CDP Theatre Producers

What CDP Theatre Producers does

CDP Theatre Producers Pty Ltd is a privately held Australian theatre production company headquartered in Redfern, Sydney, that specializes in producing and touring live theatrical adaptations of children's literature for families and young audiences aged 3-12. The company's core product is a portfolio of stage productions built around globally recognized children's book IP, including Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's Gruffalo series, Andy Griffiths' 13-Storey Treehouse, Dav Pilkey's Dog Man, Alison Lester's Magic Beach, and an exclusive theatrical partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for Play School Live Concert. Productions are developed in-house or co-developed with international partners including Tall Stories (UK) and TheaterWorksUSA, then toured across Australia and international markets leveraging a creative team of approximately 12 employees.

The business operates three reinforcing brand pillars: CDP Kids as the live touring label, CDP Digital (an online content platform launched in 2020 in response to COVID-19 touring restrictions) offering free videos and behind-the-scenes material, and CDP Education (a free curriculum-aligned resource platform for Australian teachers and registered homeschoolers, supported by the Australia Council for the Arts). Underlying production technology is traditional stagecraft, including puppetry, original music, physical theatre, and theatrical effects, with no proprietary software or AI components.

Revenue is generated primarily through ticket sales at touring venues, with pricing set by individual venue box offices and CDP capturing a share of box office. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and venue-partnered, with flagship performances at venues including the Sydney Opera House, Riverside Parramatta, Dunstan Playhouse Adelaide, Bruce Mason Theatre Auckland, QUT Gardens Theatre Brisbane, and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, alongside international touring to the UK, USA, Singapore, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Name

CDP Theatre Producers

Legal name

CDP Theatre Producers Pty Ltd

Website

https://cdp.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CDP Theatre Producers is an Australian privately held theatre production company that adapts children's literature into touring live stage productions for families and young audiences, distributing through venues across Australia and internationally under the CDP Kids, CDP Digital, and CDP Education brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Theatre Production

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Children's theatre productions
• Live theatre touring
• Stage adaptations
• Theatre education resources
• Family entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Redfern

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from selling tickets to live theatre performances across touring productions in Australia and internationally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CDP Theatre Producers is an award-winning Australian theatre production company that produces and tours live stage adaptations of acclaimed children's literature, including picture books and novels by Julia Donaldson, Andy Griffiths, Dav Pilkey, and Alison Lester. Productions feature puppetry, original music, physical theatre, and theatrical effects, performed at venues across Australia and internationally. The company also operates CDP Digital for online engagement and CDP Education for curriculum-aligned teacher resources.

Product overview

CDP Theatre Producers is an award-winning Australian theatre production company specializing in live theatre for children and families. The company transforms beloved children's literature into high-quality stage productions featuring live performers, original music, puppetry, and theatrical wizardry. Their portfolio includes both original productions and adaptations of internationally recognized children's books including works by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton, Dav Pilkey, Nick Bland, and Alison Lester. The company operates under the CDP Kids brand for family productions. Beyond live theatre, CDP offers digital engagement through CDP Digital (providing online videos, activities, and behind-the-scenes content) and CDP Education (offering free curriculum-aligned resources for teachers and homeschoolers). Their productions range from intimate picture book adaptations to large-scale musical theatre experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CDP Kids: Brand name for children's theatre productions and touring shows
• CDP Digital
• CDP Education

Products and services

• Dog Man: The Musical Musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey's Dog Man book series featuring the head of a dog and body of a policeman. Produced in collaboration with TheaterWorksUSA for Australian and New Zealand touring.
• The Gruffalo Musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's award-winning picture book, produced in collaboration with Tall Stories Theatre Company. Has had sell-out seasons including London's West End and Broadway.
• The Gruffalo's Child Musical sequel to The Gruffalo, featuring physical theatre, music and puppetry. Based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
• Room on the Broom Musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture book about a witch and her cat flying on a broomstick. Features songs, laughs and puppetry.
• Play School Live Concert 2026: Humpty's Big Celebration! Live concert celebrating Australia's most beloved children's television program, featuring Play School's iconic toys and presenters in a theatrical concert format.
• The 13-Storey Treehouse Stage adaptation of Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton's best-selling children's book series, featuring magical theatrical wizardry and imaginative storytelling.
• Magic Beach Australian adaptation of Alison Lester's classic picture book, featuring text, song, light, shadow and movement for children.
• The Very Cranky Bear Brand new musical adaptation of Nick Bland's picture book, a comedy adventure featuring painted stripes, borrowed antlers, and a small sheep with a big idea. Adapted by Tim McGarry with original music by Gabbi Bolt.
• CDP Digital Platform Online platform offering free videos, activities, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive materials from CDP's shows for audiences worldwide.
• CDP Education Platform Education platform providing free full Teachers Resource Kits, class activities, curriculum links, and downloadable resources and videos aligned with CDP productions for Australian teachers and registered homeschoolers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sell-out seasons internationally including London's West End and Broadway for The Gruffalo
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tall Stories Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based theatre company that co-adapted The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, and Room on the Broom for Australian and New Zealand touring. Tall Stories (Olivia Jacobs & Toby Mitchell, artistic directors) created the original adaptations of Julia Donaldson's picture books.
• TheaterWorksUSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican theatre company that created Dog Man: The Musical. CDP produces the Australian/New Zealand touring version under special arrangement. Production includes book/lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila and music by Brad Alexander, with original direction by Jen Wineman.
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABC collaborates with CDP on Play School Live Concert, celebrating Play School's 60th anniversary in 2026. CDP produces and tours the live concert featuring ABC's beloved toys and presenters.
• Dancing GiantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian co-producer for Dog Man: The Musical Australian production.
• Australia Council for the ArtsminorOthersCDP Education project has been assisted by the Australian government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
• Ian White ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTalent management company representing cast members including Callum Worthington.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Tall Stories Theatre Company: UK-based children's theatre company that co-produces The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, and Room on the Broom with CDP. Operates the same touring model targeting ages 3–12 with picture-book adaptations, making it the closest direct peer in scale, genre, and methodology.
• Imagination Stage: US-based children's theatre company producing and touring original and adapted productions for young audiences. Comparable in mission focus and literary adaptation pipeline, though more US-centric in touring.
• TheaterWorksUSA: US-based children's and family theatre producer that co-developed Dog Man: The Musical with CDP and operates extensive school and family touring circuits. Closely comparable in target audience, touring economics, and book-to-stage adaptation pipeline.
• Birmingham Stage Company: UK children's theatre company best known for Horrible Histories adaptations and family touring productions. Comparable in adapting children's book IP into touring stage shows with strong West End runs.
• Windmill Theatre Co: Adelaide-based Australian children's theatre company producing original and adapted family works for national and international touring. Directly comparable in genre, audience age band, and producer-tourer business model.
• Round Room Live: US producer of touring family entertainment shows including Sesame Street Live and PJ Masks Live. Comparable in operating multi-property, multi-territory children's IP tours built on licensed media brands.
• Monkey Baa Theatre Company: Leading Australian children's theatre company producing and touring original work and literary adaptations (e.g., Shaun the Sheep, Mr Chicken). Closest Australian-headquartered peer with similar mission, scale, and venue footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Disney Theatrical Group: Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company producing and licensing family musicals (The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen) globally. Operates in the same family theatrical space at vastly larger scale and with proprietary IP, making it a broad incumbent rather than direct competitor.
• Nickelodeon Live / VStar Entertainment Group: US-based producer of large-scale touring family and children's theatrical events under Nickelodeon and other licensed IP brands (Paw Patrol Live, Blue's Clues). Broader incumbent in family touring entertainment with deeper capital and licensed media IP.

Others

• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Kids: Australian public broadcaster producing children's programming including Play School; CDP's co-production partner for Play School Live Concert. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor — enables CDP's audience pipeline rather than competing with it.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CDPTheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBTAKddVmWnPMKC0HV1JZFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/319803978188264
• Instagraminstagram.com/CDPTheatreProducers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdp-theatre-producers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 CDP Theatre Producers