London Performance Studios

What London Performance Studios does

London Performance Studios (LPS) is a UK Community Interest Company registered as London Performance Studios CIC (Company Reg. No. 15000876), founded in 2019 by artist and theatre director Than Hussein Clark and operating from the Penarth Centre in South Bermondsey, London. The organisation functions as a queer-led, intersectionally governed arts infrastructure provider and curatorial platform, deliberately positioned at the intersection of visual art and theatre. It operates five rehearsal studios ranging from 600 to 2,000 square feet with varying accessibility profiles (Studios 3, 4 and 5 are step-free accessible; Studios 1 and 2 require step access), shared kitchen and gender-neutral toilet facilities, rubber flooring, natural light, and superfast fibre optic broadband. No dance flooring or sprung floors are available, which constrains the addressable rehearsal market toward performance, dramatic, and photographic uses rather than dance.

LPS generates revenue through four streams: paid studio hire (hourly, half-day, day, and week formats, with 25% Southwark resident subsidies and case-by-case unfunded artist subsidies ranging from £250 to £400 per week per studio); ticketed workshops and events (e.g., £5 participation for "Encountering Ghosts and Avatars") distributed via BookWhen and Outsavvy; publication sales through the Scores imprint co-managed with Montez Press, with unit prices of £13-£40; and the Seeding Space residency programme (one-week free studios plus £200 seed funding, offered free to artists). Customer segments are primarily individual artists, theatre- and performance-makers, creative practitioners, and a secondary segment of film and photography production clients. The organisation layers community programming — Associate Artists Programme (10 commissioned artists including Turner Prize winner Jiminy Luke Doe), Horizontal Practices (peer-to-peer workshops), and a living archive of alternative theatre history via partner Unfinished Histories — onto the hire business.

The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with marketing via direct website (Squarespace-hosted), Mailchimp newsletter, organic social for open calls, third-party ticketing platforms, and earned media across The Guardian, BBC Radio London, Frieze, Hero Magazine, SHOWStudio, and Resonance FM. Strategic partners include Living Pictures (workshops/Studio Lab/Creative Threads), Montez Press (Scores imprint), Southwark Council (subsidy scheme), Soho Poly/University of Westminster (events), and Aurora Metro (publishing). Headcount stands at 8-9 staff covering administration, producing, strategic producing, technical operations and directorial functions. The operating model is asset-light, mission-driven, and structurally dependent on a single physical site with limited weekday operating hours of 9am-5pm.

Name

London Performance Studios

Legal name

London Performance Studios CIC

Website

https://londonperformancestudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

London Performance Studios (LPS) is a queer-led Community Interest Company in South Bermondsey, London, operating five rehearsal studios (600-2,000 sqft) alongside the Associate Artists commissioning programme, Seeding Space residencies, Horizontal Practices workshops, and the Scores publishing imprint with Montez Press, serving individual artists, theatre-makers, and creative practitioners since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAIAHAK

Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Music Production Services (Studios, Producers, Session Musicians)

SECONDARYMPAIAHAO

Production Management & Studio Support Services (Studio Managers, Techs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Music Production Services (Studios, Producers, Session Musicians)

SECONDARYMPAGAKAH

Event Technical Production Management & Crew

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound)

SECONDARYEDAMAMAD

Playwriting & Scriptwriting Workshops (Stage)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Creative Writing Workshops

Keywords

• Rehearsal studio hire
• Performance art residencies
• Artist development programmes
• Peer-to-peer learning workshops
• Performing arts venue

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Studio Hire: Rental of five rehearsal studios to artists, creators, and performers for rehearsals, film/photo shoots, castings, and small showings. Studios available hourly, half-day, day, and week. Subsidised rates available for Southwark residents (25%) and unfunded individual artists.
2. Publication Sales (Scores): Co-commissioned script and performance text publications sold through Montez Press. Publications include works by Edward Thomasson, Unfinished Histories, and Sam Cottington priced £13-40.
3. Workshop and Event Tickets: Ticketed workshops (e.g., £5 participation fee for Encountering Ghosts and Avatars) and performance/events sold through third-party ticketing platforms.
4. Seeding Space Residencies: One-week residency programme providing free studio space, £200 seed funding, and feedback opportunities for artists. Since 2021, awarded over 100 free space residencies to more than 250 artists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

London Performance Studios operates five rehearsal studios in South Bermondsey, London, available for hourly, half-day, daily, and weekly hire by artists, performers, and production companies. The organisation runs complementary programmes including the Seeding Space residency initiative (with £200 seed funding), the Associate Artists Programme commissioning ten artists, and Horizontal Practices workshops for peer-to-peer learning. Through the Scores imprint co-commissioned with Montez Press, the studio also publishes scripts and performance texts.

Product overview

London Performance Studios is a queer container for research, generation, and promotion of artistic voices operating at the intersection of the white cube gallery and black box theatre. The organization offers five rehearsal studios for hire (Studio 1-5, ranging from 600-2000sqft) with varying accessibility features and amenities, including natural light, rubber floors, and kitchen facilities. Its programming includes the Seeding Space one-week residency initiative, Horizontal Practices workshop strand, and Associate Artists Programme featuring commissioned artists. Through Scores, a publishing imprint co-commissioned with Montez Press, the studio publishes scripts and performance texts. Studios can be rented by the hour, half-day, day, or week, with subsidized rates available for Southwark residents and individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Scores: A publishing imprint co-commissioned by Montez Press and London Performance Studios that publishes scripts and performance texts by artists, theatre-makers and performance-makers working between the visual and theatrical arts.

Products and services

• Studio 1 The largest studio at 2000sqft (11m x 16m) with high ceilings, large industrial windows, private breakout space, private kitchen and toilet facilities, PA system, and lighting rig. Located on the first floor with step access required. Available for hire by the hour, half-day, day, or week to artists, performers, and production companies.
• Studio 2 Mid-sized rehearsal space at 600sqft (5.3m x 10.5m) with high ceiling and large windows. Located on the first floor with access via steps (18-19 steps depending on entrance). Has shared terrace, kitchenette, and toilet facilities. Available for hire by artists and performers for rehearsals, castings, and small showings.
• Studio 3 Large bright studio at 1350sqft (10.9m x 12.3m) with wide loading doors and direct street loading access through large bi-folding doors. Fully accessible with level access from Ormside Street. Available for hire for rehearsals, film and photography shoots, and production work.
• Studio 4 Mid-sized rehearsal space at 730sqft (9.3m x 8m) with private access and large windows. Fully accessible with level access from Penarth Street. Has access to internal courtyard, shared kitchenette, and toilet facilities. Available for hire for rehearsals and artistic projects.
• Studio 5 Mid-sized rehearsal space at 1100sqft (11m x 9.3m) with private access, large windows, and natural light. Fully accessible with level access. Features superfast fibre optic broadband and blackout option, with shared kitchenette. Available for hire for workshops, rehearsals, and creative projects.
• Seeding Space One-week residency initiative inviting artists working at the intersection of performance, visual art, and theatre to explore and experiment. Offers six consecutive days of studio access, £200 seed funding, feedback, and opportunity to share work in progress. Awarded through an open application process; since 2021, over 100 free space residencies have been awarded to more than 250 artists.
• Horizontal Practices Programming strand dedicated to promoting peer-to-peer learning and non-hierarchical spaces for conversation. Takes form as discursive events, professional training, curated guest workshops, and roundtable discussions. Queer and feminist practices are at its core. Examples include the Encountering Ghosts and Avatars movement and reading workshop (£5 participation fee).
• Associate Artists Programme Commission series inviting 10 artists to research and develop new performance work at London Performance Studios. Each commission invites artists to test, explore, and engage in-depth with new material shared through public programmes of performances, workshops, and discursive events. Includes Alastair Curtis, Alexander Fahima, Bod Mellor, Harilay Rabenjamina, Jiminy Luke Doe (2023 Turner Prize winner), Lily McMenamy, Living Pictures, Raphel Famotibe, Sam Cottington, and Unfinished Histories.
• Scores Publishing imprint co-commissioned by Montez Press and London Performance Studios that publishes scripts and performance texts by artists, theatre-makers, and performance-makers working between the visual and theatrical arts. Publications include Phone Plays by Sam Cottington (£13), Radical Rediscoveries (£40), and The Whole Routine by Edward Thomasson (£13), sold via the Montez Press website.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Montez PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioning partner for Scores imprint, publishing scripts and performance texts by artists working between visual and theatrical arts. Publications include Phone Plays by Sam Cottington (£13), Radical Rediscoveries (£40), and The Whole Routine by Edward Thomasson (£13).
• Living PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector-leading theatre training organisation providing workshops and professional development at LPS. Founded in 1999 by Elen and Robbie Bowman. Co-develops Studio Lab programme and Creative Threads retreats.
• Southwark CouncilsupportingOthersProvides 25% subsidy on studio hire for Southwark residents. LPS is located within Southwark borough and partners with council on access initiatives.
• Soho Poly at University of WestminstersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for events including 'Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk' exploring women in alternative theatre history. Soho Poly is a restored community venue dedicated to inclusivity.
• Aurora MetrominorOthersIndependent publisher of Feminist Theatre Then and Now: Celebrating 50 years, related to Unfinished Histories' FYFFI programme at LPS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sadler's Wells: Major London dance venue operating rehearsal studios and extensive artist development programmes at significantly larger scale. Overlaps with LPS on studio hire and artist support but operates as an established institution with broader scope.
• Battersea Arts Centre: Major London arts venue hosting performance, residencies, and artist development programmes. Comparable to LPS in supporting experimental performance makers through residencies and commissioning, but at significantly larger institutional scale.
• Cambridge Junction: Multi-artform venue with rehearsal and performance studios plus artist development programmes. Comparable to LPS on studio hire and community-led programming but operates as a larger regional venue with broader arts programming.
• Cockpit Theatre: London venue offering studio and performance space hire to independent artists and small companies. Comparable to LPS on space provision for theatre-makers but with broader programming and a longer operating history.

Regional players

• Dance City: Newcastle-based dance development organisation offering studio hire, residencies, and artist support. Similar studio-hire plus artist-development model to LPS but serving the North East rather than London.

Direct peers

• The Place: London's leading centre for contemporary dance with rehearsal studios, performance space, and artist development programmes. Comparable to LPS in providing London-based studio hire plus artist commissioning and residency activity, though with a dance-specific focus.
• Chisenhale Dance Space: London-based dance rehearsal and creation space offering studio hire to independent artists and choreographers. Directly comparable to LPS as a London rehearsal-hire venue serving performing artists, though its facilities focus more squarely on dance.
• Theatre Deli: London-based provider of rehearsal and performance space targeting independent theatre-makers and small companies. Closely comparable to LPS on rehearsal-hire plus artist-support programming for theatre and performance creators.
• Artsadmin: Long-running London artist support organisation providing space, commissioning, and development resources to experimental performance makers. Comparable to LPS in combining artist development, commissioning, and space provision for experimental practice.
• Studio Wayne McGregor: London dance studios with a residency and research programme serving choreographers and movement artists. Directly comparable to LPS's studio-hire plus artist-development model, especially the Seeding Space residency concept.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/london-performance-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 London Performance Studios