OCKHAM'S RAZOR
Ockham's Razor is a London-based contemporary circus company founded in 2004 that designs original circus equipment and creates touring physical theatre productions, serving theatres, festivals, and commercial clients including National Theatre and Burberry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What OCKHAM'S RAZOR does
Ockham's Razor is a London-based contemporary circus company founded in 2004 by Co-Artistic Directors Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney. The company designs and builds original, bespoke circus equipment for each production, creating physical theatre that combines aerial circus, dance, and visual storytelling centred on themes of vulnerability, trust, and human connection. Its portfolio spans 16 named productions including Memento Mori (2004), The Mill, Tipping Point, PUBLIC, Tess (2024), and Collaborator (2024), with Greed in development for 2027. All productions are built on proprietary equipment architectures rather than standard circus apparatus.
The company operates a dual revenue model. Its primary channel is touring original productions to theatres and festivals across the UK and internationally, with programming at venues such as The Lowry, Lyric Hammersmith, Peacock Theatre, and festivals including Manchester International Festival and London International Mime Festival. A secondary services division offers consulting (performer sourcing, training, equipment design, rigging), directing for films/advertising/corporate events, rigging and design services, mentoring, and participation workshops. Named clients include National Theatre, Burberry, Wise Children, The Globe, and Theatre Rites. Pricing for services is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; freelancer pay rates are published under Turtle Key Arts' Freelancer Pay Pledge (daily rates £140-£250, weekly £640-£800).
Ockham's Razor is a private limited company (company number 07014608) registered in England and Wales, produced by Turtle Key Arts, a registered charity (number 1003113). The company is headquartered at Lyric Hammersmith, London, and employs 7 staff. Its funding model relies on Arts Council England grants, co-commissions from partner venues (notably The Lowry), charitable trust grants (Foyle Foundation, PRS Foundation, Garrick Charitable Trust, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation), and earned revenue from touring and services. The company has no external institutional investment and is artistically led by its co-founders, who remain active in devising and performing.
OCKHAM'S RAZOR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OCKHAM'S RAZOR
- Legal name
- Ockham's Razor Limited
- Website
- https://ockhamsrazor.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ockham's Razor is a London-based contemporary circus company founded in 2004 that designs original circus equipment and creates touring physical theatre productions, serving theatres, festivals, and commercial clients including National Theatre and Burberry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where OCKHAM'S RAZOR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
OCKHAM'S RAZOR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Theatre and Festival Ticket Sales: Revenue from touring productions to theatres and festivals across the UK and internationally
- Consulting Services: Consulting on circus integration for events and shows including performer sourcing, training, equipment design, rigging, and touring logistics
- Directing Services: Directing and movement direction for companies, films, advertising campaigns, gala events, product launches, fashion shows, and club nights
- Rigging and Design Services: Technical advice and support for circus rigging queries, specialist circus equipment design, and practical touring solutions
- Mentoring and Training: Creative mentoring, strategic planning assistance, and workshops for companies or individual artists including ACE Developing Your Creative Practice grants
- Workshops and Participation: Devised workshops for all ages and experience levels, masterclasses for professionals, lectures and practical sessions for educational institutions, and bespoke workshops
- Commissioned Productions: Creating new work commissioned by festivals and arts organizations, such as Manchester International Festival and others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Full working day rate |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Half Day/Session/Workshop/Rehearsal (In person) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Half Day/Session/Workshop/Rehearsal (online) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Production/Project Meetings (online) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Production/Project Meetings (in person) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Weekly rate |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Travel day rate |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Half travel day rate |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
OCKHAM'S RAZOR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ockham's Razor is a London-based contemporary circus and physical theatre company that creates and tours original productions built around bespoke aerial and acrobatic equipment. The company commissions, choreographs, and stages shows for theatres and festivals worldwide, and offers a portfolio of services including creative directing, rigging, mentoring, training, and consulting for performing arts clients and corporate partners such as fashion and luxury brands.
Product overview
Ockham's Razor is a contemporary circus company that creates physical theatre combining circus and visual theatre. Their portfolio consists of 16 named circus/theatre productions (Collaborator, Ffern-Cloud Orchard, TESS, PUBLIC, This Time, Together, Belly of the Whale, Tipping Point, Not Until We Are Lost, The Mill, Arc, Every Action, Memento Mori, Something in the Air, Hang On, and Greed in development) and six service offerings (Consulting, Directing, Rigging and Design, Collaborations, Mentoring, and Participation). The productions range from intimate duets to large-scale aerial performances, with many created on original circus equipment. The company tours these shows to theatres and festivals worldwide and also offers workshops, training, and professional services to other organisations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tipping Point
Quantifiable outcome
- 18+ years of continuous operation since 2004
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use OCKHAM'S RAZOR
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
OCKHAM'S RAZOR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
OCKHAM'S RAZOR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Turtle Key ArtscoreTurtle Key Arts is the parent organisation that produces Ockham's Razor. Registered charity (No. 1003113) based at Lyric Hammersmith. Manages production, fundraising, operations, and administrative functions for Ockham's Razor.
- The LowrycoreLong-term commissioning partner over 14+ years. Co-commissioned PUBLIC, This Time, Tipping Point, and Tess. Premiere location for PUBLIC. Provides production support and creative development resources.
- National Centre for Circus ArtscoreCommissioning partner for PUBLIC and ongoing collaborator. Provides opportunities for graduating artists to work with Ockham's Razor. Major UK institution for circus arts education and professional development.
- Theatre RitesmajorLong-term creative collaborator on multiple productions including Hang On (co-production with Theatre Rites, Lyric Hammersmith and Theatre Royal York). Established ensemble devising partnership.
- Oily CartmajorLong-term collaborator on accessible theatre for young audiences. Co-created 'Something in the Air' for young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Specialist in inclusive, interactive theatre.
- FfernminorFashion brand collaboration on Cloud Orchard advertising campaign. Partnership combining fashion with contemporary circus aesthetics.
- London International Mime FestivalmajorCommissioning partner for Tess adaptation alongside The Lowry. Premier platform for visual and physical theatre in London.
- Shoreditch Town HallminorSupport partner for Tess production. London venue providing resources and performance space for contemporary circus.
- Bristol Circus CityminorSupport partner for Tess production. Major annual circus festival in Bristol providing programming platform.
- artsdepotminorSupport partner for Tess production. North Finchley arts centre supporting contemporary circus programming.
- CircomediaminorAcademy of circus and physical theatre in Bristol. Training institution and collaborative partner for artistic development and teaching.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OCKHAM'S RAZOR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NoFit State Circus: UK-based contemporary circus company that creates and tours original aerial and physical theatre productions to UK and international venues. Closest UK peer to Ockham's Razor in terms of touring circus theatre model, scale, and Arts Council funding model.
- Circa: Australian contemporary circus company creating touring physical theatre and aerial productions for international venues. Directly comparable in fusing circus with theatre narrative and touring model, though operates at larger scale.
- Slung Low: UK physical theatre company creating original devised productions for touring venues and festivals. Comparable as UK-based devised physical theatre company with Arts Council backing and similar operational scale.
- Les 7 Doigts de la Main: Canadian contemporary circus company creating touring physical theatre productions with original apparatus. Comparable in fusing circus narrative with original equipment design, though operates at larger commercial scale.
- Told by an Idiot: UK physical theatre company creating devised ensemble work for touring and venues. Comparable as a UK-based, Arts Council-funded devised physical theatre company touring original productions.
- Gandini Juggling: UK contemporary juggling and circus company that creates touring physical theatre productions, performs at major festivals and theatres, and operates on Arts Council funding. Directly comparable in scale, model, and UK touring circuit positioning.
- Motionhouse: UK physical theatre and circus company creating touring aerial and dance-circus productions. Comparable in creating original equipment, touring to UK and international venues, and receiving Arts Council England funding.
- Gravity & Other Myths: Australian contemporary circus company creating original ensemble acrobatics shows for touring. Similar in scale, original equipment approach, and international touring circuit to Ockham's Razor.
- Scarabeus Theatre: UK aerial theatre company creating touring circus and physical theatre productions with original rigging and apparatus. Direct peer in UK contemporary aerial circus space with similar Arts Council funding model.
Broad incumbents
- Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in contemporary circus with massive touring and resident show operations. Overlap is thematic (contemporary circus), but operates at vastly larger scale, with permanent shows and ticketed arena productions rather than UK theatre touring.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OCKHAM'S RAZOR social profiles
Digital presenceOCKHAM'S RAZOR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OCKHAM'S RAZOR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
OCKHAM'S RAZOR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OCKHAM'S RAZOR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OCKHAM'S RAZOR
What does OCKHAM'S RAZOR do?
Ockham's Razor is a London-based contemporary circus and physical theatre company that creates and tours original productions built around bespoke aerial and acrobatic equipment. The company commissions, choreographs, and stages shows for theatres and festivals worldwide, and offers a portfolio of services including creative directing, rigging, mentoring, training, and consulting for performing arts clients and corporate partners such as fashion and luxury brands.
Is OCKHAM'S RAZOR a public or private company?
OCKHAM'S RAZOR is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was OCKHAM'S RAZOR founded?
OCKHAM'S RAZOR was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is OCKHAM'S RAZOR based?
OCKHAM'S RAZOR is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does OCKHAM'S RAZOR make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Theatre and Festival Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services, directing Services, rigging and Design Services, mentoring and Training, workshops and Participation and commissioned Productions.
Who are OCKHAM'S RAZOR's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NoFit State Circus, Circa, Slung Low, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Told by an Idiot, Gandini Juggling, Motionhouse, Gravity & Other Myths and Scarabeus Theatre. Cirque du Soleil is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does OCKHAM'S RAZOR have an API?
No public API is recorded for OCKHAM'S RAZOR.