Le Navet Bete

What Le Navet Bete does

Le Navet Bete is a UK-based physical comedy theatre company founded in 2008 by three University of Plymouth graduates (Al Dunn, Nick Bunt, Matt Freeman) and headquartered in Exeter, Devon. The company creates and tours chaotic, slapstick, multi-character comedy shows for audiences aged approximately 4–105, with a signature format in which three to four actors perform 30–40+ characters through quick changes, physical transformation, and clowning. Its core "technology" is a performance architecture blending street theatre, clowning, pantomime and physical theatre, supported by long-standing creative collaboration with Olivier Award-nominated writer John Nicholson.

The company's portfolio includes touring productions such as Oh Zeus! (premiered March 2026), King Arthur (2023) and Dracula: The Bloody Truth (breakthrough 2017 title touring 50+ UK mid-scale theatres), an annual Christmas pantomime co-produced with Exeter Northcott Theatre, an international licensing programme with seven titles available through Nick Hern Books for amateur productions and direct licensing via Al Dunn for professional companies, and an education programme teaching clowning and physical comedy at institutions from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Licensed productions have been staged in the USA, Canada, Austria, Germany, Finland, France, Peru, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

Le Navet Bete monetizes through five streams: touring box-office fees, professional and amateur script licensing royalties, pantomime co-production revenue, education workshop fees, and recurring Arts Council England grants. Distribution is hybrid: direct touring sales to UK mid-scale theatres, channel/licensing through Nick Hern Books, and direct enterprise sales for educational engagements. The company is a privately held UK limited company (company number 08612479), founder-controlled, with no disclosed institutional investors or parent entity.

Name

Le Navet Bete

Legal name

Le Navet Bete

Website

https://lenavetbete.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Navet Bete is a UK-based physical comedy theatre company that creates and tours multi-character slapstick shows, licenses scripts worldwide, co-produces Christmas pantomimes with Exeter Northcott Theatre, and runs a global education programme in clowning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Physical comedy theatre
• Live theatre productions
• Christmas pantomime shows
• Theatrical script licensing
• Comedy performance workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales from touring productions: Revenue from touring shows performed at venues across the UK and internationally. Venues book the company for multi-week runs.
2. Script licensing: Licensing fees for amateur and professional productions of their shows. Amateur licensing through Nick Hern Books; professional licensing direct. Four shows available for licensing: Dracula: The Bloody Truth, The Three Musketeers: A Comedy Adventure, King Arthur, Treasure Island, Robin Hood, A Christmas Carol, Dick Whittington.
3. Christmas pantomime productions: Annual collaborative panto with Exeter Northcott Theatre. Box office records broken for multiple years including Jack and the Beanstalk and Robin Hood.
4. Education programme: Teaching workshops in clowning, physical comedy, performer-audience relationships and play in schools, colleges and universities worldwide
5. Arts Council England funding: Regular support from Arts Council England for productions including King Arthur, The Three Musketeers, and Oh Zeus!

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Le Navet Bete creates, produces, and tours original physical comedy theatre shows and Christmas pantomimes performed by a small ensemble cast to UK mid-scale theatres and international venues. The company also licenses its published scripts (Dracula: The Bloody Truth, The Three Musketeers, King Arthur, Treasure Island, Robin Hood, A Christmas Carol, Dick Whittington) to amateur and professional theatre companies worldwide through Nick Hern Books and direct agreements, and runs a global education programme teaching clowning and physical comedy.

Product overview

Le Navet Bete is a physical comedy theatre company offering a portfolio of live theatrical productions. The company creates and tours hilarious, physical and chaotic comedy theatre for audiences aged 5-105 throughout the UK and internationally. Their core offerings include touring shows (Oh Zeus!, King Arthur), annual Christmas pantomimes (Sleeping Beauty), and an extensive archive of past productions (Dracula: The Bloody Truth, The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island). Additionally, they license their published scripts to amateur and professional theatre companies worldwide and operate an education programme teaching clowning and physical comedy techniques globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oh Zeus! A riotous comedy theatre show through Greek mythology where three actors play 40 characters, featuring physical comedy, fast-paced chaos, and outrageous jokes about Zeus, Hebe, and the stability of Olympus. Currently touring UK mid-scale theatres including The Lowry (Salford) in July-August 2026.
• Sleeping Beauty (Christmas Pantomime) A collaborative Christmas pantomime with Exeter Northcott Theatre featuring Le Navet Bete's chaotic physical comedy style, including laughter, dazzling costumes, toe-tapping tunes, mischief, mayhem and audience fun for families. Running from late November 2026 to early January 2027.
• King Arthur A hilarious family comedy retelling Arthurian legends in which three hapless squires help King Arthur save Camelot from being forgotten. Created with Olivier Award-nominated co-writer John Nicholson and supported by Arts Council England and Landmark Theatres. Five-star reviews from Exepose and other critics.
• Show Licensing Programme Licensing programme allowing amateur and professional theatre companies worldwide to perform Le Navet Bete's published shows. Available titles include Dracula: The Bloody Truth, The Three Musketeers: A Comedy Adventure, King Arthur, Treasure Island, Robin Hood (Panto), A Christmas Carol, and Dick Whittington (Panto). Amateur licensing is handled through Nick Hern Books and professional licensing is handled directly by Al Dunn.
• Education Programme Widely renowned education programme specialising in clowning, physical comedy, performer-audience relationships, and play. Delivered as workshops in schools, colleges, and universities worldwide, including Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City.
• Dracula: The Bloody Truth Smash-hit comedy retelling Bram Stoker's Dracula in a chaotic theatrical 'truth-telling' mission with quick changes, stage mishaps, and slapstick humour, with four actors performing over 40 characters. Has toured to over 50 mid-scale UK theatres and is licensed internationally in North America, Europe, and Latin America.
• The Three Musketeers: A Comedy Adventure Hilarious comedy adventure following hot-headed D'Artagnan as he travels to Paris to become a Musketeer, with four actors playing over 30 characters, created with choreographer Lea Anderson MBE and designer Ti Green. Licensed internationally, including productions in Finland.
• Christmas Pantomime Catalogue Archive of annual Christmas pantomimes including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Robin Hood, A Christmas Carol, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Robin Hood and His Merry Men, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and The Greatest Story…Never Told, co-produced with Exeter Northcott Theatre and predecessors since the early 2010s.

Quantifiable outcome

• Box office records broken for 4 consecutive Christmas pantomime productions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and notable.

• Exeter Northcott TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Christmas pantomime co-production partnership since 2020. Collaborated on six consecutive pantomimes including Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Robin Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk (box office records), and upcoming Sleeping Beauty. Provides home venue base in Exeter.
• Exeter PhoenixsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported by Exeter Phoenix arts organization as part of the Exeter creative community. Provides development and networking support.
• Landmark TheatressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported King Arthur production. Part of the UK theatre touring network.
• Nick Hern BookscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher for amateur licensing of Le Navet Bete scripts including Dracula: The Bloody Truth, The Three Musketeers, King Arthur, and Treasure Island. Handles all amateur/school licensing enquiries.
• Teatro Británico, PerunotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional production company in Lima, Peru with 20+ years experience producing professional theatre. Produced Dracula: The Bloody Truth in 2025 with bilingual cast and UK-trained directing team.
• Great Lakes Theater, ClevelandnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional theatre company in Ohio, USA. Staged Dracula: The Bloody Truth in October-November 2023, transferred from Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Received 'impressive display of physical comedy' review.
• Vertigo Theatre, CalgarynotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional theatre company in Alberta, Canada. First North American professional production of Le Navet Bete work in 2018. Dracula: The Bloody Truth received 'two hours of inspired lunacy' review.
• John NicholsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlivier Award-nominated writer and director. Long-time co-conspirator and co-writer on multiple shows including King Arthur and Oh Zeus!. Key creative collaborator.
• Lea Anderson MBEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned choreographer. Co-Director/Choreographer for The Three Musketeers: A Comedy Adventure. Associated with The Cholmondeleys.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• New Old Friends: UK touring comedy theatre company producing small-cast comedy plays to mid-scale venues. Comparable as a small-cast touring comedy company operating in the UK mid-scale theatre circuit with similar family/all-ages audience appeal.
• Blackeyed Theatre: UK mid-scale touring theatre company producing small-cast adaptations and original work for regional venues. Comparable as a UK mid-scale touring company relying on small casts and proven repertoire to fill regional theatre slots.
• Spymonkey: UK physical comedy and clowning theatre company producing touring ensemble shows. Directly comparable to Le Navet Bete's blend of clowning, slapstick and physical theatre with a similarly small core ensemble performing multiple roles.
• Told by an Idiot: UK physical theatre company making ensemble devised work for touring and international venues. Comparable as a UK-based ensemble physical theatre company with strong educational outreach and international touring credentials.
• Northern Broadsides: UK mid-scale touring theatre company producing ensemble work to regional venues with strong brand identity. Comparable as a UK ensemble touring company occupying the same mid-scale regional venue circuit with established critical reputation.
• Pilot Theatre: UK mid-scale touring theatre company producing work for regional venues and young audiences. Comparable as a UK touring company targeting family and school audiences through Arts Council-supported productions.
• Tangled Feet: UK physical theatre company producing devised ensemble work for touring and family audiences. Comparable in scale, ensemble physical theatre approach and family-friendly positioning within the UK touring circuit.
• Mischief Theatre: UK comedy theatre company behind The Play That Goes Wrong and similar touring ensemble comedy hits. Directly comparable as a small-cast, physical/comedic touring theatre company reaching UK mid-scale and West End venues with broad family appeal.

Broad incumbents

• English Touring Theatre: One of the UK's leading mid-scale touring companies, operating across classical and contemporary repertoire to regional theatres. Comparable in distribution model (mid-scale UK touring) but a broader and more established incumbent with a much larger repertoire.

Others

• Exeter Northcott Theatre: Regional producing theatre in Exeter that is Le Navet Bete's primary panto co-production partner. Comparable as the home venue partner and a regional theatre operator of similar scale, relevant for understanding the company's main venue relationship.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lenavetbete
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-navet-bete-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Le Navet Bete