Crooked House Theatre Company

What Crooked House Theatre Company does

Crooked House Theatre Company (legal entity: Crooked House Theatre CLG) is an Irish community-theatre non-profit founded in 1993 in Newbridge, County Kildare, and structured as a company limited by guarantee. Its functional purpose is to make theatre and film projects with, for, and by young people aged 11-30 and diverse community groups, including people with intellectual disabilities, migrants and International Protection Applicants, women's groups, and elderly residents of day care centres. The organisation operates on a freemium community-access model: all activities are free and open to anyone, with no fees charged for youth theatre membership, school workshops, or community outreach programmes. The core delivery portfolio comprises Youth Theatre Programmes (Kildare Youth Theatre and Carlow Youth Theatre, the latter under management of Crooked House), School Drama Programmes (Transition Year, Leaving Cert Applied, Junior Cycle Drama delivered in Kildare and West Dublin secondary schools), Outreach and Community Response Work nationwide, Conference Theatre, Training Programmes for cultural youth workers, and EU-funded projects (DILEMMA on gender-based violence, EPIPA on disability and Forum Theatre, Ignition for facilitator training). Underlying "technology" consists of applied-theatre methodologies — Theatre of the Oppressed / Forum Theatre techniques, drama facilitation training, digital drama workshops deliverable online, and QQI-accredited curricula — codified into a proprietary content library including the Indigo Handbook and Drama For Youth Work.

Revenue is derived entirely from institutional grants and programme funding, not from participant fees. The funder base includes Arts Council of Ireland, Kildare County Council, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Creative Ireland / RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, Carlow County Council Arts Office, and European Union programmes (European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+). The go-to-market motion is community-led: the organisation reaches participants through partnerships with schools, youth projects, community development organisations (KARE for disability, Wexford Local Development, Newbridge Women's Shed, St Vincent de Paul), and EU volunteer pipelines (Maynooth University for national placements, ESC and Erasmus+ for international volunteers), with marketing distributed across its website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and a monthly email newsletter. Strategic positioning emphasises tolerance, equality, social justice, compassion, and empathy as organisational values, with theatre-making framed as a vehicle for confidence-building, active citizenship, social integration, and well-being outcomes.

Name

Crooked House Theatre Company

Legal name

Crooked House Theatre CLG

Website

https://crookedhouse.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crooked House Theatre Company is an Irish non-profit (CLG) founded in 1993 in Newbridge, County Kildare, delivering free theatre and film projects with, for, and by young people aged 11-30 and community groups including people with disabilities, migrants, women, and elderly across Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre and Applied Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Community theatre programmes
• Youth drama workshops
• Applied theatre training
• Inclusive performing arts
• Cultural youth work

Headquarters

HQ city

Newbridge, County Kildare

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Arts Council Funding: Crooked House receives project support and funding from Arts Council of Ireland, Kildare County Council, Department of Children, Disability and Equality, HSE, and other government bodies.
2. European Union Programmes: Funding from European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and Erasmus+ programmes supports international volunteers and cross-border cultural youth work projects.
3. Educational Institution Partnerships: Partnerships with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and other educational bodies provide funding and support for youth theatre programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Crooked House Theatre Company makes theatre and film projects with, for and by young people (ages 11-30) and diverse community groups including people with intellectual disabilities, migrants and International Protection Applicants, women's groups, and elderly residents of day care centres. Participation in all activities is free and open to anyone, delivered through weekly drama workshops, youth theatre programmes, school partnerships, outreach workshops, conference theatre, and training programmes.

Product overview

Crooked House Theatre Company operates as a unified community theatre-making organisation offering theatre and film projects with, for, and by young people and diverse community groups. The core offering consists of Youth Theatre Programmes (including Kildare Youth Theatre and Carlow Youth Theatre), School Drama Programmes (delivered in secondary schools), and Outreach and Community Response Work (nationwide workshops for people with disabilities, migrants, refugees, women's groups, and seniors). Supporting services include Conference Theatre for events, Training Programmes for cultural youth workers, and various Erasmus+-funded projects including DILEMMA (gender-based violence awareness), EPIPA (theatre and disability), and Ignition (facilitator training). The organisation also manages European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ Student Traineeship volunteer programmes. Participation in all activities is free and open to anyone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kildare Youth Theatre: A youth theatre programme run by Crooked House Theatre Company offering weekly drama workshops, performance opportunities, and international exchange programmes for young people in County Kildare.
• Carlow Youth Theatre

Products and services

• Youth Theatre Programmes
• School Drama Programmes
• Outreach and Community Response Work
• Conference Theatre
• Training Programmes
• DILEMMA Project
• EPIPA (Empowerment Through Performance)
• Ignition Project
• European Solidarity Corps Volunteering
• Erasmus+ Student Traineeship

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of social skills, sense of identity, and engagement with communities in young people through theatre and dance participation

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kildare County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides project support and funding as the local authority in the organization's home county.
• Arts Council of IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funder of arts projects and programmes through project support and funding.
• Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing support and funding for youth and training programmes.
• European Solidarity Corps (ESC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU programme that funds young people to travel and volunteer with organizations, supporting international volunteers at Crooked House.
• Erasmus+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU programme supporting student traineeships and youth exchange projects, facilitating international volunteers and cross-border cultural projects.
• Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department providing funding support for international projects and cultural exchange.
• National Theatre (UK) - ConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the NT Connections programme for youth theatre participation.
• Youth Theatre IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth theatre organization providing support, summer festival access, and network connections.
• Carlow County Council Arts OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunds and supports Carlow Youth Theatre managed by Crooked House.
• Maynooth University - Applied Social StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary source of national volunteers through student placement programmes. Partner in training adult educators, youth workers, and community workers.
• FOCO Europa (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIgnition Project partner based in A Guarda, Spain making theatre with young people and community groups. Directors were former ESC volunteers with Crooked House.
• Kinitiras (Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIgnition Project partner working long-term on dance projects with young people, women, and the elderly, supporting resilience and well-being.
• Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIgnition Project partner providing staff artists for the project consortium from Türkiye.
• Association Co-Efficient (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPIPA project partner working on theatre and disability programmes across three European organizations.
• Uniamoci (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPIPA project partner for Empowerment Through Performance programme involving forum theatre for young people with disabilities.
• Puglia Culture (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDILEMMA project creator and lead partner, with partners from Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and Ireland working on theatre resources to combat gender-based violence.
• Room For Art (Cyprus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDILEMMA project partner from Cyprus working on theatre-based approaches to gender-based violence awareness.
• KAREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaborator supporting and advocating for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Joint QQI accredited drama projects and ongoing workshop programmes.
• Wexford Local DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on 12-week drama programme for young people as part of Elevate and Meitheall programmes in County Wexford.
• Newbridge Women's ShedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly drama workshop collaboration with local women creating performances for Riverbank Arts Centre.
• Riverbank Arts CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for performances by community groups including Women's Shed participants.
• St Vincent de Paul - Newbridge Day Care CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly drama workshops with elderly residents combining singing, movement, and storytelling.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Ark: Dublin-based cultural centre dedicated to children, producing theatre and arts experiences for young audiences. Comparable on children/youth arts focus, Irish Arts Council funding profile, and free/low-cost public access model.
• TEAM Educational Theatre Company: Dublin-based educational theatre company delivering school-based drama programmes across Ireland. Comparable on school drama delivery, Arts Council funding, and applied theatre methodology.
• Youth Theatre Ireland: National umbrella body for youth theatres in Ireland and a direct partner of Crooked House. Operates the same youth theatre model with member theatres nationwide, providing the most direct comparable on structure, audience, and funding model.
• Barnstorm Theatre Company: Kilkenny-based youth and community theatre company with a comparable operating model: weekly workshops, school outreach, and a national reach funded through Arts Council and EU sources. Closely comparable on scope, scale, and audience mix.
• Smashing Times Theatre Company: Dublin-based applied theatre company working on social issues including equality, mental health, and human rights through performance. Comparable on applied/community theatre methodology and EU-funded project participation.
• Graffiti Theatre Company: Cork-based applied and youth theatre company delivering education, community, and outreach programmes. Comparable on applied-theatre methodology, Arts Council funding profile, and focus on children/young people.

Broad incumbents

• Abbey Theatre: Ireland's national theatre, producing and presenting a broad programme including education and community work. Comparable as an Arts Council-funded Irish theatre organisation with education/community outreach components, though at significantly larger scale and broader remit.
• Fishamble: The New Play Company: Award-winning Irish theatre company producing new plays with national touring and EU engagement. Comparable on Irish theatre-making scale, Arts Council funding, and tour/community model, though with a more commercial production focus.

Emerging players

• The Gaiety School of Acting: Dublin-based drama education provider offering accredited training and youth programmes. Comparable on drama education, youth training, and accredited programme offerings, though operating more on a fee-for-service model.

Others

• National Theatre (UK) Connections: UK National Theatre's youth theatre programme that Crooked House's Kildare Youth Theatre actively participates in. Comparable as a youth theatre ecosystem partner and methodology reference, though operating at national scale in the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@crookedhousetheatrecompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/CrookedHouseTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/crookedhousetheatrecompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crooked-house-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Crooked House Theatre Company