UAU
UAU is a Portuguese live entertainment production company, founded in 1989, that produces and tours theatre, musicals, ballet, concerts, comedy, and immersive exhibitions across Portugal, while managing owned venues Teatro Tivoli BBVA in Lisbon and programming Casino Lisboa's Auditório dos Oceanos.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLisboa, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What UAU does
UAU – Produção de Espectáculos, Lda is a privately held Portuguese live entertainment production company founded in 1989 and headquartered on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. The company conceives, produces, and promotes cultural spectacles, tours, and large-scale events in Portugal, including Portuguese premieres of Broadway and West End musicals (Chicago, Cats, Miss Saigon, Grease, Mamma Mia!), international touring shows (Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, Stomp, Slava's Snowshow, Thunder from Down Under), ballet and dance (Ballet de Kiev, Les Ballets Trockadero), comedy, fado and jazz concerts, and large-scale immersive exhibitions (Meet Vincent van Gogh, NASA – A Human Adventure, Star Wars – The Exhibition). UAU also develops original Portuguese productions, including the upcoming Rosaline | A Ex do Romeu musical and recurring formats such as Luís de Matos IMPOSSÍVEL Ao Vivo and Arena Lounge concert series.
The company operates a vertically integrated venue-plus-production model. It owns and manages Teatro Tivoli BBVA, a centenary National Monument on Avenida da Liberdade, and has programmed the Auditório dos Oceanos and Arena Lounge at Casino Lisboa since 2006. In 2025 it acquired Cine-Teatro Vale Formoso in Porto for a total investment exceeding €7 million, with reopening planned for early 2027. Distribution runs primarily through Ticketline (Portugal's leading ticketing platform) and physical box offices at partner venues, with touring reach extending to Faro, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Leiria, Torres Novas, and Aveiro. Marketing combines the uau.pt website, an email newsletter, and social channels (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok for specific shows).
Revenue is generated principally through ticket sales across multiple price points (typically €12–€32 per ticket, with group, youth, senior, and reduced-mobility discounts), supplemented by venue programming fees, co-production economics with partners such as MTL, Plano 6, and Teatro do Bairro, and partnerships with international rights holders including the Van Gogh Museum. UAU carries social capital of €100,000, operates with 11–50 employees, and was awarded the Prémio Prestígio e Excelência na Cultura in October 2025.
UAU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UAU
- Legal name
- UAU – Produção de Espectáculos, Lda
- Website
- https://uau.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UAU is a Portuguese live entertainment production company, founded in 1989, that produces and tours theatre, musicals, ballet, concerts, comedy, and immersive exhibitions across Portugal, while managing owned venues Teatro Tivoli BBVA in Lisbon and programming Casino Lisboa's Auditório dos Oceanos.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UAU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Entertainment & Cultural Event Production
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), 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)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Cultural & Heritage Entertainment Booking (Traditional/Folk Acts) (HSACAHAG)
Keywords
Where UAU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisboa
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
UAU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to theatrical productions, concerts, ballet performances, comedy shows, magic shows, and other live entertainment events. Tickets are sold through Ticketline.pt and physical box offices.
- Venue Programming and Management: UAU programs and manages major cultural venues including Teatro Tivoli BBVA (Lisbon) and Auditório dos Oceanos (Casino Lisboa), generating revenue through curated event programming.
- Production and Co-production: UAU produces and co-produces theatrical productions, musicals, and cultural events, earning revenue from production shares and venue partnerships with entities like Plano 6, MTL, and other production companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Luís de Matos | IMPOSSÍVEL Ao Vivo tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Maria João | André Mehmari | Carlos Bica concert |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | O Filho, de Florian Zeller |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Júlio Resende feat. Bruno Chaveiro |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | A Inesquecível Bola Berlim workshop (children 7-12) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Um Quinteto de Morte | Porto |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
UAU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UAU conceives, produces, and promotes live cultural spectacles in Portugal — including Broadway and West End musical productions, ballet and dance, magic, concerts, comedy and large-scale international exhibitions — while programming and managing premier Portuguese venues such as Teatro Tivoli BBVA (Lisbon) and the Auditório dos Oceanos / Arena Lounge at Casino Lisboa. Ticket sales through Ticketline and physical box offices, co-productions with partners like MTL and Plano 6, and venue ownership/rehabilitation (notably the €7M+ Cine-Teatro Vale Formoso project) form the core of its commercial activity.
Product overview
UAU is a Portuguese cultural entertainment company (founded 36 years ago) operating as a live event producer and venue manager. The company offers a diverse portfolio spanning Broadway/West End musical productions (imported and original Portuguese), ballet and dance performances, magic shows, concerts, comedy, and large-scale international exhibitions. Core managed venues include Teatro Tivoli BBVA (centenary National Monument in Lisbon) and Auditório dos Oceanos (Casino Lisboa). The product portfolio includes original musical productions (Rosaline, A Peça Que Dá para o Torto), recurring show formats (Luis de Matos IMPOSSÍVEL Ao Vivo magic shows, Arena Lounge concert series), cultural experiences (Tasting Fado), and major international exhibitions. UAU functions as an aggregator distributing tickets primarily through Ticketline and operating without a digital product or API.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cultural Event Production (Broadway/West End Musicals, International Tours, Original Portuguese Theatre) End-to-end production, promotion and touring of live cultural spectacles in Portugal, including Portuguese premieres of Broadway and West End musicals (Chicago, Cats, Miss Saigon, Grease, Mamma Mia!, RENT, Fashion Freak Show), international touring acts (Blue Man Group, Voca People, Stomp, Slava's Snowshow, Momix, Celtic Legends, Cirque du Soleil) and original Portuguese theatrical and musical productions (Conversa da Treta, Simone – O Musical, A Peça Que Dá para o Torto, Rosaline). Targeted at Portuguese live-entertainment audiences and venue partners.
- Teatro Tivoli BBVA Venue Management & Programming Acquisition, rehabilitation and year-round programming of Teatro Tivoli BBVA, a centenary National Monument theatre on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon used as UAU's primary venue for theatrical productions, concerts, magic shows and dance performances. Serves both consumer ticket-buyers and B2B co-production partners.
- Auditório dos Oceanos & Arena Lounge Programming (Casino Lisboa) Curated cultural programming and venue management contract for the Auditório dos Oceanos and Arena Lounge at Casino Lisboa, running since 2006 and hosting theatre, musicals, concerts, family entertainment and New Year celebrations. Served under contract to Casino Lisboa and to consumer ticket-buyers.
- International Exhibition Productions Production and presentation of large-scale, immersive touring exhibitions in partnership with international rights-holders such as the Van Gogh Museum, including Meet Vincent van Gogh (which has drawn over 2 million visitors in Seoul, Barcelona and Beijing), NASA – A Human Adventure, Star Wars – The Exhibition, Leonardo da Vinci and Terracotta Warriors. Targeted at Portuguese cultural-experience audiences and tourism.
- Luís de Matos | IMPOSSÍVEL Ao Vivo (Magic Show Series) Recurring annual magic-theatre production featuring Portugal's most decorated magician Luís de Matos alongside international guests (Célia Muñoz, Eden Choi, Jeff Hobson, Klek Entôs, Joana Almeida, Momentum Crew). Toured annually across Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Coimbra and Figueira da Foz. Targeted at general audience magic and family entertainment consumers.
- Rosaline | A Ex do Romeu (Original Portuguese Musical) Original Portuguese musical romantic comedy based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, told from Rosaline's perspective. Created by Renato Arroyo with music by Miguel Amorim and Filipe de Albuquerque. Targeted at adult and family theatrical audiences in Portugal. Premieres at Auditório dos Oceanos (Casino Lisboa) with subsequent touring.
- RENT – Portuguese Production (Broadway Musical) Portuguese-language revival of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical based on La Bohème, produced by UAU in collaboration with co-producer MTL – Music Theater Lisbon with live music. Premieres at Auditório dos Oceanos, Casino Lisboa (21 May 2026) and tours to Coliseu Porto Ageas (2 July 2026). Targeted at musical theatre and rock-music fans in Portugal.
- Thunder from Down Under (International Touring Show) Australian adult-oriented touring entertainment production coming direct from Las Vegas with a 100% Australian cast, featuring provocative choreography and costumes. Targeted at adult audiences in Portugal. Premieres at Teatro Tivoli BBVA in 2026.
- Tasting Fado (Cultural Experience) Ticketed cultural experience promoting Fado as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, combining a theatre visit, live fado performance, Porto wine and pastéis de nata at Teatro Tivoli BBVA. Targeted at cultural tourists and domestic experience-seekers.
- Summer Children's Workshops at Teatro Tivoli BBVA Multi-day theatrical and music workshops for children aged 7–12 held in the Sótão (attic) of Teatro Tivoli BBVA, covering makeup, characterization and culminating in a family presentation. Targeted at parents of primary-school-age children during Portuguese summer holidays.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2 million visitors to international exhibitions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use UAU
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
UAU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
UAU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TicketlinecorePrimary ticketing platform partnership for all UAU events. Ticketline handles online ticket sales across all venues and events.
- MTL - Music Theater LisboncoreCo-production partnership for RENT, the Broadway musical. MTL serves as co-producer with UAU for Portuguese productions.
- UGURUminorCo-production partnership for Maria João | André Mehmari | Carlos Bica concert at Teatro Tivoli BBVA.
- Teatro Tivoli BBVAcoreUAU owns and manages Teatro Tivoli BBVA, a National Monument centenary theatre (2024) on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon.
- Casino LisboacoreUAU has programmed Casino Lisboa since 2006, managing the Auditório dos Oceanos and Arena Lounge venues.
- Plano 6coreCo-production partnership for comedies including 'Cheque-Mate' and 'Trair e Coçar é Só Começar'.
- Teatro do BairrominorPartnership for 'Rei Lear' production, which transferred from Teatro do Bairro to UAU's Auditório dos Oceanos venue.
- Metrourbe and Arsuna (Architecture Consortium)minorArchitecture consortium developing rehabilitation plans for Cine-Teatro Vale Formoso restoration project.
- Van Gogh MuseumcorePartnership for Meet Vincent van Gogh immersive exhibition, bringing the museum's educational content to Portuguese audiences.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UAU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group: Canadian entertainment company producing large-scale live shows and immersive experiences. UAU has historically brought Cirque shows to Portugal; comparable in immersive/large-format live entertainment production, though Cirque owns IP and UAU acts as local presenter.
Regional players
- Fundación del Teatro Real: Spanish opera and performing arts institution operating Madrid's Teatro Real venue with comparable heritage-theater operating model. Comparable in operating a national monument-grade performing arts venue and producing a broad performing arts calendar, though opera-focused and primarily Spanish-market.
- EGEAC: Lisbon's municipal cultural company operating major venues (São Luiz Teatro, Cinema São Jorge, Pavilhão de Portugal) and programming cultural events. Comparable in operating Portuguese theater venues and producing/hosting performing arts, though municipally owned and competing for the same Lisbon audiences and touring content.
Direct peers
- RWS Entertainment Group: US-based live entertainment producer producing Broadway shows, concerts, themed entertainment, and immersive experiences. Comparable in producing licensed touring theatrical content and large-format entertainment for varied audiences.
- Selladoor Entertainment: UK-based live entertainment producer producing musicals, pantomimes, and concerts with comparable scale and programming philosophy. Comparable mid-sized theater producer in the European market producing licensed Broadway/West End content for regional audiences.
- Everything is New: Portuguese event producer and promoter that organizes major concerts, festivals (NOS Alive), and live tours in Portugal. Direct competitor in the same domestic live entertainment market, serving overlapping audiences with similar event-driven business model.
- Stage Entertainment: Major European theater producer and venue operator headquartered in the Netherlands, producing Broadway/West End musicals across Germany, Netherlands, Spain, France, and Russia. Comparable in producing licensed musicals, owning/operating theaters, and managing touring productions.
- MTL - Music Theater Lisbon: Portuguese musical theater production company co-producing RENT with UAU. Direct peer in Portuguese-language musical theater production, serving similar audiences with similar Broadway-licensed musical content.
Broad incumbents
- AEG Presents: Global live entertainment promoter and venue operator (AEG Facilities). Comparable in operating venues and promoting concerts/theater tours, but at global scale across hundreds of venues. Increasingly present in Iberia.
- Live Nation Entertainment: World's largest live entertainment company promoting concerts, theatricals, and operating venues globally. Overlaps significantly with UAU's concert promotion and theater programming business at vastly larger scale; competes for premier touring content and artist relationships.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UAU social profiles
Digital presenceUAU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UAU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
UAU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UAU M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UAU
What does UAU do?
UAU conceives, produces, and promotes live cultural spectacles in Portugal — including Broadway and West End musical productions, ballet and dance, magic, concerts, comedy and large-scale international exhibitions — while programming and managing premier Portuguese venues such as Teatro Tivoli BBVA (Lisbon) and the Auditório dos Oceanos / Arena Lounge at Casino Lisboa. Ticket sales through Ticketline and physical box offices, co-productions with partners like MTL and Plano 6, and venue ownership/rehabilitation (notably the €7M+ Cine-Teatro Vale Formoso project) form the core of its commercial activity.
Is UAU a public or private company?
UAU is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was UAU founded?
UAU was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UAU based?
UAU is headquartered in Lisboa, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does UAU make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are venue Programming and Management and production and Co-production.
Who are UAU's main competitors?
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Fundación del Teatro Real and EGEAC. Direct peers are RWS Entertainment Group, Selladoor Entertainment, Everything is New, Stage Entertainment and MTL - Music Theater Lisbon. Broad incumbents are AEG Presents and Live Nation Entertainment.
Does UAU have an API?
No public API is recorded for UAU.
What industry is UAU in?
UAU's product category is Live Entertainment & Cultural Event Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.