Theater DEGASTEN

What Theater DEGASTEN does

Theater DEGASTEN, operated by Stichting de Gasten, is a non-profit youth theater organization founded in 2013 in Amsterdam (originating from the 2003 Jong Rast project under Stichting Theater RAST). It serves approximately 80 young people aged 13-31 per year through a portfolio that includes weekly studio lessons (STUDIO North, West, East, and a seasonal New-West location), a three-tier production system (Reguliere, Nieuwe Makers, and School Producties), short-course Open Studios, and a methodology-focused IN*BETWEEN LAB. The organization's value proposition rests on hyperdiverse co-creation methodology with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIEB) embedded as founding DNA, producing 18,000 annual visitors and participants and achieving a 1/3 placement rate of participants into professional theater or art education. The portfolio includes critically recognized productions such as 'Help I Need Some Body' (ranked #4 best performance of 2023 by Het Parool) and touring school productions including HEADSPACE, CRICKETS, and 404 CONNECTION (NOT) FOUND.

The business model is primarily a subsidized non-profit operating model. Core revenue is structural public funding for the 2025-2028 cycle from Gemeente Amsterdam and a consortium of cultural funds (Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Fonds21, Cultuurfonds, VSB Fonds, ELJA Foundation, Lira Fonds, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie), supplemented by player contributions of €225/€300/€400 annually (tiered reduced/standard/supporter), a €10/year Guestpass membership, ticket sales of €12.50-€15 standard or pay-what-you-can, and donations. Distribution occurs through four Amsterdam studio locations, national school tours, partner theater venues (Frascati, Korzo, Theater Rotterdam, Over het IJ Festival, Oerol), and ticketing platforms (Eventix, Ticketmatic). The organization has ~25 staff plus contracted makers, is governed by an unpaid board, adheres to Fair Practice Code and cao Toneel en Dans compensation, and is affiliated with NAPK. There is no technology product, software platform, or AI component; the core deliverable is live theatrical co-creation and talent development.

Name

Theater DEGASTEN

Legal name

Stichting de Gasten

Website

https://theaterdegasten.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Theater DEGASTEN is a non-profit youth theater organization in Amsterdam serving ~80 young people (ages 13-31) annually through studio programs, three tiers of productions, and talent development, with ~25 staff, a 1/3 placement rate into professional theater, and structural Dutch public funding for 2025-2028.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Theater and Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Youth theater programs
• Theater education services
• Talent development programs
• Performing arts training
• Community theater productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Structural Public Funding: DEGASTEN receives structural financing from public funds for the period 2025-2028, supplemented by various cultural funds and foundations including Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Cultuurfonds, and others.
2. Player Contributions: Annual start-contribution fees from participants: €225 reduced rate, €300 standard rate, €400 supporter rate. Subsidized options available for those who cannot pay.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from public performances and school productions. Standard tickets typically €12-15, with discounted rates for Guestpass members.
4. Guestpass Membership: Annual membership at €10 providing access to zines, discounted tickets, priority access to merchandise and performances, and invitations to closed presentations.
5. Guestpass Donations: Donations from Guestpass members support a fund that pays contribution or travel costs for players who cannot afford participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Theater DEGASTEN runs weekly theater lessons, multi-tier productions, and school-based educational performances for young people aged 13-31 in Amsterdam. The organization develops original theater productions through co-creation with youth participants and delivers interactive educational performances at schools throughout the Netherlands. Programs are anchored in a 20-year diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging methodology aimed at talent development and pathways into professional theater or art education.

Product overview

Theater DEGASTEN is a youth theater organization in Amsterdam that offers a multi-layered portfolio of programs for young people aged 13-31. The core offerings include STUDIO's (weekly theater lessons across Amsterdam districts North, West, and East), PRODUCTIES (three production tiers: Reguliere Producties for general audiences, Nieuwe Makers Producties for experimental form research, and School Producties for educational school performances), and OPEN STUDIO's (light-intensity short courses). Additional programs include the IN*BETWEEN LAB for socially engaged methodology work and community partnerships, plus the GUESTPASS membership for ongoing community support. DEGASTEN also offers productions such as HEADSPACE, CRICKETS, and 404 CONNECTION (NOT) FOUND as school productions, and HELP I NEED SOME BODY as a regular production with artistic partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STUDIO's (Weekly Theater Lessons) Weekly theater lessons for youth aged 13-31 in Amsterdam's North, West, and East districts. Groups train for an entire season and work toward presentations, with three location weekends and regular showcases throughout the year.
• PRODUCTIES (Productions) Three production tiers: Reguliere Producties (broad diversity, artistically innovative), Nieuwe Makers Producties (experiment, form research and development), and School Producties (educational, nationwide, for youth).
• OPEN STUDIO's Light-intensity short course series across different locations with various makers. Participants can sign up per session without audition. Also serves as introductory lessons before the main audition day.
• IN*BETWEEN LAB A space for DEGASTEN's socially engaged work and collaborations, including methodology development, knowledge sharing, and social impact initiatives, connecting the inclusive approach with academic, educational, and social partners.
• GUESTPASS Membership A community membership at €10 per season providing access to biannual DEGASTEN ZINE, ticket discounts, priority access to merchandise and performances, and invitations to closed presentations and try-outs.
• HEADSPACE (School Production) An interactive classroom production about mental health and well-being, addressing the pressure young people face and how to talk about struggles. Created and performed by DEGASTEN youth players for VO and MBO schools.
• CRICKETS (School Production) An interactive 14+ production about noise, discomfort, and the internal voices that demand attention. Explores how young people can listen to themselves in a world of constant distraction. Performed at schools and youth centers.
• 404 CONNECTION (NOT) FOUND (School Production) An interactive production for schools and youth centers exploring what real contact means in a digital age. Players search with the audience for answers about genuine connection versus online interaction. Scheduled for 2026 performances at schools.
• HELP I NEED SOME BODY (Regular Production) A co-production with Mimetheatergroep Bambie and Theater LeBelle exploring the complexity of 'care' — caring for others and oneself. Features performers of different generations in an absurdist production about asking for and providing help.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 80 young people participate annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and historical.

• Podium MozaïekcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013House company of DEGASTEN since 2013. Provides studio space in Amsterdam West and serves as primary venue for performances. Home base for STUDIO WEST.
• NowherecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffice location since 2020. Partner for kantoor and productions. Home base for STUDIO OOST.
• Solid Ground MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner in Amsterdam North for STUDIO NOORD. Partner in reaching new talent in North Amsterdam.
• Broedplaats De VlugtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner and partner in reaching new talent in Amsterdam New-West. Provides space for OPEN STUDIO NIEUW-WEST.
• MAQAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPEN STUDIO WEST location and research/presentation space. Partner for interdisciplinary artistic work.
• MovementalistmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic partnership for co-productions including Out of Order (2022). Choreographers duo Dayna Martinez Morales and Vincent Verburg.
• Action Zoo HumainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlemish theater company collaboration for Waarheidscommissie.NL project on human zoos heritage.
• N.O.B. ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmsterdam-based artistic partner for productions including CRICKETS.
• Theater LeBelle / CordaanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater workshop for people with intellectual disabilities, part of Cordaan Kunst & Zorg program. Co-production partner for Help I Need Some Body and other productions.
• BambiemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMime theater group co-producing Help I Need Some Body (2023), ranked #4 best performance of 2023 by Het Parool.
• Theater RASThistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal parent organization from which DEGASTEN emerged in 2003. Founded by Celil Toksöz.
• Anne Frank StichtingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration since 2016 on educational productions addressing racism, discrimination, freedom, equal rights and democracy.
• Bijlmer ParktheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew pilot stadsproject Zuidoost in collaboration with Cordaan. Expanding geographic presence in Amsterdam Southeast.
• TropenmuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Track Record production responding to Onze koloniale erfenis exhibition.
• FASHIONCLASHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary fashion and culture platform collaboration for Wat Draag Je project on identity and fashion.
• Framer Framed / Werkplaats MolenwijkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Amsterdam North for cultural programming and community engagement.
• Rijks Justitiële Jeugdinrichting De HartelborgtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for INSIDE installation project with young people from the juvenile detention center.
• Vrije Universiteit AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for Spelenderwijs project on youth mental health research.
• Pakhuis De ZwijgermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic program partner within SNAP collective for research programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Theater Artemis: Amsterdam-based youth theater company producing original performances for and with young people, with a comparable focus on developing new makers and reaching school audiences. Closest direct peer given shared city, target demographic, and educational mission.
• Jeugdtheater De Krakeling: Amsterdam's dedicated youth theater venue that programs professional companies and runs workshops for young audiences. Comparable as an Amsterdam-based youth theater hub with overlapping programming for schools and families.
• De Toneelmakerij: Amsterdam-based subsidized theater company specializing in productions for children and young audiences. Comparable as a peer producing age-appropriate theatrical work with educational and developmental outcomes in the same Dutch market.
• BonteHond: Dutch youth theater company producing accessible theater for young audiences, including those who don't typically engage with traditional theater. Comparable in mission to reach diverse/non-traditional youth audiences.
• Het Filiaal theatermakers: Dutch theater company creating productions for young audiences (4+ and older), with comparable focus on innovative forms and educational settings. Comparable peer operating in the same youth-theater category with similar touring school model.

Broad incumbents

• Het Nationale Theater: Large Dutch national theater producing company and venue with educational and youth programming as part of its broader portfolio. Established incumbent that competes with DEGASTEN for school bookings and arts funding.
• Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA): Major Amsterdam-based subsidized theater company producing mainstream and innovative productions for general audiences. Broad incumbent with overlapping programming infrastructure but operates at much larger scale and broader audience scope.

Regional players

• Toneelgroep Maastricht: Regional Dutch subsidized theater company with parallel youth and education programming in the southern Netherlands. Comparable structurally as a publicly funded theater with school-tour productions, though serving a different geography than Amsterdam.

Others

• Podium Mozaïek: Amsterdam West venue and DEGASTEN's house company since 2013; provides studio space and serves as primary performance venue. Directly comparable as a venue partner and Amsterdam cultural institution serving diverse audiences.
• Stichting Theater RAST: Original parent organization from which DEGASTEN (formerly Jong Rast) emerged in 2003. Highly relevant as the founding parent and continuing Amsterdam theater peer with overlapping intercultural and youth-focused programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user27795758
• Facebookfacebook.com/theaterdegasten
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaterdegasten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theater-degasten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Theater DEGASTEN