The Public Theater

What The Public Theater does

Théâtre Le Public is a Brussels-based non-profit performing arts organization (ASBL) founded in 1993-1994, operating continuously for 32 seasons from its venue at Rue Braemt 64-70 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. The theater presents live theatrical productions spanning classic repertoire, contemporary works, family programming, and themed focus series (e.g., Les BienVeilleuses on gender violence awareness) across three performance spaces: the Grande Salle, Petite Salle, and Salle des Voûtes. Its core technology consists of a third-party Utick online ticketing/reservation platform, a proprietary VOD/LIVE streaming platform (vod.theatrelepublic.be), audio-description accessibility features, and a basic website CMS. It does not operate proprietary technology or AI systems.

The business model is diversified across multiple revenue streams: individual ticket sales (€1.25-€31 across six price tiers plus a €5-€50 pay-what-you-can option), annual and seasonal subscriptions (Abonnements), gift packages (Bons Cadeaux, ABO Cadeau, Pass Cadeau from €5-€84), on-site restaurant services, room rentals for external events, and VOD streaming access. Distribution is omnichannel — Utick self-serve ticketing, phone reservations, on-site box office, and digital streaming reach both regional Brussels audiences and remote viewers. Customer segments include general theatergoers, school groups (L'École sur Scène), gift buyers, and socially engaged audiences.

Strategic institutional support comes from Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (Direction du Théâtre) and Belgian federal tax shelter financing through TaxShelter.be, ING, and Beside. Additional partnerships include coproduction with Théâtre Les Tanneurs, Festival de Liège, Les Rencontres à l'Échelle, Institut Français, La Coop ASBL, and a Filigranes bookstore channel partnership. The organization holds 11-50 employees and operates as a private non-profit with no parent company, no VC/PE ownership, and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

The Public Theater

Legal name

Théâtre Le Public

Website

https://theatrelepublic.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Théâtre Le Public is a Brussels-based non-profit performing arts theater operating for 32 seasons, offering live productions, subscriptions, VOD streaming, and educational programs across three venue spaces for general audiences, schools, and socially engaged patrons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Live theatrical performances
• Performing arts venue
• Season subscription tickets
• Theater streaming service
• Theater education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-josse-ten-noode

HQ country

Belgium

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: Individual performance tickets sold at various price points (€31/€28/€20/€10/€9/€1.25 for regular programming; gift subscriptions ranging from €16.50 to €84). Online reservation system via Utick ticketing platform.
2. Season Subscriptions: Annual and seasonal subscription packages (Abonnements) offering discounted access to multiple performances throughout the season.
3. Restaurant Services: On-site restaurant operating before and after performances, serving theatergoers as part of the cultural experience.
4. VOD/LIVE Streaming: Video-on-demand and live streaming platform (vod.theatrelepublic.be) for recorded and live theater performances.
5. Gift Packages: Gift subscription packages (ABO Cadeau 3 spectacles at €50, Pass Cadeau 4 places at €84, and flexible gift vouchers starting at €5) for ticket gifting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Théâtre Le Public is a Brussels-based performing arts institution that produces and presents live theatrical performances across multiple in-house venues (Grande Salle, Petite Salle, Salle des Voûtes) covering classic, contemporary, family, and socially-themed repertoire. Its core commercial offering is sold through individual tickets and seasonal subscriptions (Abonnements), with ancillary paid services including on-site restaurant dining, VOD/LIVE streaming access, gift packages, and venue/room rentals.

Product overview

The Public Theater is a Belgian theater company located in Brussels offering a diverse portfolio of theatrical productions including drama, comedy, family shows, and outdoor performances. The core offering consists of live theatrical performances across multiple venues (Grande Salle, Petite Salle, Salle des Voûtes). Additional services include a VOD/live streaming platform, podcast series, on-site restaurant, affiliated bookstore (Filigranes), parking with shuttle service, and educational programs. The theater operates a subscription-based ticketing system and offers gift cards, room rentals, and virtual tours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Performances
• VOD/LIVE Streaming Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 32 seasons, 373 authors and 181 Belgian playwrights have performed on Théâtre Le Public's stages

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fédération Wallonie-BruxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner providing artistic direction support and funding through the Direction du Théâtre. Core cultural partnership enabling repertoire development and production support. Mentioned in production credits across multiple performances including Hors-jeu, L'Habilleur, Annie Ernaux, Zazous, and Snow Thérapie.
• Théâtre Les TanneurscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for theatrical productions. Geneviève Damas is associated artist at Théâtre Les Tanneurs. Delegated production arrangement for Hors-jeu. Joint venue partnership enabling shared artistic programming.
• UtickcoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing and reservation platform provider (shop.utick.net) powering online ticket sales, subscription management, and customer accounts for performance reservations and VOD access.
• Theater de LiègeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Le Tremlement du Monde (based on Édouard Glissant), demonstrating regional theatrical collaboration.
• Royal Belgian Football AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnusual cultural partnership providing support for Hors-jeu production, enabling crossover between theatrical and sporting worlds in the context of the 2034 World Cup themed performance.
• Les Rencontres à l'Échelle FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival partnership for Le Tremlement du Monde production, demonstrating touring and festival circuit collaboration.
• Institut FrançaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench cultural institution partnership supporting international coproduction of Le Tremlement du Monde.
• La Coop ASBLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural nonprofit cooperative partner in Hors-jeu coproduction, supporting artistic production and venue operations.
• Filigranes (Librairie)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBookstore partnership operating 'Une librairie dans votre théâtre' - on-site book sales before and after performances, promoting literary culture alongside theatrical programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Théâtre de Liège: Belgian French-language theater and confirmed coproduction partner. Comparable in producing contemporary theatrical works with public funding support and similar subscription ticketing model.
• KVS (Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg): Brussels-based Flemish-language theater with multiple performance spaces and similar public funding model. Directly competes for Brussels theater audiences with comparable venue and programming scale.
• Rideau de Bruxelles: Brussels theater presenting contemporary and classical works. Comparable as a French-language Brussels theater with public funding and subscription-based ticketing.
• Théâtre Les Tanneurs: Brussels theater and confirmed coproduction partner of Théâtre Le Public. Presents contemporary theatrical works with similar audience profile and pricing structure. Highly comparable as a same-city, same-format theater.
• Théâtre Varia: Brussels-based contemporary theater with similar scale, public funding model, and audience demographics. Directly competes for the same Brussels theatergoing public with comparable contemporary programming focus.
• Théâtre National de Belgique: Brussels-based national theater presenting contemporary theatrical works with similar public funding model. Most directly comparable as a subsidized Brussels theater with comparable programming scope and audience.
• Théâtre Royal du Parc: Brussels theater with similar subscription-based programming and contemporary French-language repertoire. Comparable in scale, venue operations, and audience profile.

Broad incumbents

• Comédie-Française: Historic French national theater with subscription model and classical-contemporary repertoire mix. Comparable as a public institution with theater-as-service mission, though at much larger scale and with national mandate.
• BOZAR (Palais des Beaux-Arts): Larger Brussels cultural center offering broader programming including theater, music, and exhibitions. Comparable as a publicly-funded Brussels venue with overlapping theatrical programming but wider artistic scope.

Regional players

• Théâtre Royal de Namur: Wallonia-based theater with similar public funding from Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and comparable subscription programming. Comparable institution operating in different Belgian geography (Wallonia vs. Brussels).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheatreLePublic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 The Public Theater