SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a South East London not-for-profit youth arts collective delivering free multi-disciplinary creative programmes — theatre, film, radio, oracy, and publishing — to young people aged 12-29, primarily in Lewisham, funded by Arts Council England and charitable trusts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS does
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (registered company number 10017072) operating as a radical youth arts collective based at The Albany, Douglas Way, in Deptford, South East London. Founded in 2009 by Gemma Rowan and Roisin Feeny as a drop-in youth drama group, the organization transitioned in 2020 into a multi-art form collective whose practice spans theatre, sound, film, fashion, music, zine making, and youth-led research. It serves primarily young people aged 12-29 in South East London — with a particular focus on those navigating multiple intersecting identities of race, class, gender, sexuality and disability — through free programmes delivered by a core staff of 13 alongside an associate artist network of emerging creatives.
The collective's programming comprises several discrete initiatives: The Printing Press (alternative community newspaper via Risograph workshops), Speaking Up (a Creative Oracy Programme for school students aged 11-16 aligned with the Cambridge Oracy Framework), New Roots (monthly radio residency on Sister Midnight FM in partnership with Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network), the Standards multidisciplinary event series, the Climate Home six-week festival, and devised theatrical productions including Hold On to Letting Go and The Body Remembers. Campaign work includes (Un)censored on women's safety and peer-research outputs (People, Places & Poetry; A Big Conversation). Performances and events are hosted at The Albany, Battersea Arts Centre, Southbank Centre, Wellcome Collection, Camden People's Theatre and via a Sister Midnight FM broadcast residency; a Next Gen Producer role is hosted at Battersea Arts Centre.
Revenue is generated primarily through grant funding from Arts Council England (designated 'core' tier), City Bridge Foundation, The Listening Fund, We Move Fund, Lewisham Council and Propel, supplemented by earned income from workshop facilitation and performance fees. All youth-facing programmes are free to participants, with travel expenses covered (£5 per session for Printing Press). The business model is non-commercial by design — there is no shareholder return mechanism, no commercial product, and the company is owned by its members as guarantors. Go-to-market relies on community-led discovery, partner venue networks, associate artist word-of-mouth, and organic social channels rather than paid acquisition.
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS
- Legal name
- SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS
- Website
- https://soundslikechaos.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a South East London not-for-profit youth arts collective delivering free multi-disciplinary creative programmes — theatre, film, radio, oracy, and publishing — to young people aged 12-29, primarily in Lewisham, funded by Arts Council England and charitable trusts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Community Arts
- NAICS
- Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM)
Keywords
Where SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Primary revenue from grant funding including Arts Council England, City Bridge Trust, The Listening Fund, We Move Fund, and Lewisham Council. Funding supports production of performances, artist development, and community programs.
- Earned Income: Revenue from workshop facilitation, performance fees, and event delivery at partner venues. Some programs may generate ticket revenue or participant fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free youth programs - Speaking Up for ages 11-16 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free youth programs - Printing Press for ages 15-25 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free community events and performances |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a radical youth arts collective based in South East London that delivers free creative programmes, devised theatre productions, films, radio residencies, zine publishing and youth-led research projects for young people aged 12-29. Its work is co-created by a core collective of associate artists aged 18-29 and delivered in partnership with venues such as The Albany, Battersea Arts Centre and Southbank Centre.
Product overview
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a radical youth arts collective based in South East London that operates as a multi-art form organization rather than a unified tech product. The collective offers a portfolio of distinct creative programmes and productions including The Printing Press (alternative publishing), New Roots radio residency, Speaking Up oracy programme, and theatrical productions like Hold On to Letting Go and The Body Remembers. They also deliver climate-focused initiatives like Climate Home festival and campaign-based work including the (Un)censored campaign. These offerings work together to provide young people aged 12-29 with opportunities in theatre, sound, film, fashion, music, zine making, and youth-led research, centering young artists at both creative and strategic levels of the organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Printing Press A free creative programme led by Associate Artist Zoe Thompson where young people aged 15-25 from Lewisham collaborate to produce a community newspaper and learn alternative publishing through Risograph printing workshops with travel expenses up to £5 per session provided.
- Speaking Up A free Creative Oracy Programme for Lewisham-based school students aged 11-16, delivered by artists Indie and Aleska, focused on public speaking, confidence-building and communication skills aligned with the Cambridge Oracy Framework.
- New Roots on Sister Midnight FM A monthly radio residency on Sister Midnight FM presented by Community Producer Christine Bramwell and the Lewisham Refugee Migrant Network (LRMN), exploring belonging and community through sound, story and reflection.
- Hold On to Letting Go A devised theatre production exploring toxic positivity and misinformation within podcast culture, performed by fifteen teenagers at the Out of Harm's Way Festival and The Albany.
- The Body Remembers A play and creative campaign led by Rofeda Bougaga addressing sexual assault and women's safety, combining poetry, storytelling and community activism.
- Climate Home A six-week festival of action and resistance creating a temporary sustainable space for young people focused on climate justice, featuring theatre, radio, podcasts, carnivals and creative workshops.
- Standards A multidisciplinary event series bringing young Londoners together for debate, creativity and art, featuring spoken word artists, musicians, dancers and performers with themed events such as 'My Right to Beauty' and 'On the Bank'.
- (Un)censored Campaign A youth-led creative campaign focused on women's safety and sexual harassment awareness, working with young women to create policy recommendations and community change.
- Ballyman A short film by Faruq Adigun exploring the parallels between psychosis and spirituality, following a young Black man from South East London, co-directed and co-produced with Artistic Director Roisin Feeny through VIDEOfeet.
Quantifiable outcome
- Established 2009 - 15+ years of youth arts programming
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network (LRMN)corePartnership for New Roots radio residency on Sister Midnight FM. Second year residency airing monthly. Explores what it means to build a sense of belonging in unfamiliar places. Christine Bramwell presents with LRMN hosting.
- PageMastersminorRisograph printing workshops provider for Printing Press programme. Two workshops held at PageMasters studios in Lewisham Shopping Centre. Teaches participants the Risograph printing process.
- Southbank CentreminorStandards: On the Bank event at Riverside Terrace (July 2024). Weekend takeover on Southbank Terrace with music, workshops, and performances.
- Battersea Arts CentreminorNext Gen Producer role hosted at BAC. Partnership for Climate Home festival and ongoing creative collaborations. Jade de Sylva served as Next Gen Producer 2024.
- VIDEOfeetcoreFilm production partner for Ballyman short film. Co-directed and co-produced with Artistic Director Roisin Feeny. VIDEOfeet also created The Right to Play film for Climate Home and produced Eighth of the First.
- Camden People's TheatreminorPresented Work in Progress of The Body Remembers at SPRINT Festival. Supported the production and creative campaign on women's safety.
- Wellcome CollectionminorHost venue for Standards: My Right to Beauty event (November 2023). Partnership for multidisciplinary events bringing young Londoners together for debate, creativity, and dialogue.
- Greater London Authority / Mayor of LondonminorResearch partnership through Partnership for Young London on Young Londoners Research Programme. Year-long peer-research project exploring where young people aged 14-25 go when not at school or home and correlation with mental health.
- Partnership for Young LondonminorPartner in youth spaces and mental health research project with Greater London Authority. Also partner in 2.8 Million Minds - The Big Conversation project connecting four youth arts organisations.
- The AlbanycoreFounding partner and primary venue host. Sounds Like Chaos began as a drop-in youth drama group at The Albany in Deptford in 2009. The Albany continues as co-producer and space provider for performances, youth sessions, workshops, and Standards events. Many joint projects including Climate Home, research partnerships, and young company productions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Youth Theatre: The UK's flagship youth theatre organization developing young performers aged 14-25. Directly comparable as a UK youth-focused theatre company with national reach, professional performance outputs, and free/subsidized access for participants.
- Roundhouse: London youth arts venue and charity delivering creative programmes for 11-25s across music, theatre, film, and spoken word. Directly comparable multi-art form youth organization with venue partnerships, professional development, and free access for young people.
- Graeae Theatre Company: UK disability-led theatre company championing D/deaf and disabled artists. Comparable as a values-led, identity-centred theatre organization producing original work and developing new diverse artistic talent.
- Talawa Theatre Company: Black-led UK theatre company producing work by and for Black artists with active youth and emerging artist programmes. Comparable as a values-driven theatre company centred on under-represented voices and developing new diverse artists.
- Cardboard Citizens: London theatre charity making work with people affected by homelessness and those with experience of the asylum system. Comparable as a small UK arts charity using devised theatre for social impact with marginalized communities.
- Company Three: London-based youth arts company for ages 11-19 producing original theatre and creative work. Directly comparable as a small London youth arts organization with a focus on authentic young voice, devised work, and free programmes for participants.
- Camden People's Theatre: London venue and producing organization supporting emerging artists and early-career theatre makers. Comparable as a London partner venue and peer organization supporting new work, with whom Sounds Like Chaos has co-produced (e.g. SPRINT Festival).
- Clean Break: London theatre company working with women with experience of the criminal justice system. Comparable as a small UK theatre company using art as a tool for social impact with marginalized communities and producing original devised work.
Broad incumbents
- Battersea Arts Centre: Larger South London arts venue with established youth and community programmes. Comparable as a venue partner and broader incumbent in the London youth arts space, though operating at significantly larger scale across multiple art forms.
- Young Vic: Major London theatre with Taking Part programme engaging local young people in creative work. Comparable as a London venue with a youth and community engagement strand, but operates as a much larger institutional theatre.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS social profiles
Digital presenceSOUNDS LiKE CHAOS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS 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 SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS
What does SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS do?
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a radical youth arts collective based in South East London that delivers free creative programmes, devised theatre productions, films, radio residencies, zine publishing and youth-led research projects for young people aged 12-29. Its work is co-created by a core collective of associate artists aged 18-29 and delivered in partnership with venues such as The Albany, Battersea Arts Centre and Southbank Centre.
Is SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS a public or private company?
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS founded?
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS based?
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are earned Income.
Who are SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Youth Theatre, Roundhouse, Graeae Theatre Company, Talawa Theatre Company, Cardboard Citizens, Company Three, Camden People's Theatre and Clean Break. Broad incumbents are Battersea Arts Centre and Young Vic.
Does SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS have an API?
No public API is recorded for SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS.
What industry is SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS in?
SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS's product category is Youth Community Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAE, Children’s & Youth Theatre, with a secondary code of EDAGALAM, Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs). Its NAICS code is 711190.