Swan Theatre

What Swan Theatre does

Swan Theatre, formally The Swan Theatre Company (registered charity no. 292763), is a non-professional community theatre in Yeovil, Somerset, that produces live theatre professionally. Founded by the Yeovil Dramatic and Arts Society in 1976 after converting a former Bass brewery pub purchased in 1967, the venue has staged nearly 300 productions and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Its underlying production platform centres on professional-quality lighting and sound systems within an intimate, tiered auditorium, supplemented by NT Live broadcast screenings, a Cinematheque world-cinema film club, and a programme of stand-up comedy nights launched in September 2026.

The business model is community-led and self-funded without regular public subsidy. Revenue is generated from ticket sales (£13.50–£20 per seat), annual memberships (£20 adult, £30 family), Cinematheque film society memberships (£33 per season), a fully licensed bar, a £5/month 200 Club lottery capped at 200 tickets, gift vouchers, and a charity night scheme that donates up to 30% of ticket takings to local causes such as Canine Partners. Distribution runs primarily through The Little Box Office and Seaty online ticketing, plus direct box office contact via email and phone. The customer base is overwhelmingly local and individual — Yeovil and Somerset residents seeking accessible amateur theatre, NT Live screenings, world cinema, and community events — with secondary audiences among local charities, schools and colleges, and partner theatre groups such as Yeovil Civic Players, Motiv8 Productions, and Yeovil Youth Theatre that tenant the venue.

Name

Swan Theatre

Legal name

The Swan Theatre Company

Website

https://swan-theatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Swan Theatre Company is a registered Yeovil community theatre charity producing six in-house productions a year, alongside NT Live screenings, Cinematheque film club, and comedy nights, serving local Somerset audiences and amateur theatre participants without regular public funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Community theatre performances
• Amateur dramatic productions
• Live stage entertainment
• Film club screenings
• Theatre venue hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeovil

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for Swan Theatre Company productions, NT Live screenings, and other events. Ticket prices range from free to £20 depending on production type.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees: £20 for adults, £30 for families (2 adults + under-18s). Members receive Cue Lines newsletter, priority booking, and participate in productions.
3. Bar Sales: Fully licensed bar generating revenue from interval refreshments and drinks during performances.
4. Charity Night Scheme: Charities can buy whole charity night houses at reduced rates or receive 30% of takings, generating venue rental income while supporting local causes.
5. 200 Club: Monthly lottery-style fundraising: £5 per ticket per month, maximum 200 tickets. Bi-annual draws and one annual major prize.
6. Gift Vouchers: Swan gift vouchers sold in units of 1, 2 or 4 tickets at £13.50 per ticket. NTLive vouchers at £15 per ticket. Valid for 1 year.
7. Cinematheque Membership: Film society membership at £33 per person per season, with £1 tickets for members and £5 for guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Swan Theatre Company produces and presents six live stage performances annually as a community-led amateur theatre, supplemented by National Theatre (NT) Live cinema screenings of professional productions and a Cinematheque world cinema film club. The venue also hosts other local theatre groups such as Motiv8 Productions and Yeovil Civic Players, supports charity fundraising nights, and provides a fully licensed bar with interval refreshments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Swan Theatre Company Productions
• NT Live Cinema Screenings

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Theatre Royal, BathminorOthersRegional theatre partner linked through the Partner Links page, suggesting cross-promotion and audience sharing between regional theatre venues.
• The Brewhouse Theatre, TauntonminorOthersRegional theatre partner in the partner network, likely for cross-promotion and regional theatre community connections.
• CinemathequecoreOthersYeovil's independent film club resident at the Swan Theatre. Membership society showing best of World Cinema at £33 per season with £1 tickets for members. Hosted at Swan Theatre premises.
• The Yeovil Civic PlayerscoreOthersLocal theatre group that regularly performs at the Swan Theatre, producing additional shows alongside Swan Theatre Company productions.
• Bristol Old VicminorOthersRegional theatre partner network connection with major Bristol theatre venue.
• The David HallminorOthersRegional arts venue partner in the theatre network.
• Bristol Hippodrome TheatreminorOthersRegional theatre partner network connection.
• Mission Theatre, BathminorOthersRegional theatre partner network in Bath.
• Rondo TheatreminorOthersRegional theatre partner network connection.
• Strode TheatreminorOthersRegional theatre partner network connection.
• Taunton ThespiansminorOthersRegional amateur theatre group partner.
• The Warehouse Theatre, IlminsterminorOthersRegional theatre partner in the network.
• Amateur Players of SherborneminorOthersRegional amateur theatre group partner.
• Yeovil Youth TheatrecoreOthersLocal youth theatre group linked through partner network, providing pathway for young people into theatre.
• Yeovil Community Arts AssociationminorOthersLocal arts association partner for community arts in Yeovil.
• Little Theatre GuildminorOthersNational organisation for Little Theatres that Swan Theatre is a member of, providing networking and standards framework.
• Genius PR & EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation for the Swan Theatre Comedy Night launch event, bringing top-quality live stand-up comedy to the theatre.
• Amicus Law YeovilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal law firm supporting the launch of Swan Theatre Comedy Night, helping bring high-quality live comedy to the local community.
• Canine PartnersminorOthersCharity benefiting from Saturday evening performance of Steel Magnolias. Creates loving, life-changing partnerships between disabled people and expertly trained assistance dogs.
• Yeovil Dramatic and Arts SocietycoreOthersOriginal founding organisation that purchased The Swan pub in 1967 and transformed it into the theatre. Society members undertook seven years of conversion work.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bristol Old Vic: Oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world and a partner-link in the Swan's regional network. Comparable as a regional repertory venue, though it operates at much larger scale with professional touring productions and a broader programming slate.

Direct peers

• The Warehouse Theatre (Ilminster): Ilminster-based community theatre in the Swan's regional partner network. Comparable as a Somerset amateur/community venue of similar scale, with mixed live performance and community-event programming.
• Mission Theatre (Bath): Bath-based small theatre in the Swan's regional partner network. Comparable as a community performing-arts venue of similar size and operational model, hosting amateur productions, screenings, and live events.
• The Brewhouse Theatre (Taunton): Somerset-based regional theatre listed as a Swan Theatre partner. Highly comparable as a community-accessible regional venue presenting mixed drama, comedy, and community programming within the same Somerset catchment.
• Strode Theatre (Street): Theatre attached to Strode College in Street, Somerset, within the Swan's regional partner network. Comparable as a regional repertory/community theatre presenting mixed professional and amateur programming to a Somerset audience.
• Taunton Thespians: Somerset amateur theatre group listed as a Swan partner. Comparable as a non-professional amateur dramatic society of similar scale, reliant on volunteers, producing plays for local audiences.
• Rondo Theatre (Bath): Small community theatre in Bath within the Swan's regional partner network. Closely comparable as a non-professional theatre produced to professional standards, with a similar scale of venue and volunteer-driven model.
• The David Hall (South Petherton): South Petherton arts venue within the Swan's partner network. Closely comparable as a Somerset community venue hosting live performances, cinema, and community events with similar volunteer-driven programming.

Others

• Little Theatre Guild: UK national association of small theatres of which the Swan is a member. Comparable as a peer ecosystem rather than a direct competitor; provides networking, shared standards, and touring/audience-development frameworks for small theatres of similar size.

Regional players

• Theatre Royal Bath: Long-established regional theatre in Bath listed as a direct partner-link on the Swan Theatre website. Compares on regional repertory programming and audience-development model, although operating at significantly larger scale and with professional (non-amateur) productions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theswanyeovil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiCMEB1DrQFtH1IUoFmG7pQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SwanTheatreYeovil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swan-theatre

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 Swan Theatre