Zoo Co Theatre Company

What Zoo Co Theatre Company does

Zoo Co is a UK-registered charity and company limited by guarantee (charity no. 1186349, company no. 12089377) operating as a multi-award winning theatre company based at Stanley Arts in South Norwood, Croydon. Founded in 2013, the organisation produces innovative, ensemble-led live theatre for UK and international touring, with a flagship repertoire including Perfect Show for Rachel, Don't Feed the Penguin, Night Shift, Bossy, Messy, Sirens, Ladies in the Van and Giant. All performances have operated as Relaxed As Standard since 2016 and have featured integrated British Sign Language since 2018, positioning access practice as a core product attribute rather than a retrofit.

The company's underlying methodology is co-creation using improvisation, Open Space, devising, and new writing, with shows developed alongside disabled artists, young people (YoCo programme aged 7-21), and community participants including care home residents via the Perfect Worlds programme. There is no proprietary software platform; the "technology" is human creative practice and a developed access IP that has been packaged into Neurodiversity Awareness Training, Access Consultancy, and an Access Library resource.

Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a mid-sized UK arts charity: Arts Council England NPO funding (approximately 40% of total income, awarded Spring 2023), supplementary grants from Vogue World Fund, Reed Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust, Quartet Community Foundation, The Big Give Trust and Stanley Arts, plus earned income from ticket sales, venue hire/box office splits, B2B training and consultancy fees, merchandise (e.g. Perfect Show for Rachel programme at £5.50), and a tiered Zoo Keeper Supporters' Scheme (£2.50-£100/month). Customer segments split between (i) Deaf and disabled audiences and participants as primary end-users, (ii) arts organisations and venues purchasing access services, and (iii) local government/council partners for community programmes. The company is led by Artistic Director Flo O'Mahony and Executive Director Amy Smith, with Chair of Trustees Nick Sweeting (former Improbable co-founder) appointed December 2025.

Name

Zoo Co Theatre Company

Legal name

Zoo Co Creative LTD

Website

https://wearezooco.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zoo Co is a Croydon-based, multi-award winning UK theatre charity producing accessible, ensemble-led live theatre and Neurodiversity Awareness Training for disabled audiences, young people, arts organisations, and local community partners across the UK and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London (South Norwood)

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Producing Fees: Revenue from live theatre performances and touring. Perfect Show for Rachel toured to multiple venues including Barbican and Brighton.
2. Arts Council England Grant: Annual grant from Arts Council England provides approximately 40% of income as NPO (National Portfolio Organisation since Spring 2023)
3. Zoo Keeper Supporters' Scheme: Regular giving programme with monthly tiers: Ally (£2.50), Advocate (£5), Pioneer (£10), Conservationist (£25), Champion (£50), Zoologist (£100)
4. Access Consultancy Services: Fees from access consultancy for events and organisations, including work with Barbican, South London Gallery, Harbottle & Lewis, ThickSkin and Boundless
5. Neurodiversity Awareness Training: Training sessions delivered to organisations
6. Trusts and Foundations: Grants from Vogue World Fund, Reed Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust, Quartet Community Foundation, The Big Give Trust, Stanley Arts
7. Product Sales: Sale of programmes and merchandise, e.g. Perfect Show for Rachel Programme priced at £5.50

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zoo Co is a multi-award winning theatre company that produces innovative, bold, ensemble-led live theatre performances and tours them across the UK and internationally. Beyond producing and touring shows, the company runs a youth theatre programme (YoCo), community engagement initiatives (Self-Care Club, Perfect Worlds in care homes), and sells access-related professional services including Neurodiversity Awareness Training, Access Consultancy, and Access Provisions for events.

Product overview

Zoo Co is a multi-award winning theatre company that operates as a single unified creative organisation offering live theatre productions and community programmes. Their core offerings include eight named theatre productions (Perfect Show for Rachel, Don't Feed the Penguin, Night Shift, Bossy, Messy, Sirens, Ladies in the Van, and Giant), the Young Company (Yoco) youth programme, and access support services including Neurodiversity Awareness Training and Access Consultancy. They also run community initiatives like the Self-Care Club programme and Perfect Worlds care home project. All performances feature Relaxed As Standard format (since 2016) and integrated British Sign Language (since 2018).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YoCo (Zoo Co Young Company): Youth programme that co-creates ambitious studio shows alongside professional artists each year.
• Self-Care Club
• Zoo Keeper Supporters' Scheme

Products and services

• Perfect Show for Rachel A critically-acclaimed theatre show co-created with Rachel, a learning-disabled individual who directs the production live on stage each night. Toured to multiple UK venues including the Barbican.
• Don't Feed the Penguin Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire, performed as part of the company's touring live theatre work.
• Night Shift Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire.
• Bossy Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire.
• Messy Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire.
• Sirens Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire.
• Ladies in the Van Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire.
• Giant Theatre production in Zoo Co's repertoire.
• YoCo (Zoo Co Young Company) Zoo Co's youth theatre programme for young people aged 7-21, co-creating ambitious studio shows alongside professional artists each year from its Croydon base.
• Neurodiversity Awareness Training Training programme developed by Zoo Co in 2024-25 to raise awareness about neurodiversity, delivered to organisations including Harbottle & Lewis, Barbican, South London Gallery, ThickSkin and Boundless.
• Access Consultancy Expert consultancy services for making events and organisations more accessible, delivered to arts and cultural venues.
• Access Provisions for Your Event Provision of access support and services for external events and organisations.
• Self-Care Club A community wellbeing and mental health support programme with filmed sessions available through the Self-Care Hub online.
• Perfect Worlds Programme taking Zoo Co's practice, improvisation skills and Open Space principles into care homes across Croydon as part of Croydon Loves You 2025.
• Perfect Show for Rachel Programme (2025/26 Tour) Printed programme booklet for the 2025/26 tour of Perfect Show for Rachel, sold at £5.50 through the online shop with UK shipping.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stanley ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome venue partner hosting Zoo Co's office and community programmes. Partnership includes place-based funding through Place Partnerships Grant and Culture Croydon Grant.
• Croydon CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Perfect Worlds programme taking Zoo Co's practice into care homes across Croydon as part of Croydon Loves You 2025.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearezooco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2HXQgJmTzOCa_zJZVLjRvA
• Facebookfacebook.com/wearezooco
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearezooco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoo-co-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Zoo Co Theatre Company