What The Everyman does

The Everyman is a 650-seat Victorian theatre located at 15 MacCurtain Street in Cork's Victorian Quarter, Ireland, operating as a not-for-profit arts charity (Everyman Palace CLG, Charity Number CHY 20150952) under a company-limited-by-guarantee structure. Founded in 1897 by Dan Lowrey as the Cork Palace of Varieties, the venue served as a cinema from the 1930s until 1988, was saved and reopened as the Everyman Palace Theatre in 1990, and rebranded simply as The Everyman in 2012. The theatre produces and presents a diverse programme of drama, comedy, music, opera, and family entertainment, anchored by the in-house EVERYMAN MADE production programme, touring co-productions, and touring shows. Technical infrastructure comprises a professional stage, lighting, and sound system, three dressing rooms, a green room, and a bar, with ticketing delivered through the Ticketsolve platform across online, phone, and in-person channels.

The Everyman generates revenue from six core streams: ticket sales (primary), venue hire for corporate events and conferences (10 to 650 guests), bar services, box office services for external venues, Friends membership tiers with seat sponsorship (€300), and gift vouchers. Government funding covers only 8% of income, with the remainder sourced from donations, members, corporate partnerships, and Arts Council / Cork City Council support. Pricing spans €11 student concessions to €56 VIP experiences, with concession tickets for seniors (65+), full-time students, and unemployed persons, plus group discounts for 10+ bookings.

The Everyman serves more than 100,000 audience members annually across five primary customer segments: general theatre audiences in Cork and Munster, schools and students (four Creative Schools partnerships), community and youth groups via the TMACC programme, corporate clients seeking venue hire and business-skills training (The Everyman for Business with Real Learning), and theatre artists and producers through co-production, residency, and artist-development schemes including Theatre Artists in Residence, Tessellate, and the international Tales of Two Cities partnership with Bristol Old Vic and MAYK. The venue is governed by a board and managed by Co-CEOs Des Kennedy (Artistic Director) and Brian Fenton (Executive Director), supported by a 14-person management team.

Name

The Everyman

Legal name

Everyman Palace CLG

Website

https://everymancork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Everyman is a 650-seat Victorian not-for-profit theatre in Cork, Ireland, producing and presenting drama, comedy, music, opera, and family shows to 100,000+ audience members annually, funded by ticket sales, venue hire, bar, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

Keywords

• Live theatre performances
• Performing arts venue
• Theatre venue hire
• Opera and drama productions
• Community arts programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Cork

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from ticket sales for performances and events. Tickets are sold online, by phone, and in person. Booking fees apply for telephone and online bookings.
2. Venue Hire: The Everyman offers venue hire for corporate events, conferences, award ceremonies, product launches, and private functions. The venue accommodates 10 to 650 people and provides full production support, box office services, and bar facilities.
3. Bar Services: The Everyman Bar generates revenue from drinks sales during performances and private bar hire for events. The bar serves wines, craft beers, spirits, and non-alcoholic options.
4. Box Office Services: The box office provides ticketing services for performances at other venues, generating service fees.
5. Membership and Donations: The Everyman operates a Friends membership scheme with Theatre Lover, Supporting Cast, and Leading Role tiers. Seat sponsorship at €300 is also available. Donations support the theatre's charitable mission.
6. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers are sold in denominations of €20, €25, €60 and more, valid for any show at the theatre with no expiry date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Everyman is a 650-seat listed Victorian theatre in Cork city centre that produces and presents live performances including drama, comedy, music, opera, and family entertainment, under its in-house EVERYMAN MADE production brand and through touring co-productions. Beyond performances, it offers corporate venue hire for 10-650 attendees, bar services, an education and community outreach programme, business skills training using theatre techniques, behind-the-scenes tours, and a Friends membership scheme with seat sponsorship and gift vouchers.

Product overview

The Everyman is a 650-seat Victorian theatre venue in Cork, Ireland, operating as a single-venue performing arts centre rather than a platform. The core offering is live theatre productions under the EVERYMAN MADE in-house brand, complemented by touring shows, comedy, music, and opera performances. Additional revenue streams include venue hire, bar services, business training programmes, education and community outreach, membership schemes, seat sponsorship, and gift vouchers. The venue serves audiences exceeding 100,000 annually and supports artists through development programmes and residencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Everyman Theatre (Venue) A 650-seat listed Victorian theatre in Cork city centre hosting live performances including plays, comedy, music, opera, and children's theatre for general audiences.
• EVERYMAN MADE (In-House Productions) The Everyman's in-house production programme creating original theatre and opera, including co-productions that have toured nationally and internationally to venues such as Birmingham REP.
• Venue Hire Corporate and private event hire of the 650-seat theatre, accommodating 10 to 650 attendees with full production support, box-office services, and bar facilities.
• The Everyman Bar On-site bar with locally sourced wines, craft beers, spirits, and non-alcoholic options, available for private hire separately or with venue bookings, accommodating up to 60 guests.
• Box Office Services Ticketing services for performances at The Everyman and external venues, available online via Ticketsolve, by phone, and in person at the MacCurtain Street box office.
• The Everyman for Business Business skills training using theatre techniques, delivered in partnership with Real Learning, including workshops on presence, presentations, teamwork, and improvisation for corporate clients.
• Artist Development Supporting performing artists through rehearsal space, producing support, mentorship, and residency programmes including the Theatre Artists in Residence scheme and Tales of Two Cities international partnership.
• Education and Community Programmes Programmes including Theatre-Making and Citizenship Cork (TMACC), Everyman Young Company, Creative Schools, Young Playwrights, and school workshops delivered with partners such as YMCA Cork, Nano Nagle Place, Cork City Partnership, Graffiti Theatre Company, and Fighting Words.
• Behind the Scenes Tours Guided tours of the historic 1897 Victorian theatre building, available for groups of 10 or more and on scheduled dates matching performances.
• Friends of The Everyman Membership Annual membership scheme with Theatre Lover, Supporting Cast, and Leading Role tiers offering priority booking, discounts, season brochure delivery, and invitations to season launches.
• Seat Sponsorship Programme allowing individuals to sponsor a seat in the Everyman auditorium for €300, receiving a dedicated plaque plus a 10% discount on membership and invitations to season launches.
• Gift Vouchers Gift vouchers available in denominations of €20, €25, €60 and more, valid for any show at The Everyman with no expiry date.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ audience members annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YMCA CorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Everyman works with YMCA Cork on the Theatre-Making and Citizenship Cork (TMACC) programme for young people aged 16-19, affiliated to Youth Theatre Ireland.
• Graffiti Theatre Company and Fighting WordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Young Playwrights Programme supporting people aged 14-19 to develop their writing, culminating in staged readings at The Everyman by professional actors and directors.
• Cork Opera HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for opera productions including Cú Chulainn opera in 2026.
• Abbey TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Theatre-Making and Citizenship Cork programme with support from the Abbey Theatre, Creative Ireland and Cork City Council Arts Office.
• The Lantern, Nano Nagle PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on TMACC-OA programme for older adults through the Lantern Project, Nano Nagle Centre Cork with HSE Arts and Health support.
• Cork City PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on TMACC-Community programme through SICAP with 10 inclusive sessions including workshops and theatre visits.
• MTU School of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports The Everyman opera productions, including Cú Chulainn development process.
• MAYK and Bristol Old Vic (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership through Tales of Two Cities artist development programme for early career theatre artists between Cork Midsummer Festival, The Everyman, MAYK and Bristol Old Vic.
• CorcadorcaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Tessellate artist development scheme alongside Cork Midsummer Festival.
• Real LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on The Everyman for Business programme delivering business skills training using theatre techniques including presence, presentation, and improv workshops.
• Irish Theatre CriticsminorOthersProfessional theatre critics providing reviews and recognition of productions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Pavilion Theatre Dún Laoghaire: Mid-size coastal theatre presenting drama, comedy, music, and family shows funded in part by Arts Council support. Operates a similar mix of ticketed performances, venue hire, and educational programming.
• Lime Tree Theatre Limerick: Mid-size regional Irish theatre presenting drama, comedy, and music for a Munster/Limerick audience. Comparable operating model and audience profile, although its catchment does not overlap directly with Cork city.
• Town Hall Theatre Galway: Regional Irish theatre presenting similar mixed-genre programming for west-of-Ireland audiences. Comparable in producing structure, ticket pricing tiers, and education/community programming.

Direct peers

• Cork Opera House: Cork's other principal mid-size performing arts venue, programming opera, dance, and theatre for the same Cork audience and donor base. Directly comparable to The Everyman in scale, programming mix, and reliance on Arts Council support, and an explicit co-production partner.
• Gaiety Theatre Dublin: Historic Dublin theatre presenting a comparable mix of drama, comedy, and pantomime to similar audience segments. Operates on the same model of ticketed performances, venue hire, and Friends/membership schemes, making it a close functional equivalent at greater scale.
• Olympia Theatre Dublin: Heritage Dublin theatre presenting drama, comedy, music and touring productions for similar patron demographics. Directly competes for touring product, comedy headliners, and corporate hire opportunities.
• Gate Theatre Dublin: Dublin-based producing theatre presenting drama and contemporary work with comparable programming strategy. Shares The Everyman's profile of in-house productions mixed with touring product, plus similar donor and corporate-hire income dependencies.
• Birmingham Repertory Theatre: UK producing theatre that has hosted Everyman touring productions and shares the model of in-house drama, community programmes, and corporate venue hire. Comparable in scale and artistic ambition.
• Bristol Old Vic: Historic UK producing theatre partnered with The Everyman through Tales of Two Cities. Operates the same mix of in-house production, touring programming, education, and venue hire in a comparable mid-size Victorian venue footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Abbey Theatre: Ireland's national theatre and a co-production partner of The Everyman. Larger scale and broader remit, but overlapping producing theatre, community engagement, and Arts Council funding model make it a directly comparable operating structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EverymanCork
• Instagraminstagram.com/everymancork
• Xx.com/EverymanCork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-everyman-cork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 The Everyman