Legs On The Wall

What Legs On The Wall does

Legs On The Wall is a Sydney-based non-profit physical theatre company founded in 1984 that specializes in aerial performance, site-specific spectacle, and physical storytelling. The company creates, produces, and tours productions such as THAW (a climate-change durational work featuring a melting ice sculpture), BEETLE (a family production about Christmas Beetles), ENDLING (a 360-degree projection-aerial hybrid for Vivid Sydney 2025), LOVERS (an aerial Pride spectacle), and Holding Achilles (a Dead Puppet Society co-production adapting Homer's Iliad). Its core technical capabilities include wall running, counterweighted harness partnering, acro-balance, and a proprietary rigging design system compliant with ISO9002 and AS4801 safety standards, executed from the purpose-built solar-powered Red Box aerial studio at its Lilyfield headquarters.

The company serves four primary segments: schools (Years 7-12 workshops in storytelling, aerial, and partner work), corporate and event clients (Legs For Hire provides stunt work, aerial performance, and spectacle for clients including Qantas, Emirates, Fitness First, Dexus/AMP Capital, and The Voice), festivals and government partners (Sydney Festival, Vivid Sydney, Sydney World Pride, Parramatta Lanes, Create NSW, Australia Council), and general public audiences at ticketed performances. Revenue is assembled from six streams: government grants and tax-deductible donations (Carabiner $10 to Motor $5,000+ tiers), ticketed performances, venue hire (Red Box and Studio One), fee-based school workshops, commercial Legs For Hire services, and branded merchandise.

Legs On The Wall also operates an artist development ecosystem comprising Leg Up (12-month mentorship, 140+ artists trained), Leg Room (residency program), Open Industry Training (free classes), and an Artist Exchange with Studio1 Brisbane. The company is governed by a Board chaired by Simone Whetton with Artistic Director Joshua Thomson and General Manager James Beach leading operations. Distribution is primarily direct via festivals, venue box offices, a website booking channel, and a small e-commerce storefront, with international touring reaching UK, Belgium, Canada, Portugal, and New Zealand.

Name

Legs On The Wall

Legal name

Legs On The Wall

Website

https://legsonthewall.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Legs On The Wall is a Sydney-based non-profit physical theatre company founded in 1984 that creates aerial performances, site-specific spectacles, and educational programs for festivals, corporate clients, schools, and general audiences across Australia and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Physical Theatre

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Physical theatre performances
• Aerial performance services
• Circus arts productions
• Stunt and aerial hire
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lilyfield

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations in Australia (over $2) supporting new works, artist training, and company operations. Donation tiers range from $10 (Carabiner) to $5,000+ (Motor)
2. Performance Tickets: Revenue from ticketed performances at various venues and festivals domestically and internationally
3. Venue Hire: Rental of Red Box and Studio One spaces for rehearsals, filming, photography, events, showcases, and community access purposes
4. School Workshops: Fee-based workshops for high school students including Storytelling, Taking Weight, Prop It Up, and Red Box Aerial Experience programs
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including hoodies ($55), t-shirts ($35), tanks ($40), mugs ($15), and socks ($10)
6. Legs For Hire Services: Commercial provision of stunt work, aerial performance, large scale spectacle, site specific activations, corporate events and intimate engagements for film, television, live theatre, events, festivals, or corporate galas

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Legs On The Wall is a Sydney-based physical theatre company that creates, produces, and tours contemporary aerial performance productions for festivals and public spaces. The company also provides commercial stunt and aerial performance services through "Legs For Hire" to corporate and event clients, delivers physical theatre and aerial workshops to high schools, rents its purpose-built aerial studios, runs mentorship and residency programs for emerging artists, and sells branded merchandise. Founded in 1984, the company operates from a purpose-built aerial facility in Lilyfield, NSW and is supported as a registered charity through donations and government arts funding.

Product overview

Legs On The Wall is a Sydney-based physical theatre company offering a portfolio of theatrical productions (THAW, BEETLE, ENDLING, WAVERIDER, and site-specific works), professional services (Legs For Hire for stunt and aerial work), and educational programs (school workshops, LEG UP mentorship, LEG ROOM residencies, Open Industry Training). The company also provides venue hire for the Red Box aerial studio and Studio One, operates an artist exchange program with Studio1 Brisbane, and sells branded merchandise. Founded in 1984, the company has 40+ years of experience in aerial performance and physical theatre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Legs For Hire: Premier provider of stunt work, aerial performance, large scale spectacle, site specific activations, corporate events and intimate engagements with 40+ years experience.
• Leg Up
• Leg Room
• Open Industry Training

Products and services

• THAW Flagship durational aerial performance work featuring artists performing on an immense ice sculpture as it melts over a day; an urgent call to action on climate change. Presented at festivals and venues worldwide.
• BEETLE Critically acclaimed family-friendly physical theatre production for children about Christmas Beetles, featuring animation from Freya Blackwood's illustrations, physical storytelling, puppetry, and circus elements.
• ENDLING Futuristic solo performance combining aerial theatre, 360-degree video projection, original score, and lighting within a six-metre custom-built apparatus, exploring humanity's legacy and extinction themes.
• LOVERS Dazzling aerial spectacle with five queer couples performing aerial duets from the Quay Quarter Tower, celebrating love and LGBTQIA+ rights.
• Now and Ever Collaboration with Bangarra Dance Theatre for Reconciliation Week 2024; co-directed by Frances Rings (descendant of Wirangu and Mirning Tribes, Artistic Director of Bangarra) and Joshua Thomson, featuring William Barton (Kalkadunga composer/multimedia instrumentalist).
• Legs For Hire

Quantifiable outcome

• THAW has reached over 57,000 live audience members across multiple countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and minor.

• City of ParramattamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commissioned ASCEND for Parramatta Lanes 2025. Four aerialists performed from sandstone pillars of 8 Parramatta Square. Three performances nightly throughout festival.
• Vivid Sydney / Destination NSWflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commissioned ENDLING for Vivid Light Walk 2025 at Barangaroo Reserve. World premiere as part of Vivid Sydney festival.
• Bangarra Dance TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on Now and Ever for Reconciliation Week 2024. Frances Rings (descendant of Wirangu and Mirning Tribes, Artistic Director of Bangarra) co-directed with Joshua Thomson. Featured William Barton (Kalkadunga man, composer/multimedia instrumentalist). Presented at Quay Quarter Tower.
• North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Commissioned BEETLE world premiere at C2 venue in Townsville for North Australian Festival of Arts 2023.
• Sydney World PridemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Commissioned LOVERS aerial spectacle for World Pride March 2023. Five queer couples performed aerial duets from Quay Quarter Tower. Free, accessible performance visible from World Pride March route.
• Sydney Festival and Sydney Opera HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Original presenters of THAW world premiere in January 2022. Partnership with iconic Australian cultural institutions.
• Motionhouse (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Co-creation of The Voyage for London Cultural Olympiad 2012. Life-sized cruise liner set with 140 performers. One of the largest outdoor productions ever staged in Birmingham, UK. Captivated 15,000 audience members over three nights.
• Studio1 (Brisbane)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-state residency exchange program with Studio1 (Brisbane micro-arts precinct). Sydney artists spend one week at Legs' Red Box with aerial rigging access, Brisbane artists spend one week at Studio1 with single point rigging. Paid opportunity covering artist fees, accommodation, flights, and living allowance. Includes showings in both cities.
• Dead Puppet SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Holding Achilles, a stunning adaptation of Homer's Iliad featuring ensemble cast, aerial performance, and original score. Dead Puppet Society provided puppet design. Production toured nationally and internationally.
• Waverley Council and Bondi PavilionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned WAVERIDER for Bondi Pavilion season (postponed to 2027 due to community considerations). Originally scheduled as part of Sydney Festival.
• The Art House WyongmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-commissioning partner for WAVERIDER. Venue for multiple productions including BEETLE seasons and WAVERIDER.
• Rise PacificminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for LOVERS production during Sydney World Pride 2023.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Frantic Assembly: UK-based physical theatre company producing touring ensemble works. Comparable to Legs On The Wall in physical-theatre craft and touring model, and a previous collaboration partner via Motionhouse, but geographically UK-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Theatre Company: Major Sydney-based performing arts company producing drama at scale with international co-productions. Comparable on Sydney ecosystem, government funding, and festival positioning, though broader portfolio beyond physical theatre.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in large-scale acrobatic and aerial entertainment. Overlaps with Legs On The Wall on aerial performance craft and large-scale spectacle, but operates at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Sydney Dance Company: Leading Australian contemporary dance company producing touring works with international reach. Comparable as a Sydney-based, internationally touring performing-arts company with strong festival presence and government funding ties.
• Stalker Theatre: Sydney-based physical theatre company creating visually arresting, ensemble-led productions often in non-traditional spaces. Highly comparable to Legs On The Wall in aerial and physical-theatre approach and Australian festival circuit presence.
• Gravity and Other Myths: Adelaide-based Australian physical theatre and acrobatic company focused on ensemble-driven circus-style performance. Directly comparable to Legs On The Wall in scale, art form (acrobatic/aerial theatre), and Australian touring base.
• Australian Dance Theatre: Adelaide-based contemporary dance company producing physical, often experimental touring works. Comparable to Legs On The Wall as an Australian, publicly funded, internationally touring physical-performance company.
• The Farm (Australian circus/physical theatre): Australian physical theatre/circus ensemble producing international-touring works that fuse acrobatics with narrative performance. Directly comparable in scale, art form, and international touring strategy to Legs On The Wall.
• Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP): Sydney-based not-for-profit producing theatre and education programs for school-age audiences. Directly comparable to Legs On The Wall's school workshops and youth-development programs, including HSC-aligned curriculum offerings.
• Strut Dance: Western Australian dance/physical performance organization supporting artists and producing touring work. Comparable to Legs On The Wall as an Australian, publicly funded performing-arts body with artist development and production arms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/legsonthewall
• Instagraminstagram.com/legsonthewall
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legs-on-the-wall

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Legs On The Wall