Travelling Light Theatre Company

What Travelling Light Theatre Company does

Travelling Light Theatre Company is a non-profit children's theatre organisation founded in 1984 and based in Barton Hill, Bristol, UK. The company creates theatre with and for children and young people, operating a portfolio of in-house programmes that includes a weekly Youth Theatre (priced at £58 per term for eight sessions), a free specialist drama group called Louder Than Words for D/deaf and Disabled young people, touring productions, school and early years programmes, holiday workshops, and community events. In 2024-25 it engaged over 2,500 participants, contributing to a lifetime reach of approximately 1.25 million people over four decades. Its leadership team comprises CEO Dienka Hines, Artistic Director Lizzy Stephens, Creative Learning Producer Rachel Millett, and Youth & Community Producer Lou Betts.

The organisation's business model is a hybrid arts-charity model dominated by grant funding. Core income is derived from Arts Council England through National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status, Bristol City Council grants (against which the company delivered a £9.26 leverage ratio), the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and a portfolio of charitable trusts. Earned income, primarily from Youth Theatre fees and ticketing on touring productions, is a small and deliberately subsidised component, with the Louder Than Words programme offered free of charge to remove financial barriers to access. The forward production pipeline includes 'Wonder Baby' (October 2026) and 'The Forest Door' (September 2027), supported by a three-year Light Up Language project funded through multi-year partnerships.

Distribution is anchored in long-standing local co-production and venue relationships with Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres, and disability-sector partner WECIL. The model is therefore best characterised as a place-based, mission-driven creative organisation with limited but intentional commercial activity, dependent on continued institutional public and trust funding for operating sustainability and programmatic growth.

Name

Travelling Light Theatre Company

Legal name

Travelling Light Theatre Company

Website

https://travellinglighttheatre.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Travelling Light Theatre Company is a Bristol-based non-profit, founded 1984, that creates theatre with and for children and young people. It delivers Youth Theatre, inclusive specialist programmes, touring productions, and schools work, primarily funded by Arts Council England NPO grants, Bristol City Council, and charitable trusts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Theatre and Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Children's theatre productions
• Youth drama programmes
• Creative learning workshops
• Inclusive performing arts
• Community arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The company raises funds through one-off and regular donations, Travelling Light Friends (regular giving programme), corporate donations, personal fundraising challenges, and Easy Fundraising (shopping affiliate). Grants are received from trusts, foundations, and statutory funders.
2. Studio and Space Hire: Revenue generated from hiring studio spaces, meeting rooms, and hotdesks at their Wellspring Settlement location in Barton Hill, Bristol. The studio is used for meetings, workshops, auditions, and small community performances.
3. Youth Theatre Fees: Weekly youth theatre groups for ages 6-16 charge £58 per term (8 sessions). Bursary places are available for those who need them. Louder Than Words (specialist drama group for D/deaf and Disabled young people aged 7-16) is provided free of charge.
4. Ticket Sales: Earned income from ticket sales for touring productions and theatre performances. The company tours professional theatre to schools, early years settings, and community venues.
5. Grants and Statutory Funding: Funding received from Arts Council England, Bristol City Council, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and numerous charitable trusts and foundations including Backstage Trust, BBC Children in Need, Coutts Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Travelling Light Theatre Company creates and tours professional theatre productions and creative learning programmes for children and young people aged 0-16. Its core offerings include weekly Youth Theatre groups (ages 6-16) and the specialist Louder Than Words drama group for D/deaf and Disabled young people, touring productions to schools, early years settings and community venues, school-based programmes (Play in a Week, Arts Days, Light Up Language), free holiday workshops with meals for families on benefit-related free school meals, and community events such as Winter Lights. It also hires out its accessible studio, meeting room and hotdesks at Wellspring Settlement, Barton Hill, Bristol.

Product overview

Travelling Light Theatre Company is a children's theatre charity based in Barton Hill, Bristol, with over 40 years of experience creating theatre with and for children and young people. Their portfolio includes touring theatre productions (Igloo, Boing!, Belle and Sebastien, Wonder Baby, The Forest Door, and historic productions), regular Youth Theatre groups (ages 6-16) including the specialist Louder Than Words group for D/deaf and Disabled young people, creative learning programs in schools (Play In A Week, Arts Day, Light Up Language), early years settings programs, holiday workshops with meals, community events (Winter Lights, Family Theatre Day), and space hire facilities. The company focuses on reaching children who wouldn't otherwise access theatre, taking productions directly to schools, community venues, and early years settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Theatre Four weekly youth theatre groups for ages 6-16 (6-9s, 10-12s, 13-16s, plus Louder Than Words) running from the Travelling Light studio at Wellspring Settlement, Barton Hill, Bristol. Sessions cost £58 per term for 8 sessions, with bursary places available; Louder Than Words is fully funded and free.
• Louder Than Words Free weekly specialist drama group for D/deaf and Disabled young people aged 7-16, providing a safe space for play, creativity and skill development. Run in partnership with WECIL.
• Igloo (touring production) Non-verbal, sensory theatre experience for ages 0-3 and their carers. Originally created with Bristol Old Vic; toured to children's centres and community venues in Bristol and the South West. Won the Fantastic for Families Best Family Arts Activity Award 2024.
• Boing! (touring production) Award-winning dance-theatre piece capturing the excitement of two boys waiting for Father Christmas, for ages 2-7. Co-production with Bristol Old Vic; toured to the West End, New York and Beijing over a 9-year run. Won the Off West End Award for Best Production for ages 0-7 in 2016.
• Belle and Sebastien (touring production) Family theatre production reimagining the classic tale of friendship between a boy and a dog, for ages 4+ and their families. Co-produced with Bristol Old Vic and performed across 43 performances in 2022-23.
• Wonder Baby (touring production) New play and performance experience for 0-3's and their families and carers exploring physical play and its regulatory impact. Touring to early years settings and community spaces in October 2026.
• The Forest Door (touring production) Creative performance experience for 4-11 year olds incorporating performance, interactive in-classroom activities, and support resources for teachers and families. Touring to primary schools in Autumn 2027.
• Play in a Week (school programme) Whole year group spends a week working with Travelling Light artists to produce a play based on a specific curriculum topic, learning through creativity. Booked by primary schools through the Creative Learning Project Manager.
• Arts Day (school programme) Full day exploring a poem, story or curriculum topic using drama, music and movement for pupils to get creative and perform. Booked by primary schools.
• Light Up Language (education programme) Three-year project exploring how drama techniques can support and develop children's speaking and listening (oracy) skills in early years settings and primary schools. Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
• Light Up School Learning (CPD programme) Two-year Continuing Professional Development project developing arts-based teaching in schools.
• Summer Holiday Workshops Free creative activities alongside meals during school summer holidays for families eligible for free school meals in Barton Hill and Lawrence Hill ward.
• Easter Holiday Workshops Free creative activities alongside meals during Easter holidays for families eligible for benefit-related free school meals.
• Winter Lights (community event) Annual community event celebrating joy, light, creativity and warmth of community. Features youth theatre performances, storytelling, craft activities, lantern workshops, and lantern parade in Barton Hill.
• Little Lights (early years programme) Early years project delivered in collaboration with Bristol nursery settings, exploring creative play and storytelling with young children.
• Hire a Space (facility rental) Studio space, meeting room and hotdesk rental at Wellspring Settlement, Barton Hill. Studio suitable for meetings, workshops, auditions and small community performances. Booked through the General Manager.
• Family Theatre Day (community event) Annual day of workshops and performances for children and families, organized in partnership with the University of Bristol Theatre Department.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2024-25, 90% of children felt they were more creative, 91% increased their confidence, and 90% had eaten better as a result of holiday workshops
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WECIL (West of England Centre for Inclusive Living)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Long-standing partnership since 2013 for Louder Than Words (specialist drama group for D/deaf and Disabled young people aged 7-16) and ActionSpeak (for ages 16+, ran 2017-2022). Also partnered on Summer School for Disabled young people. WECIL is critical to the inclusive practice and specialist expertise of these programmes.
• Bristol Old ViccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing co-production partner on multiple major productions including Boing! (which toured internationally to the West End, New York, and Beijing), Igloo (2018, 2020, 2024), and Belle and Sebastien (2022-23). Bristol Old Vic is a major regional theatre and co-producer of flagship Travelling Light productions.
• Tobacco Factory TheatrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst co-produced The Ugly Duckling (30th original show) with Tobacco Factory Theatres and subsequently produced Cinderella - A Fairytale as a third co-production. The Ugly Duckling toured nationally playing to 27,000 people.
• egg, Theatre Royal BathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced I Wish I Was A Mountain (written and performed by Toby Thompson) and originally created The New Adventures of Snow Mouse (2015) as an early years performance installation with the egg theatre.
• Theatre HullabaloominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced When The Birds Sang, a fantastical dance theatre show for primary schools.
• St Luke's LunchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood charity partnership providing free holiday activities alongside healthy meals for families eligible for free school meals. Partnership enables the holiday programme serving Barton Hill and Lawrence Hill families. Sessions include cooking workshops, day trips, and creative activities.
• University of Bristol Theatre DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration on Family Theatre Day providing University of Bristol theatre students with opportunities to gain work experience creating performances and workshops for children and families in the community. Students create and deliver workshops for children aged 5-10 and their families.
• English Speaking UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCritical friend on the Light Up Language programme, supporting the 3-year project exploring drama-based approaches to children's oracy skills development.
• Bristol Family Arts NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal family arts network supporting and promoting family arts activities in Bristol.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Polka Theatre: Polka Theatre is a UK children's theatre producing year-round programming for 0-14s in dedicated facilities, making it a direct peer in the dedicated children's/youth theatre category that Travelling Light occupies.
• Unicorn Theatre: The Unicorn is London's leading theatre for young audiences, producing and touring work for children aged 2-21 with a strong national portfolio — a closely comparable children's theatre operator and likely Arts Council NPO peer.
• Half Moon Theatre: Half Moon is a London young people's theatre producing work for under-18s with a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, making it a peer in both age segment and inclusive/community-embedded mission.
• Little Angel Theatre: Little Angel Theatre is a dedicated children's puppet and visual theatre in London producing and touring original work for young audiences, directly comparable in mission and audience segment to Travelling Light.
• Oily Cart: Oily Cart produces immersive theatre for very young audiences and disabled young people, making it the closest UK peer to Travelling Light's inclusive Louder Than Words programme and early-years sensory work.
• egg, Theatre Royal Bath: egg is a dedicated children's theatre within Theatre Royal Bath producing and touring work for under-7s — directly comparable in early-years focus and explicitly listed as a co-production partner on Snow Mouse and I Wish I Was A Mountain.
• Theatre Hullabaloo: Theatre Hullabaloo is a children's theatre company in Darlington producing work for early years and primary audiences — explicitly listed as a co-production partner on When The Birds Sang and a directly comparable regional children's theatre operator.

Broad incumbents

• Bristol Old Vic: Bristol Old Vic is the long-standing co-production partner for Travelling Light's flagship shows (Boing!, Igloo, Belle and Sebastien) and operates as a larger regional theatre with broader programming — a comparable incumbent in the same Bristol ecosystem.
• Tobacco Factory Theatres: Tobacco Factory Theatres is a Bristol-based producing and receiving theatre that has co-produced three shows with Travelling Light (The Ugly Duckling, Cinderella - A Fairytale), serving as a regional incumbent partner with overlapping family/young audience programming.

Emerging players

• Imagine Theatre: Imagine is a touring children's theatre producing UK-wide tours of family-friendly adaptations, comparable in its touring-school model but operating at larger geographic scale and with more commercial orientation than Travelling Light.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Travelling Light Theatre Company