What Runaway Entertainment does

Runaway Entertainment is an independent theatre and film production company founded in 2011 by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons and headquartered in London. The company develops original theatrical concepts, commissions new shows, and partners with rights holders to produce live entertainment. Its active slate of seven productions spans West End engagements at major London houses (London Coliseum, Gielgud, Apollo, Lyric, Criterion, Noel Coward), UK and Ireland tours, and international runs in Australia and the United States, with a New York premiere of 2:22 – A Ghost Story scheduled for October 2026 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Key productions include Now You See Me Live, The Hunger Games: On Stage, Here & Now (a Steps jukebox musical with Pete Waterman), Kinky Boots: The Musical, Unfortunate, and the long-running 2:22 – A Ghost Story.

The company operates two distinct revenue streams: producing and owning theatrical IP for ticket sales and licensing income, and providing premium general management services for legacy productions such as The Mousetrap — the world's longest-running play. Runaway generates revenue through ticket sales at West End venues and touring productions, licensing and royalty arrangements for music and intellectual property, and professional services fees for general management. The company leverages partnerships with high-profile creative talent including playwright Conor McPherson, writer Danny Robins, composer Cyndi Lauper, writer Harvey Fierstein, and major IP licensors Lionsgate and Suzanne Collins. It distributes tickets direct-to-consumer through production-specific websites and venue box offices.

The team is deliberately small — approximately 16 people listed on the company website, including the co-founders, a Managing Director, producers, general managers, a Head of Production, a Head of Marketing, a Production Finance Manager, and an Office Dog. The company has won Tony, Olivier, Grammy, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, WhatsOnStage, Evening Standard, and Broadway World awards. Runaway is privately held with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or parent company.

Name

Runaway Entertainment

Legal name

Runaway Entertainment

Website

https://runawayentertainment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Runaway Entertainment is an independent London-based theatre and film production company founded in 2011 that produces and owns West End, touring, and international theatrical productions — including The Hunger Games: On Stage and 2:22 – A Ghost Story — and provides general management services for legacy productions such as The Mousetrap.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatre Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Theatrical production services
• West end productions
• Live entertainment
• Theatre management
• Stage production

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Theatre Production Revenue: Runaway Entertainment generates revenue through producing and owning theatrical productions, including ticket sales at West End venues, UK tours, and international productions. The company develops unique concepts and commissions brand new shows.
2. General Management Services: As General Manager of productions like The Mousetrap, Runaway provides premium general management services across West End and international productions, delivering stability, efficiency, and margin protection for high-value theatrical properties.
3. Licensing and Royalty Income: Productions like Here & Now are co-produced with Steps, ROYO, and Pete Waterman, suggesting licensing arrangements for music and intellectual property used in theatrical productions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Runaway Entertainment is an independent theatre and film production company that develops original theatrical concepts, commissions new shows, and produces live stage productions for the West End, UK/Ireland tours, and international venues (Australia, USA). The company also provides premium general management services for established theatrical properties, delivering operational stability and margin protection for high-value legacy productions such as The Mousetrap.

Product overview

Runaway Entertainment is a Tony, Olivier, and Emmy award-winning independent theatre and film production company founded in 2011 by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons. The company operates a portfolio of theatrical productions including current shows (Now You See Me Live, The Hunger Games: On Stage, 2:22 – A Ghost Story, Here & Now, The Mousetrap, Kinky Boots: The Musical, and Unfortunate) plus management of legacy theatrical properties. The company develops unique concepts, commissions new shows, and partners with others to bring captivating stories to life, providing premium general management services for West End and international productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Now You See Me Live A London premiere stage illusion spectacular featuring four world-class illusionists performing as The Horsemen at the London Coliseum, bringing Lionsgate's film franchise to life with high-tech illusions, solo stunts, and jaw-dropping spectacles for live theatre audiences.
• The Hunger Games: On Stage The first-ever theatrical adaptation of Suzanne Collins' internationally acclaimed book, featuring extraordinary stunts and illusions in an epic theatrical experience at Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, produced in partnership with Lionsgate for live theatre audiences.
• 2:22 – A Ghost Story A supernatural thriller written by Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster that broke box office records with engagements in the West End, UK tours, Ireland, Melbourne, and L.A., with a New York premiere announced for October 2026, targeting live theatre audiences.
• Here & Now A brand-new musical based on songs by pop phenomenon Steps, co-produced with Steps, Pete Waterman, and ROYO, hailed as the biggest jukebox hit since Mamma Mia and touring the UK and Ireland in 2026, targeting live theatre audiences.
• The Mousetrap (General Management) Premium general management services for The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the world, focusing on safeguarding the production's legacy while applying forward-thinking operational strategy and delivering stability, efficiency, and margin protection.
• Kinky Boots: The Musical A multi-award-winning musical starring Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe, featuring Tony and Grammy Award-winning music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, directed by Nikolai Foster, running at the London Coliseum from March 2026 for a strictly limited season.
• Unfortunate A musical featuring Disney's Ursula giving her take on the classic story, with an original hot pop soundtrack and trademark filthy humour, playing at The Lowry in 2025-2026, targeting live theatre audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2:22 – A Ghost Story broke all box office records for a new play at the Noel Coward Theatre
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• LionsgatecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLionsgate has licensed major intellectual properties to Runaway Entertainment for theatrical adaptations, including The Hunger Games for 'The Hunger Games: On Stage' and Now You See Me for 'Now You See Me Live'. These are high-profile, blockbuster franchises adapted for live stage experiences.
• Steps (Pop Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteps, the multi-million-selling pop phenomenon, is a co-producer of 'Here & Now', the brand-new musical based on the songs of the pop group. The production includes hits like One for Sorrow, Better The Devil You Know, Deeper Shade of Blue, and 5,6,7,8.
• Pete WatermancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegendary music producer Pete Waterman is a co-producer of 'Here & Now' musical, bringing his expertise in pop music production to the theatrical adaptation.
• ROYOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROYO is a co-producer of 'Here & Now' musical, partnering with Steps and Pete Waterman to bring the Steps song catalog to the stage.
• Cyndi LaupercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPop icon Cyndi Lauper is the Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer of music and lyrics for 'Kinky Boots: The Musical', which Runaway Entertainment is producing for its West End premiere at London Coliseum.
• Harvey FiersteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein wrote the book for 'Kinky Boots: The Musical', contributing to the acclaimed production that Runaway Entertainment is bringing to London's West End.
• Nikolai FostercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning director Nikolai Foster (known for Grease and The Wizard of Oz) is directing 'Kinky Boots: The Musical' for Runaway Entertainment's West End premiere.
• Conor McPhersoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti award-winning playwright Conor McPherson adapted The Hunger Games for the stage in 'The Hunger Games: On Stage'. He also wrote Girl from the North Country.
• Matthew DunstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned director Matthew Dunster directed 'The Hunger Games: On Stage' and '2:22 – A Ghost Story', bringing theatrical productions to life with extraordinary stunts and illusions.
• Danny RobinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning writer Danny Robins wrote '2:22 – A Ghost Story', creator of the hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist. The play has achieved 7 West End engagements, 2 UK tours, and 30 productions worldwide.
• Suzanne CollinscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerInternationally acclaimed author Suzanne Collins' book 'The Hunger Games' has been adapted for the stage by Runaway Entertainment in partnership with Lionsgate.
• Rachel KavanaughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning director Rachel Kavanaugh (Half a Sixpence, The Great British Bake Off Musical) directs 'Here & Now'.
• Johannes RadebeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe stars in 'Kinky Boots: The Musical' West End premiere, bringing significant public profile and appeal to the production.
• Lucille Lortel TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York will host the New York premiere of '2:22 – A Ghost Story' from 20 October 2026 for a strictly limited 13 week engagement.
• Troubadour Canary Wharf TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand new state of the art venue hosting 'The Hunger Games: On Stage' in a dedicated theatre space.
• London ColiseumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIconic London venue hosting major Runaway productions including 'Now You See Me Live' and 'Kinky Boots: The Musical' West End premieres.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Really Useful Group: Andrew Lloyd Webber's production company, producing The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, and School of Rock. Directly comparable as a privately held theatre producer with a deep West End and Broadway catalogue and franchise-style licensing model.
• Michael Cassel Group: Independent producer of large-scale musicals and theatrical productions across Australia, the UK, and Asia. Comparable to Runaway as a privately held producer delivering major touring productions in similar markets.
• Sonia Friedman Productions: One of the UK's leading independent theatre producers behind major West End and Broadway productions. Highly comparable to Runaway as a founder-led, award-winning producer of musicals and plays in the same West End venues.
• Stage Entertainment: European theatre producer operating major musicals across Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, and the UK. Comparable to Runaway as a producer of licensed musicals and original productions across multiple European territories.
• Cameron Mackintosh Ltd: Legendary independent theatre producer of megamusicals (Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon). Comparable to Runaway as a privately held, founder-driven producer dominating West End and Broadway with both original and licensed IP.
• Trafalgar Entertainment: UK-based live entertainment group producing and operating West End shows (e.g., The Drifters Girl, Jersey Boys). Directly comparable as an independent UK producer building a portfolio of touring and West End musicals.
• Bill Kenwright Ltd: Long-running independent UK theatre producer behind hundreds of West End, touring, and regional productions. Comparable to Runaway as a privately held, founder-led UK producer with deep touring and West End relationships.

Others

• Lionsgate Films: Runaway's licensing partner for The Hunger Games: On Stage and Now You See Me Live. Listed as a peer because it is the upstream IP owner in Runaway's franchise pipeline, making it a structural counterparty rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Ambassador Theatre Group: One of the world's largest theatre operators and producers, running West End and Broadway venues. Comparable to Runaway in West End live entertainment but much larger in scale, operating both venues and productions.
• Disney Theatrical Group: Operates Disney's licensed theatrical properties (The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen) globally. Comparable to Runaway as a producer of large-scale licensed musicals but at far greater scale and as part of a much larger IP-owning conglomerate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/runawayentertainmentuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/RunawayEntertainment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/runaway-entertainment-ltd

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 Runaway Entertainment