theatre productions and events. Adults $38, concession $35, school students $23, members $30, groups of 10+ $30 per person.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership providing discounted ticket prices, bar discounts, and newsletter access. Membership purchased via external ticket platform.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including polo shirts ($30), hoodies ($45), scarves ($25), beanies ($20), and caps ($20).
4. Costume Hire: Costume hire services to external organisations and individuals, with payment via direct debit to Regional Australia Bank.
5. Venue and Theatre Hire: Hire of the full theatre, apron stage, meeting/function room, and foyer to outside organisations for performances, concerts, screenings, presentations, and community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Players Theatre Inc. operates a 225-seat community theatre in Port Macquarie, NSW, producing 5–6 live stage productions per year across drama, comedy, musical theatre and pantomime (including a biennial One Act Play Festival). Beyond productions, the venue is hired to outside organisations for performances, meetings and events, and the theatre runs a costume hire service, an annual membership program, a merchandise shop, and recurring Open Mic Nights.

Product overview

The Players Theatre is a community theatre organization operating a 225-seat boutique venue in Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia. Founded in 1963, it has provided theatrical excellence for over 60 years. The company's core product is live theatre productions, staging 5-6 productions annually across drama, comedy, musical theatre, and pantomime genres, including a biennial One Act Play Festival. The service portfolio extends beyond performances to include venue hire (theatre, apron, meeting rooms, foyer), costume hire, official merchandise (apparel items), theatre membership with ticket and bar discounts, and Open Mic Night events. The company also sells tickets online and operates a bar service. The venue at 33a Lord Street, Port Macquarie is available for external hire for performances, meetings, presentations, screenings, and streaming events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Theatre Productions The main offering of The Players Theatre — theatrical performances including drama, comedy, musical theatre, and pantomimes staged 5–6 times per year, plus a biennial One Act Play Festival, for the Hastings Region community.
• Theatre Venue Hire Hire of the 225-seat theatre, apron stage, meeting/function room (up to 30 people), and foyer to outside organisations for performances, concerts, screenings, presentations, meetings, parties, lectures and online streaming events.
• Costume Hire Rental of costumes to external organisations and individuals, managed by the volunteer Costume Department. Payment accepted via cash, Eftpos or direct debit to Regional Australia Bank.
• Official Merchandise Online store selling branded Players Theatre apparel including men's and ladies polos ($30), hoodies ($45), scarves ($25), beanies ($20) and caps ($20), made-to-order with a 14–21 day production lead time.
• Theatre Membership Annual subscription program offering discounted tickets ($30 per show), bar discounts, regular newsletter access, and free entry to Open Mic Nights. Purchased via the TicketSearch platform.
• Open Mic Night Recurring event allowing singers, musicians, comedians and other performers to take the stage with full lighting and sound support. Free for members, $5 for non-members.
• Ticket Sales (Box Office and Online) Tiered ticketing for productions: Adults $38, Concession $35, School Students $23, Members $30, Groups of 10+ $30. Available online via TicketSearch, by phone (6584 6663), via the on-site box office (Mon–Wed 9am–11am and one hour pre-show), and via The Glasshouse box office.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Port Macquarie ObservatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Players Theatre is a participant in the Port Macquarie Fascination Trail, an initiative led by Port Macquarie Observatory that brings together local non-profit organisations to showcase the city's history and experiences to visitors. The theatre contributes to this collaborative community initiative alongside other regional non-profit organisations.
• The Glasshouse (Port Macquarie)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Glasshouse box office (6581 8888) serves as a third-party ticketing channel for The Players Theatre productions, enabling broader audience reach within the regional community.
• TicketSearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe theatre uses TicketSearch as its primary online ticketing and membership platform for secure ticket sales, gift vouchers, and membership purchases/renewals.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Queensland Theatre: Brisbane-based state theatre company producing a wide season of drama, comedy, and musicals across multiple venues. Comparable as a not-for-profit producing theatre company, but operates at significantly larger scale and with professional (rather than volunteer) staff.
• Sydney Theatre Company: Australia's largest not-for-profit theatre company, producing drama, musicals, and new work at major Sydney venues. Comparable as an Australian producing theatre company, but operates with professional casts, substantially higher ticket prices, and national reach.
• Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC): Queensland's flagship performing arts centre presenting theatre, musical theatre, and live entertainment across multiple venues. Comparable in operating a multi-space theatre venue with hire and ticketing functions, but at vastly greater scale and reach.
• Riverside Theatres Parramatta: Western Sydney's major performing arts venue presenting drama, comedy, musicals, and community programming across multiple spaces. Comparable as a multi-space performing arts venue with venue hire and community programming, but operates at substantially larger scale.
• Adelaide Festival Centre: South Australia's primary performing arts complex operating multiple theatre spaces with a season of drama, musicals, comedy, and community programming. Comparable as a multi-space venue operator with ticketing and venue hire, but at considerably larger scale.

Direct peers

• Ensemble Theatre: Sydney's longest-running independent theatre, operating a boutique venue producing a season of Australian drama, comedy, and musicals. Highly comparable to The Players Theatre as a small-capacity independent producing venue with subscription seasons.
• Belvoir St Theatre: Sydney-based independent theatre company producing a season of drama, comedy, and new Australian work from a dedicated venue. Comparable as an Australian not-for-profit producing theatre with venue operations and a community/membership-driven audience model.
• Glen Street Theatre: Northern Sydney community theatre producing a professional season of drama, comedy, musicals, and family programming from a ~300-seat venue. Comparable operating model: not-for-profit presenting theatre with membership programs and venue hire.
• La Boite Theatre Company: Brisbane-based independent theatre company producing a regular season of contemporary Australian work with community engagement programs. Directly comparable as a regional Australian theatre company running a subscription-style season programming model across multiple genres.

Regional players

• Laycock Street Community Theatre: Regional NSW community theatre located in Gosford on the Central Coast, producing amateur and community productions from its own venue. Closely comparable as a regional NSW community theatre with venue hire and volunteer-driven operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_sV8LfLQLxRhJFPLtV_6RQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/playerstheatreinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/playerstheatreinc
• TikToktiktok.com/@theplayerstheatreinc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• Xx.com/portplayers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-players-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Players Theatre