Emerald Isle theatre Company

What Emerald Isle theatre Company does

Emerald Isle Theatre Company (EITC) is a French non-profit association (Association loi 1901, Siret 530 530 583 00018) founded in 2008 and operating under the brand name Pickles Company. It runs the original English-language theatre programme for secondary schools in Belgium and France, sending native English-speaking actors directly to school facilities to deliver live performances and workshops aimed at students aged 11 and above who are learning English as a foreign language.

The product portfolio consists of two main touring shows — "Off Trail" (Junior, ages 11-14) and "Dust and Dynamite" (Senior, ages 15+) — supplemented by interactive workshops and holiday-period activities. All plays are specially commissioned for the company and are written with clear speech, repetition, and small participatory roles designed to make English comprehensible and engaging for non-native speakers. Performances are staged in whatever large space the host school provides (gymnasium, canteen, classroom, or hall) using portable stage equipment brought by the touring team.

EITC operates a direct-to-school, B2B services model with quote-based pricing per booking, contracts that can span multiple years, and bookings coordinated by a dedicated tour coordinator. Distribution is handled through the company's website, an email newsletter, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram), and the organisation participates in France's Pass-Culture programme, which allows students to use state-issued cultural credits to attend its shows. The core team is small (approximately five employees) and is augmented by a freelance network of native English-speaking actors, tour managers, and artistic directors.

Name

Emerald Isle theatre Company

Legal name

Emerald Isle Theatre Company

Website

https://eitc.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Emerald Isle Theatre Company (brand: Pickles Company) is a French non-profit founded in 2008 that sends native English-speaking actors to secondary schools in Belgium and France to deliver live theatre performances and workshops for students aged 11+ learning English as a foreign language.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Not disclosed

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School performance bookings: Revenue generated from booking theatre performances and workshops at secondary schools. Schools pay for shows delivered by native English-speaking actors at their facilities. The company offers two show types (Junior and Senior) plus workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pickles Company, operated by Emerald Isle Theatre Company, is the original English-language theatre company touring secondary schools in Belgium and France since 2008. The company delivers specially commissioned live plays and interactive workshops performed by exclusively native English-speaking actors for students learning English as a foreign language, featuring comedy, action, songs, repetition, and student participation roles.

Product overview

Pickles Company (branded as Pickles by EITC) is the original English language theatre company operated by Emerald Isle Theatre Company, presenting live theatre performances and workshops in secondary schools across Belgium and France since 2008. The offering consists of two main show types: the Junior Show (Off Trail) for students aged 11-14 and the Senior Show (Dust and Dynamite) for students aged 15 and up, both featuring specially commissioned plays with comedy, action, and songs. The company also offers Workshops led by native English-speaking actors combining English language exploration with physical activity, and Holiday Activities during school breaks. All performances feature clear speech, repetition for language learning, and opportunities for student participation in small roles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Off Trail (Junior Show) A live theatre performance for students aged 11 to 14, performed at the school's premises by native English-speaking actors. The play uses clear speech and repetition to aid English language comprehension and includes interactive moments and small roles for student participation.
• Dust and Dynamite (Senior Show) A live theatre production for students aged 15 and up, performed at the school's premises by native English-speaking actors. Set in Dusty Creek, it follows Jacey Jess arriving with big ideas and needing to win over a stubborn town while being watched.
• Theatre Workshops Interactive workshops led by native English-speaking actors that combine English language learning with physical activity, improvisation, and creative exploration. Designed for students of all ages and conducted at the school's premises.
• Holiday Activities

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 minutes of immersive English exposure with native speakers

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pass-CultureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPass-Culture program partner allowing French students to use their Pass-Culture credits for theatre experiences. The partnership provides information about available shows through the Pass-Culture platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• M6 Theatre Company: Manchester-based Theatre in Education company creating original work for children and young people, often touring into schools. Comparable in producing original theatre content for school audiences and using TIE-style touring, though UK-focused rather than pan-European.
• Action Transport Theatre: Cheshire-based Theatre in Education company producing original work for children and touring to schools and community venues. Comparable in small-team original-theatre-for-young-audiences model and direct-to-school touring distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Stagecoach Performing Arts: Large international performing arts education franchise offering weekend and after-school performing arts classes for children, including across Europe. Comparable as a major provider of in-school and after-school English-language performing arts education for children, though broader in scope (dance, singing, drama) and franchise-operated.
• Helen O'Grady Drama Academy: International drama academy franchise running developmental drama programmes in schools across many countries, including Europe. Comparable in delivering English-language drama experiences in schools as an after-school curriculum offering, but at much larger scale and as a franchise model rather than bespoke commissions.

Direct peers

• Onatti Theatre Company: London-based touring English-language theatre company that produces and performs short plays specifically designed for language learners in schools across continental Europe. Directly comparable to EITC in target customer (European secondary schools), product format (touring English plays), and delivery model (school visits).
• Big Brum Theatre in Education: UK Theatre in Education (TIE) company that creates and tours original issue-based theatre programmes to schools and young people. Comparable in mission (educational theatre for young audiences), commissioning of original work, and direct-to-school touring distribution.

Regional players

• English Theatre Berlin: Berlin-based English-language performing arts venue producing plays and programming for English-speaking and international audiences, including school matinees. Comparable in delivering English-language theatrical content to European school-age audiences, though operating from a fixed venue.
• The English Theatre Frankfurt: Long-running English-language theatre company in Frankfurt producing plays for adult and school audiences in Germany. Comparable in operating English-language theatre for European audiences, though venue-based rather than mobile-school-touring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/picklescompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/pickles.company
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emerald-isle-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Emerald Isle theatre Company