53two

What 53two does

53two is a Manchester-based registered charity (No. 1179418) founded in 2016 that operates an accessible 150-seat theatre, arts café/bar, rehearsal and workshop space, and a creative training academy (53two Studio) from a 15-year leased site in Grade II* listed arches beneath the Manchester Central Convention Centre on Watson Street. The organisation serves multiple customer segments: theatre performers and creatives seeking affordable professional services and performance space; event organisers (corporate, weddings, private parties up to 180 guests); disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent audiences and creatives served through resident groups such as TripleC and Exel Elders; and the wider Manchester public attending comedy, theatre, and community programming including the weekly XS Malarkey comedy club and the annual Off Cut new writing festival.

The underlying technology and infrastructure consist of standard venue equipment — a lighting rig, PA system, cinema screen and projector, 3-phase power supply, retractable seating installed in 2024, and the only Changing Places toilet in an independent UK theatre. 53two Studio delivers paid training courses (Stage Combat with APC certification at £150, Screen Acting, Meisner technique, Life Coaching) delivered by in-house practitioners and external facilitators. The 53New initiative provides subsidised space for emerging artists. Distribution runs through direct venue access, online ticket sales (WeGotTickets, TicketSource, Eventbrite, OutSavvy, and the venue's own stage-door platform), gift cards via Square, and Donorbox/Donor fundraising.

The revenue model is a diversified mix of transactional and donation-based streams: ticket sales (typically £5–35 with pay-what-you-can and unwaged options), venue and space hire, café/bar operations (Brightside gluten-free and vegan beers), charitable donations (including a £1/week Quid campaign, brick and headline auditorium sponsorship), and training course fees. All profits are reinvested into the charity's accessibility and emerging-creatives mission. Marketing is community-led via social channels (Facebook, Instagram), a mailing list, Google Reviews, and partnerships with Greater Manchester arts organisations including co-founding the Greater Manchester Small Venues Network (GMSVN).

Name

53two

Legal name

53two

Website

https://53two.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

53two is a Manchester-based registered charity operating a 150-seat accessible theatre, café/bar, rehearsal space, and training academy, serving performers, event organisers, disabled communities, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theatre and Performing Arts Venue Services

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Caterers (722320)

akta.pro primary industry

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theatre Services & Design (Scenic/Costume/Props/Stage Management) (MPAGABAO), Reception Planning & Guest Experience (Seating, Favors, Hospitality) (HSACABAM)

Keywords

• Community theatre services
• Performing arts venue
• Accessible theatre space
• Creative training programmes
• Venue hire services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre performances, comedy shows, and events. Ticket prices range from £5-35 depending on the production, with tiered pricing and pay-what-you-can options available.
2. Venue and Space Hire: The studio theatre (150 capacity), rehearsal/workshop space, and bar arch are available for hire for events, parties, corporate functions, and weddings.
3. Bar and Café Operations: Arts café/bar serving food and drinks including Brightside beers (Gluten Free and Vegan). All profits from bar and theatre operations return to the charity.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals and corporate sponsors, including the Quid campaign (£1/week), brick sponsorship, headline sponsorship with naming rights for the auditorium.
5. Training Courses and Workshops: Revenue from 53two Studio courses including Stage Combat (£150), Screen Acting, Meisner, Drama Acting, Life Coaching, and sessions from external facilitators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

53two is a registered charity operating a fully accessible 150-seat independent theatre venue and arts café/bar in Manchester, providing performance space, rehearsal and workshop hire, professional training courses (through 53two Studio) covering Screen Acting, Stage Combat, Meisner technique and Life Coaching, and regular community programming including comedy clubs and new writing festivals. The venue also offers private hire for weddings, corporate events, and parties, with all profits reinvested into the charitable mission of supporting performers with access needs and emerging creatives.

Product overview

53two is a Manchester-based theatre and arts charity offering a unified venue and creative hub. The organization provides a 150-capacity theatre space (The Studio) for performances and events, an arts café/bar for creatives, and rehearsal/workshop space. Through 53two Studio, they offer training courses including Screen Acting, Stage Combat, Meisner technique, and Dramatic Acting. Their charitable initiatives include 53New, providing subsidized space for emerging artists. The venue also hosts regular programming including XS Malarkey comedy club and the Off Cut new writing festival. All profits support the charity's mission of providing accessible, affordable theatre and creative opportunities for everyone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAP Productions: Original production banner used by Manchester Actors' Platform before 53two was established.
• 53two Studio
• 53two

Products and services

• Theatre Space (The Studio) A 150-capacity theatre and events space accommodating 120 seated for theatre/cinema, 150 standing, live music events, sit-down dinners, seminars, workshops, and live stream productions. Includes lighting rig, PA system, hireable cinema screen and projector, and 3-phase power supply, available for hire by visiting theatre companies and event organisers.
• Café/Bar Arts café/bar serving food and drinks including Brightside beers (Gluten Free and Vegan), functioning as a social hub for creatives adjacent to the theatre space. Open to the public with table booking available.
• Rehearsal / Workshop Space Hire A fully accessible 8m x 9.5m rehearsal and workshop space within the Great Northern Warehouse, with lift access from Deansgate, private accessible toilets, kitchenette with sink, WiFi, and a Green Room. Available for hire with discount rates for charities.
• 53two Studio Training Courses Creative training courses for performers and creatives including Screen Acting (Entry, Advanced, Professional and Weekend classes), Stage Combat (with APC certification, £150 two-day examination course), Meisner technique, Life Coaching, and Dramatic Acting Classes. Delivered by 53two practitioners and external facilitators.
• Bar Hire and Private Event Hire Bar arch and bar area available for private hire for meetings, casual gatherings, board games, group reservations, private events and celebrations. Customers can book tables in snugs, reserve areas of the bar, or hire the whole bar.
• Event Hosting (Weddings and Corporate Events) The theatre space and bar available for hire for weddings, corporate events, and private parties hosting up to 180 guests, with live music, DJs, and discos available. Wedding services include preparation space, wedding breakfast, and evening party. Cinema screen and projector available for corporate events.
• 53New Initiative A charitable platform and initiative providing theatre space and/or rehearsal rooms at reduced rates for new, talented companies and individuals to explore, develop, and grow their craft as part of 53two's grass-roots artist support mission.
• XS Malarkey Comedy Club A weekly not-for-profit comedy club hosted by Toby Hadoke, featuring professional comedians, rising stars, and newcomers. Operates a membership scheme at £3 per ticket for weekly professional shows.
• Off Cut Festival An annual new writing festival now in its 17th year, featuring twenty plays running in rep over two weeks with audience voting for favourites. The top eight plays advance to a final show, with the winning play receiving £10,000 of in-kind support for full production at 53two.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only independent theatre in the UK with Changing Places toilet
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Manchester Small Venues Network (GMSVN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202053two joined Hope Mill Theatre, The Edge Theatre, and The Kings Arms Theatre to form GMSVN during the first COVID lockdown. The network speaks collectively for independent venues with less than 200 seats, combining expertise and resources to support profile development and outreach across Greater Manchester.
• TripleCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner53two is the regular home of TripleC Community and Youth groups for Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent creatives. The venue provides space and support for this community organization.
• Academy of Performance Combat (APC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPC provides stage combat training and certification at 53two Studio, with examinations conducted at the venue.
• XS MalarkeyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWeekly not-for-profit comedy club hosted at 53two, providing regular programming and audience draw to the venue.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre: Independent Manchester arts venue and GMSVN co-member with a similar accessible, community-led programme mix of theatre, workshops and venue hire targeting grassroots creatives.
• Brewery Arts Centre: Community-focused arts centre in Kendal combining theatre, cinema, café/bar and participatory creative programmes — a strong model analogue to 53two outside the North West.
• The Kings Arms: Small independent Salford/Manchester theatre and pub venue, GMSVN co-member, running a parallel mix of fringe theatre, comedy, music and venue hire.
• Hope Mill Theatre: Small independent Manchester theatre co-founding member of GMSVN alongside 53two. Operates a comparable model combining a small-scale performance space with creative community programming in the Manchester area.
• Battersea Arts Centre: Community-led London arts centre with a heritage building housing multiple performance spaces, café/bar, and grassroots creative programmes — a close analogue to 53two's operating model.
• Contact Theatre: Manchester-based arts charity focused on young and underrepresented audiences with accessible programming; shares 53two's mission-led, community-anchored positioning.

Broad incumbents

• The Young Vic: London theatre renowned for accessibility, community engagement and nurturing emerging talent; shares 53two's inclusive programming ethos at materially larger scale and budget.
• Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester: Prominent Manchester theatre with a broad programme and corporate venue-hire operation; draws on overlapping audiences and donor pools but is structurally and financially much larger than 53two.
• HOME Manchester: Larger Manchester arts complex combining theatre, cinema and gallery programming; overlaps with 53two's audience base but operates at materially greater scale and broader scope.
• The Lowry: Major Salford arts venue with two theatres, galleries and participatory programming; comparable function to 53two but operating at significantly larger scale and budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/53two
• Instagraminstagram.com/53twotheatre
• Xx.com/53two
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/53two

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 53two