Small World Theatre

What Small World Theatre does

Small World Theatre is a registered charity (number 1079819) and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1979 in Cardigan, Wales by Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett (originally as Dandelion Puppets). It operates as a performing theatre company and community arts organization with a portfolio spanning touring puppet theatre productions, aerial circus training (Syrcas Byd Bach), youth programmes (Ieuenctid Byd Bach, Glow Byd Bach, Amethyst, ArtsBoost, Tonau), and community-led projects such as lantern parades, sculpture trails, and cultural heritage celebrations. The organization serves families, LGBTQ+ youth aged 11-18, young people with mental health needs (via partnerships with Hywel Dda University Health Board), and rural West Wales communities, with a strong focus on Welsh language service delivery (Cynnig Cymraeg award) and accessibility (BSL-integrated performances, audio description, inclusive design).

Name

Small World Theatre

Legal name

Small World Theatre

Website

https://smallworld.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Small World Theatre is a Welsh community arts charity founded in 1979, delivering puppet theatre, aerial circus training, and youth mental health programmes from its near-zero carbon venue Theatr Byd Bach in Cardigan, serving families, LGBTQ+ youth, and rural West Wales communities through grant-funded projects and public performances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Community Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Puppetry & Marionette Theatre (MPAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ), Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF), Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Youth arts programmes
• Aerial circus classes
• Puppet performance art
• Community engagement projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardigan, Wales

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Multi-Year Funding: Arts Council of Wales multi-year funding as a core funding stream, supplemented by grants from National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Baring Foundation, Children in Need, and other charitable foundations
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from live event tickets including music performances, theatre productions, comedy shows, and circus cabaret events
3. Aerial Circus Classes: Syrcas Byd Bach offers weekly aerial circus classes across multiple skill levels (child, youth, adult) and apparatus (trapeze, silks, rope, sling). Sessions priced at £17 each, booked in half-term blocks
4. Venue Hire: Theatr Byd Bach venue available for hire for events, parties, meetings, and conferences. Near-zero carbon facility with aerial circus capabilities
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations through Localgiving crowdfunding platform, with past fundraisers for Giant Lantern Parade events
6. Project Commissions: Fee-for-service creative commissions from public sector organizations including Pembrokeshire County Council (Art Afoot trails), Hywel Dda University Health Board (ArtsBoost), and National Eisteddfod

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Small World Theatre produces puppet theatre shows, runs an aerial circus school (Syrcas Byd Bach), and delivers a portfolio of youth programmes and community arts projects from its near-zero carbon venue Theatr Byd Bach in Cardigan, Wales. The organisation also operates a live events programme and accepts venue hire for external events, with mission-driven work spanning mental health, LGBTQ+ inclusion, Welsh-language culture, and environmental themes.

Product overview

Small World Theatre is a performing theatre company and community arts organisation offering a diverse portfolio of programmes and services. The core offerings include touring puppet theatre productions (such as Pleth), an aerial circus school (Syrcas Byd Bach), youth theatre (Ieuenctid Byd Bach), LGBTQ+ youth groups (Glow Byd Bach), youth mental health programmes (Amethyst and ArtsBoost), and a music project (Tonau). The organisation operates from its near-zero carbon venue, Theatr Byd Bach, which is available for venue hire and hosts a live events programme. Additionally, Small World Theatre delivers community arts projects including lantern parades, art trails, and cultural celebrations, often in partnership with other organisations. The portfolio is interconnected through shared themes of community engagement, environmental awareness, and social inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Syrcas Byd Bach (aerial circus school) Weekly aerial circus classes in trapeze, rope/silks, and sling/hammock for children (age 5+), youth (age 8-15), and adults (16+), from beginners to experienced/improvers levels, plus monthly aerial yoga sessions. Booked directly by individuals and families.
• Pleth (puppet theatre show) A 45-minute family-friendly, BSL-accessible non-verbal puppet theatre show set in a Welsh temperate rainforest, blending movement, foley sound, visual storytelling, and British Sign Language, with an optional workshop. Suitable for all ages.
• Theatr Byd Bach venue hire Theatr Byd Bach is a near-zero carbon performance venue with aerial circus facilities, accessible design, gender-neutral toilets, and technical support, available for hire for events, parties, meetings, and conferences. One of few venues in Wales with aerial circus capabilities.
• Live events programme Curated programme of live performances including theatre, music concerts, comedy, circus cabaret, and community events hosted at the Small World Theatre venue, with tickets booked via the online shop.
• Glow Byd Bach (LGBTQ+ youth group) A social group for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 11-18 in Cardigan and surrounding areas, providing a safe space for self-expression, identity exploration, and friendships through collaborative art projects and discussion, funded by Children in Need.
• Ieuenctid Byd Bach (Youth Theatre) Small World Theatre's youth theatre programme nurturing the next generation of performers, artists, and technicians in West Wales through acting, performance, and creative workshops.
• Amethyst (youth mental health programme) Youth mental health programme working with young people experiencing mental health problems, providing additional support for parents/guardians and carers, and delivering arts-based initiatives to support mental health, with arts-based referral pathways.
• Tonau (music and wellbeing project) Music project for young people aged 14-18 using music as a means of improving wellbeing, including DJ workshops (Tonau Trydan) and rock school sessions (Tonau Byw), supported by Ty Cerdd and The Margaret Davies Charity.
• ArtsBoost (NHS-commissioned mental health programme) Partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board delivering arts-based creative activities for young people aged 12-17 known to Specialist CAMHS to improve mental wellbeing and reduce feelings of distress, delivered in consortium with Span Arts and People Speak Up.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 community members engaged through public consultations for Art Afoot trails
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Pembrokeshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Commissioning partner for Art Afoot / Celf ar Droed sculpture trails linking Fishguard and Goodwick, funded by UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.
• Hywel Dda University Health BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for ArtsBoost project, working with Small World Theatre, Span Arts, and People Speak Up to deliver arts-based mental health activities for young people known to SCAMHS.
• Span ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner in ArtsBoost consortium alongside People Speak Up and Small World Theatre, delivering arts activities for young people's mental health in Pembrokeshire.
• People Speak UpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner in ArtsBoost consortium, delivering arts-based mental health activities in Carmarthenshire alongside Small World Theatre and Span Arts.
• West Wales Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Llais yr Afon project, leading development of The People's Plan for the River Teifi and providing river ecology expertise.
• Save the TeificoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity campaign group partnering on Llais yr Afon, bringing local knowledge and advocacy for river protection.
• spacetocreatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner in Llais yr Afon, designing the contemporary folk map and leading community engagement workshops.
• National Eisteddfod of WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for Carreg Filltir Las project celebrating 850th Eisteddfod anniversary, featuring Small World Theatre's giant Lord Rhys puppet in a week-long cultural journey.
• Spraoi FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish festival joining Eisteddfod celebrations with large-scale parade floats, supported by Culture Ireland and Wales Arts International.
• On Land's Edge FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival partnering with Small World Theatre for Moby Dick Lantern Parade celebrating 70 years since filming in Fishguard Bay, with lantern parade and community events.
• MwldanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardigan arts venue co-presenting Gwŷl Aberteifi LIVE 2026 music festival with Small World Theatre, Fflach, The Cellar, and GRAIN.
• Fflach, The Cellar, GRAINmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardigan venues co-presenting Gwŷl Aberteifi LIVE 2026 music festival across multiple venues.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Little Angel Theatre: London's only dedicated year-round puppet theatre producing work for children and families, with an inclusive programme and touring productions. Closest UK analogue to Small World Theatre's puppet-theatre-first identity, scale, and family/youth audience focus.
• Oily Cart: London-based theatre company producing multi-sensory and accessible work for very young audiences and disabled young people, including BSL-integrated performances. Directly comparable in its inclusive design methodology and touring model for young and family audiences.
• Hijinx Theatre: Cardiff-based inclusive producing theatre working with learning-disabled artists and reaching underserved audiences through touring and community programmes. Highly comparable Welsh charity model combining professional production, youth engagement, and access-focused programming.

Emerging players

• Frantic Assembly: UK-wide touring physical theatre company with strong education and youth-theatre programmes (Ignition, LTN). Comparable as a UK touring producing theatre that integrates youth engagement and inclusive practice into its core delivery model.

Regional players

• Chapter Arts Centre: Cardiff-based multi-arts centre combining cinema, theatre, dance, and community programmes. Comparable as a Welsh community-arts venue offering programme space, classes, and outreach, though broader in scope and urban in location.
• Taliesin Arts Centre: Swansea University arts centre presenting theatre, music, dance, and film alongside community and learning programmes. Comparable as a Welsh regional venue combining presenting, community engagement, and youth programming.
• Mwldan: Cardigan-based cinema and live arts venue that co-presents Gŵyl Aberteifi LIVE with Small World Theatre. Direct local partner and competitor for live-event audiences in the same Cardigan catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Theatr Clwyd: Wales's largest regional producing theatre based in Mold, presenting drama, musicals, and community programmes across north Wales. Comparable as a Welsh multi-arts producing charity, though operating at substantially larger scale and broader programming scope.
• Wales Millennium Centre: Cardiff Bay-based national arts centre hosting resident Welsh companies and a year-round presenting programme. Comparable as a flagship Welsh arts venue, though operating at substantially larger scale and with a broader commercial programming mix.
• National Theatre Wales: Wales's national English-language producing theatre, staging large-scale site-specific and touring work across Wales. Comparable as a publicly funded Welsh producing theatre, though at materially larger scale and broader national remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/glowbydbach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/small-world-theatre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Small World Theatre