Bamboozle Theatre Company

What Bamboozle Theatre Company does

Bamboozle Theatre Company is a UK-registered charity and private limited company (Charity No. 1136157, Company No. 7193792) founded in 1994 and headquartered in Leicester. It creates inclusive, interactive theatre experiences for learning disabled and autistic children and young people — primarily aged 6–14 — and shares the proprietary methodology it developed, the 'Bamboozle Approach', with schools, families, and practitioners. The Approach combines 100+ behavioural and linguistic strategies and a nine-component framework called the 'Enabled Space' (Openness, Value, Ease, Focussed Attention, Equality, Wonder, Rapport, Time and Space, and Setting) that is designed to enable children to engage, explore freely, make their own decisions, and find their voice free from praise, criticism, or judgement. Touring productions (Rain Rain, The River, Moon Song, Firebird) are built for intimate audiences of up to six children with multi-sensory elements, puppetry, and live music, and tour to schools, theatres, and festivals across the UK and internationally to five continents.

The company's business model is a hybrid charity model. Earned income comes from per-school performance fees (e.g., £1,795 for a Rain Rain visit) and tiered CPD training fees (£97–£185 per day for Summer School courses, with subsidised rates down to £200 per school in Levelling Up for Culture areas). Non-earned income comes from individual donations and payroll giving, an Arts Council England National Portfolio grant (secured 2022 for three years), project grants from trusts and lottery funders (Happy Days, National Lottery Awards for All, The National Forest), corporate sponsorships (Taylor Hobson, Torr Waterfield, Whittingtons), and annual fundraising galas (£16,900 raised at the 2022 gala). Distribution is direct — through UK and international touring, venue-based training at Curve Theatre and Rowley Fields Allotments, a Digital Learning Platform on Omniplex's Articulate system, a SumUp online shop, and free family and community programmes.

The company operates with 27 staff, is led by co-founders Christopher Davies (Artistic Director, honorary doctorate from De Montfort University) and Sue Pyecroft (Associate Director of Families & Community), and has a 30-year track record of working with Leicester/shire families and schools. The 30th anniversary was marked with a gala dinner and charity auction in September 2024. No AI/ML capabilities, no app, and no parent-company ownership are disclosed; governance is by a board of Trustees, and the company is not venture- or private-equity-backed.

Name

Bamboozle Theatre Company

Legal name

Bamboozle Theatre Company LTD

Website

https://bamboozletheatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bamboozle Theatre Company is a Leicester-based UK charity founded in 1994 that creates multi-sensory, inclusive theatre for learning disabled and autistic children (aged 6–14) and shares its proprietary Bamboozle Approach methodology with schools, families, and practitioners through touring shows, paid training, and a digital learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Theatre & SEND Arts Education

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (611710), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ), Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater) (THAJAKAC), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Inclusive theatre productions
• Multi-sensory learning
• SEND education training
• Disability arts charity
• Immersive family shows

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

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 Charitable Support: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising. Includes one-off donations via PayPal, regular monthly donations, legacy bequests, and payroll giving schemes.
2. Government and Trust Funding: Arts Council England National Portfolio funding, local authority grants, and trust/foundation grants for specific projects and programs.
3. Performance and Workshop Fees: Schools pay £1795 for touring show visits. Training courses range from £97-£185 per day depending on participant type and number of bookings.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling resources and products including books by family members (e.g., 'Eye of the Storm' by Amy Mayo).
5. Gala Events and Fundraising: Annual fundraising gala dinners and charity auctions that generate significant donations (e.g., £16,900 from 2022 gala, £23,615.92 from Taylor Hobson payroll giving).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bamboozle Theatre Company creates and tours immersive theatrical productions designed for learning disabled young people, delivering performances to schools, theatres, and family audiences across the UK and internationally. Alongside its touring shows, the company runs a Schools Programme (curriculum-linked workshops, in-school performances, and CPD training for educators), a Families & Community Programme (free or subsidised shows and creative activities for families of learning disabled children), and an Enabled Space toolkit together with a Digital Learning Platform for online training. The work is guided by its proprietary Bamboozle Approach methodology.

Product overview

Bamboozle Theatre Company is a registered charity delivering a portfolio of services centered on creating transformative theatre experiences for learning disabled young people. The core offering comprises touring theatrical productions (including Rain Rain, The River, and Moon Song) specifically designed for autistic and disabled children with intimate audience sizes and multi-sensory elements. The company also provides Education & Training services, including the Bamboozle Approach—a methodology comprising nine components of The Enabled Space and 100+ strategies—and structured training programmes like the Summer School series. The Families & Community programme delivers accessible multi-sensory experiences, family residencies, and outdoor activities. The company tours nationally and internationally to schools, theatres, and festivals, with operations based in Leicester.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rain Rain (touring theatre production) An immersive touring theatre production designed for learning disabled young people, performed at venues such as the Albany Theatre. Aimed at schools and family audiences.
• The River (touring theatre production) A touring immersive theatrical production created for learning disabled young people, part of the company's 2024 touring output. For schools and family audiences.
• Traces (touring theatre production) An immersive touring theatre production for learning disabled young people, supported by a dedicated crowdfunding campaign. Performed for schools and family audiences.
• Artevox (touring theatre production) A touring devotional immersive theatrical production for learning disabled young people, part of the 2024 touring season. For schools and family audiences.
• Schools Programme (performances, workshops, training) A packaged offering of touring performances, workshops, and CPD training for primary and SEND schools, delivered by the Bamboozle ensemble in line with the Bamboozle Approach.
• Families & Community Programme A programme of free or subsidised immersive performances and creative activities designed for learning disabled children and their families, delivered through a network of community partners and venues.
• Enabled Space (toolkit) A structured toolkit for inclusive creative practice based on the Bamboozle Approach, with documented outcomes supporting inclusive performance and learning for learning disabled young people.
• Digital Learning Platform (Online Training Centre) An online training product that delivers the Bamboozle Approach and Enabled Space content digitally via Storyline 360 / Articulate 360 / Omniplex, providing self-paced learning for educators and theatre practitioners.
• Summer School (professional development) A workshop-based professional development programme offering summer training in the Bamboozle Approach for educators and practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced violent incidents in schools - 'Some of the battles I had before are now non-existent. Our children are much calmer and happier.'
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Curve TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurve Theatre in Leicester hosts Bamboozle's annual Summer School training series. The partnership enables delivery of professional development courses for artists, practitioners, teachers, and SEND professionals in a professional theatre setting.
• Rowley Fields AllotmentsminorOthersOutdoor training venue for the 'Working Creatively Outdoors' course as part of the Summer School series. Provides natural woodland environment for SEND-focused outdoor learning.
• Artevox TeatrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian theatre company collaborating on the development of 'Traces', an outdoor show for autistic audiences. The Italian version 'Tracce' premiered at the Vimercate Festival. This 2-year partnership represents co-development of new productions.
• WhittingtonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilk flower and event décor company provided sponsorship and creative ideas for Bamboozle's 2023 'Secret Garden Gala' with floral decorations and artistic flair from designer Connie Burley.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chickenshed Theatre: Inclusive UK theatre company welcoming performers and audiences of all abilities, with strong education and young people's programmes. Comparable mission of using theatre to enable participation by disabled and learning disabled communities.
• Mind the Gap: Bradford-based learning disability theatre company producing professional work with performers with learning disabilities. Direct peer in producing performing arts content specifically serving learning disabled audiences and artists.
• Oily Cart: London-based theatre company producing multi-sensory, interactive productions for very young children and those with complex needs or learning disabilities. Closest direct peer given shared focus on inclusive performances for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
• Graeae Theatre Company: Disability-led theatre company producing work with and for disabled artists and audiences. Comparable in combining accessible touring productions with embedded training and education programmes.
• Big Brum Theatre: Birmingham-based inclusive theatre company producing work for children and young people that prioritises accessibility and engagement. Comparable in producing inclusive theatre with educational reach into schools.
• Open Theatre: UK touring theatre company working exclusively with learning disabled artists. Comparable in design and delivery of productions tailored to learning disabled audiences and in providing training for schools and families.

Broad incumbents

• Half Moon Theatre: London theatre dedicated to work for young people with strong participation and education programmes. Comparable in delivering theatre for young audiences coupled with school-based learning, but not specialising in learning disabled audiences.
• Polka Theatre: London children's theatre producing a year-round programme of shows for young audiences with associated participation and education work. Broader incumbent that also serves schools and families but does not specialise in learning disabled audiences.
• Royal Shakespeare Company: Major UK theatre with extensive learning, education, and access programmes reaching schools nationwide. Comparable in scale of education and training work for teachers and schools, though core production focus is mainstream classical theatre.
• Little Angel Theatre: London-based puppet theatre producing work for children and families with associated education programmes. Comparable in producing family-focused touring shows and running training strands, though oriented to a broader audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bamboozle-theatre-company-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Bamboozle Theatre Company