Borgarleikhúsið

What Borgarleikhúsið does

Borgarleikhúsið (Reykjavik City Theatre) is Iceland's principal professional theatre, located at Listabraut 3 in Reykjavík and operated by Leikféla Reykjavíkur — an independent cultural society founded on 11 January 1897 — under a special operating agreement with Reykjavíkurborg (the City of Reykjavík). The venue opened on 21 October 1989 after construction that began in 1976, and houses three purpose-built stages: Stóra svið (Main Stage, 547 seats with orchestra pit for 50 musicians), Nýja svið (a black-box "New Stage" with 230-250 seats), and Litla svið (a 180-200-seat theatre-in-the-round). The facility is described as Iceland's best-equipped theatre, featuring modern sound, lighting, and a motorized fly system under a compact mobile-network-based control architecture. The theatre operates primarily on ticket sales for theatrical and musical productions (including Icelandic-language works and international titles), supplemented by venue rental (four spaces for corporate events and conferences), gift cards, subscription cards, and catering delivered in partnership with Jómfraín. Additional revenue is generated through membership fees for Leikféla Reykjavíkur (6,000 ISK annually). Customer segments include the general theatre-going public (primary), corporate/event clients renting the halls, and school groups served through educational programs run in partnership with Borgarbókasafnið and the University of Iceland Continuing Education. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Distributions channels are the TIX online ticketing platform, the on-site box office, and the in-house bar/catering — all domestic to Iceland. Governance signals (Jafnlaunavottun equal-pay certification 2023-2026 and Jafnvægisvog FKA gender-balance award 2025) suggest strong institutional ESG posture.

Name

Borgarleikhúsið

Legal name

Borgarleikhúsið

Website

https://borgarleikhus.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Borgarleikhúsið is Iceland's leading professional theatre, operating three stages in Reykjavík under a municipal agreement. It serves Icelandic audiences through live theatrical productions, venue rental, educational programs, and catering partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Theatre

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

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Live theatre performances
• Performing arts venue
• Venue rental services
• Stage productions Iceland
• Theatre membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for theatrical performances across three stages. Tickets are sold online through TIX system and at the box office.
2. Venue Rental: Rental of performance halls and spaces for conferences, events, and concerts. The theatre offers Stóri salur (547 seats), Litla sviðið (180 seats), Nýja svið (230 seats), and Forsalur for receptions.
3. Membership Fees: Leikfélag Reykjavíkur membership fees: 6,000 ISK general membership, free for 70 years and older, half price for card holders.
4. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards in fixed denominations or custom amounts for theatre performances.
5. Food and Beverage: Catering services through partnership with Jómfrúin. Theatre bar opens before and after performances, with pre-show dining options.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Borgarleikhúsið is Iceland's premier professional theatre, presenting live theatrical productions including original Icelandic works, musicals, and family performances across three stages with a combined capacity of approximately 950 seats. The theatre also offers venue rental for conferences and corporate events, gift and subscription cards, in-house catering in partnership with Jómfrúin, and educational programs including school performances and theatre tours. It is operated by Leikfélag Reykjavíkur under a special operating agreement with Reykjavíkurborg.

Product overview

Borgarleikhúsið (Reykjavik City Theatre) operates as a professional theatre venue offering live theatrical productions and musical performances across three stages: Stóra svið (Main Stage, 546-547 seats), Nýja svið (New Stage, 230-250 seats), and Litla svið (Small Stage, 180-200 seats). The venue also provides complementary services including venue rental for events, gift and subscription cards, catering through partnership with Jómfrúnan, and educational programs including theatre tours and school performances. The theatre is operated by Leikfélag Reykjavíkur under a special agreement with Reykjavik City Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Performances Live theatrical productions and musical performances presented across three stages (Stóra svið, Nýja svið, Litla svið) featuring Icelandic and international works such as Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Galdrakarlinn í Oz, and Svikasögur. Targeted at the general Icelandic public and family audiences.
• Venue Rental (Salaleiga) Rental of theatre spaces including Stóri salur (Main Hall), Nýja svið (New Stage), Litla svið (Small Stage), and Forsalur (Foyer) for conferences, presentations, concerts, and corporate events. Targeted at corporate clients, event organisers, and conference planners.
• Gift Cards (Gjafakort) General gift cards or custom-amount cards redeemable for any performance at the theatre. Available to individual consumers and corporate clients as gifts.
• Subscription Cards (Áskriftakort) Subscription card offering discounted access to performances throughout the season. Targeted at frequent theatre-goers seeking season-long access.
• Catering Services Theatre bar and catering services in collaboration with Jómfrúin, including pre-show dining, intermission meals, and full event catering (e.g., Smáréttafjör at 6,800 ISK, Jómfrúarenna at 3,500 ISK). Targeted at theatre patrons and corporate event clients.
• Educational Programs (Fræðslustarf) Educational initiatives including theatre tours, school performances, workshops, open readings, and courses in collaboration with Reykjavik Library and University of Iceland Continuing Education. Targeted at school groups (K-12), families, and lifelong learners.
• Theatre Tours Guided tours of the theatre building for visitors and school groups, including behind-the-scenes access to stage, set design, costume, and prop departments. Targeted at visitors, school groups, and cultural tourists.
• Leikfélag Reykjavíkur Membership Annual membership program for Leikfélag Reykjavíkur priced at 6,000 ISK (free for those 70 and older, half price for card holders), providing discounts and access to events. Targeted at individual supporters of Icelandic theatre.

Segments3 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

One partnership is on record.

• JómfrúincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJómfrúin provides catering services for Borgarleikhúsið's theatre bar and pre-show dining. The partnership includes a discount conference service (15% discount on Smáréttafjör) and menu offerings ranging from light meals to elaborate platters. The theatre bar opens before and after performances.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Þjóðleikhúsið (National Theatre of Iceland): Iceland's national theatre, operating multiple stages in Reykjavik with a similar Icelandic-language repertoire and state-supported operating model; directly comparable to Borgarleikhúsið as the country's other flagship professional producing theatre.
• Íslenska Óperan (Icelandic Opera): Iceland's principal opera company based in Reykjavik, staging productions in Icelandic and international repertoire with professional singers and orchestra; overlaps with Borgarleikhúsið in resident-company model, audience, and venue-rental economics.

Regional players

• Icelandic Dance Company: National contemporary dance company based in Reykjavik; comparable as another publicly supported resident performing-arts ensemble sharing the same small Icelandic audience and municipal funding ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Guthrie Theater: US repertory theatre in Minneapolis operating a three-stage venue complex with a resident company and education programs; structurally similar to Borgarleikhúsið's multi-stage professional-ensemble model.
• Sadler's Wells Theatre: London venue operating multiple performance spaces for dance and theatre with a strong venue-rental and resident-producer model; comparable to Borgarleikhúsið in operating a multi-stage venue with technical capabilities used by resident and visiting companies.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Chicago-based resident ensemble theatre producing new works and adaptations across multiple stages with strong education programs; comparable to Borgarleikhúsið's resident-ensemble and repertory programming focus.
• Royal Shakespeare Company: UK repertory theatre company producing a resident ensemble across multiple stages in Stratford-upon-Avon; comparable in repertory structure, education/outreach programs, and venue-rental diversification, though at much larger scale.
• National Theatre (London): UK national theatre producing across multiple stages (Olivier, Lyttelton, Dorfman) with public funding and a strong learning/education programme; comparable in scale of repertoire, educational mission, and venue-hire diversification.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/borgarleikhusid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borgarleikhusid

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Borgarleikhúsið