1623 Theatre Company Limited

What 1623 Theatre Company Limited does

1623 Theatre Company Limited is a privately-held UK theatre company founded in 2005 and registered in Derby (registered office at QUAD, Cathedral Quarter, Derby DE1 3AS). It operates a community co-creation model, working alongside marginalised groups — Deaf, disabled, LGBTQ+, global majority, neurodivergent, and working-class theatre makers and audiences — to produce Shakespeare-inspired live productions, digital content, and educational workshops. Its work follows a documented three-stage methodology (Shake, Shape, Share) anchored on Shakespeare as artistic influence, justice as social driver, and progress as political aim.

The core product portfolio comprises major stage productions (The Winter's Tale, Macbeth - Partners of Greatness, Much Ado / Hero's Song), digital and online programmes (What We Feel online drama series, Shake Up video series, Sonnet Jam Zoom sessions), and community projects (Queer Folio, Flourish). The technology stack is access-led rather than AI-led: creative British Sign Language integration, creative audio description, live captioning, YouTube livestreaming, and Zoom delivery. Productions are staged at partner venues across the UK (Derby Theatre, Century Theatre Coalville, Shakespeare's Globe, Attenborough Arts Centre, Leeds Playhouse, Theatre Royal Norwich, and 20+ others), supported by a network of patrons (Rikki Beadle-Blair, Mark Ravenhill, Janet Suzman) and advisors.

Revenue mechanics are dominated by recurring Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation grant funding and project-specific public grants, supplemented by ticket sales (£10-£16 per ticket via Live Tickets), co-production partnerships (with D&O Productions, Purple Theatre, Derby Theatre and others sharing costs and revenue), and voluntary PayPal donations. The company employs a lean core of two Directors (Jamie Brown, Ben Spiller) drawing on an extended network of associates, trainees, and friends, with no conventional institutional investment, parent company, or external fundraising rounds disclosed.

Name

1623 Theatre Company Limited

Legal name

1623 theatre company limited

Website

https://1623theatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

1623 Theatre Company Limited is a Derby-based UK theatre company, founded in 2005, that co-creates accessible Shakespeare-inspired productions, digital projects, and workshops with marginalised communities — Deaf, disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, global majority, and working-class participants — funded primarily through Arts Council England grants and co-productions with partner venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre and Performing Arts

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

Keywords

• Accessible theatre productions
• Shakespeare community theatre
• BSL interpreted performances
• Community co-creation theatre
• Inclusive performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

West Derby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Arts Council England Funding: Primary funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, supporting productions and operations
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre performances at partner venues, with tickets ranging from £10-£16
3. Co-Production Partnerships: Joint productions with partners like D&O Productions and Purple Theatre sharing costs and revenue
4. Donations: Voluntary donations via PayPal supporting the company's charitable mission
5. Project-Specific Grants: Time-limited funding for specific projects such as Arts Council England's Covid-19 Emergency Fund for What We Feel

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

1623 Theatre Company Limited produces accessible Shakespeare-inspired live theatre productions, digital drama series, and community workshops co-created with marginalised groups including Deaf, disabled, LGBTQ+, global majority, neurodivergent, and working-class participants. Productions are staged at partner venues across the UK with integrated accessibility features (BSL interpretation, creative audio description, captions) and distributed online via YouTube livestreams and Zoom sessions.

Product overview

1623 Theatre Company Limited is a community-focused theatre company that co-creates productions with communities and Shakespeare. The company operates a portfolio of interconnected programmes including live theatrical productions (The Winter's Tale, Macbeth - Partners of Greatness, Much Ado/Hero's Song), digital accessibility initiatives (What We Feel online drama series, Shake Up video series), community engagement projects (Queer Folio, Flourish), and educational offerings (Sonnet Jam online sessions). All productions feature accessibility measures including BSL interpretation, audio description, and captioning. The company works with communities in three stages: Shake (research and develop), Shape (make and preview), and Share (perform and discuss), with Shakespeare as the main artistic influence, justice as the social driver, and progress as the political aim.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• What We Feel An online drama series co-created with people living with mental health conditions, combining Shakespeare reading with creative gathering designed to support mental health. Targeted at marginalised individuals participating in a five-person online group.
• Shake Up A series of short videos on identity and social justice created by eight artists from marginalised communities, exploring queerness, race, and trans identity through Shakespeare.
• Queer Folio A celebration of LGBTQ+ creativity in response to Shakespeare's First Folio's 400th anniversary, featuring 30 co-created shows inspired by Shakespeare's complete works and queer experiences.
• Flourish An interactive eco-theatre show co-created with primary schools, based on lived experiences of climate action and A Midsummer Night's Dream, supported by the National Forest.
• Sonnet Jam Friendly online sessions exploring Shakespeare's sonnets via Zoom, open to everyone from absolute beginners to poetry fans, led by associate artist Steph Reynolds.
• The Winter's Tale UK premiere of Tracy Young's new translation of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, co-created by Deaf, disabled, LGBTQ+, global majority, neurodivergent and working-class theatre makers. Performed at Derby Theatre with creative BSL integration, BSL interpretation, and creative audio description.
• Macbeth - Partners of Greatness An emotional and haunting adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth focusing on the turbulent relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, scheduled for performance at Derby Cathedral.
• Much Ado / Hero's Song UK premiere of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing translated into modern English by Ranjit Bolt, followed by Hero's Song response piece co-created with Coalville Women's Group, giving voice to Shakespeare's most marginalised character.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ queer artists and 30 new shows created for Queer Folio 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Play On ShakespearecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for Shakespeare productions including co-commissioning The Winter's Tale translation by Tracy Young and supporting Much Ado / Hero's Song.
• D&O ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for What We Feel online drama series, combining theatre with mental health support.
• Purple TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Much Ado / Hero's Song UK premiere in May 2022.
• Graeae Theatre CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability-led theatre company listed as a key supporter, aligning with 1623's accessibility focus.
• Shakespeare Birthplace TrustmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter of Shake Up video series on identity and social justice.
• National ForestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder and supporter of Flourish interactive eco-theatre show for primary schools.
• Derby TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey venue partner and co-producer, hosting The Winter's Tale livestream recording and providing studio and production facilities.
• Century Theatre, CoalvillecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Much Ado / Hero's Song performance and recording in Leicestershire.
• Shakespeare's GlobemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner and supporter for The Winter's Tale production.
• Attenborough Arts CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner and supporter for The Winter's Tale production.
• Leeds PlayhousemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner venue for Queer Folio scratch night events.
• LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner venue for Queer Folio celebrations.
• 87 Gallery, HullminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Bradford Producing HubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Circus Strong, AshbourneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Derbyshire LGBT+minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ community organisation partner for Queer Folio.
• GaysiansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ arts organisation partner for Queer Folio.
• Harlow Theatre, EssexminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Manchester LGBT+ CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ community organisation partner for Queer Folio.
• Museum of Making, DerbyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Nonsuch Studios, NottinghamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Phizzical ProductionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheatre company partner for Queer Folio.
• Red LadderminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheatre company partner for Queer Folio, working class focus.
• Team AngelicaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Theatre Deli, SheffieldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Theatre Royal, NorwichminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Theatro Technis, CamdenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• Theatre Space North East, SunderlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Queer Folio scratch night.
• University of LeicesterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcademic partner for Queer Folio events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Headlong Theatre: Mid-scale UK touring theatre producing new versions of classics and contemporary plays. Comparable on touring Shakespeare/classical reinterpretation with co-production partners, though it operates at a larger scale.
• Graeae Theatre Company: London-based disability-led theatre company that creates work with Deaf and disabled artists and is already a strategic partner and supporter of 1623. Highly comparable on accessibility-led Shakespeare and contemporary production.
• Play On Shakespeare: US-based non-profit promoting modern translations of Shakespeare; strategic co-development partner with 1623 on The Winter's Tale and Much Ado. Comparable on modern-language Shakespeare commissioning and distribution.
• Mind the Gap: UK learning-disability theatre company producing work with and for learning-disabled artists and audiences. Comparable in mission, scale, and dependency on public arts funding.
• Red Ladder Theatre Company: Leeds-based touring theatre company focused on working-class audiences and politically engaged work, and a Queer Folio partner of 1623. Comparable on regional touring, co-production model, and community-led programming.
• Phizzical Productions: UK touring theatre company developing work with South Asian and global majority artists; partner on 1623's Queer Folio. Comparable in scale, identity-driven touring work, and reliance on Arts Council funding.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Shakespeare Company: The UK's largest dedicated Shakespeare producer, an institutional incumbent offering year-round Shakespeare at scale. Comparable on artistic focus (Shakespeare) but operates at vastly greater scale and with owned venues.
• Shakespeare's Globe: London-based venue and producer dedicated to Shakespeare with an education and access programme; already a venue partner of 1623 for The Winter's Tale. Comparable on Shakespeare focus and accessibility initiatives, but at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Tiata Fahodzi: UK African heritage touring theatre company producing work that responds to British and global majority experiences. Comparable on identity-driven Shakespeare-adjacent work and Arts Council NPO dependency.

Others

• Shakespeare Birthplace Trust: UK charity custodian of Shakespeare's heritage sites and supporter of 1623's Shake Up video series. Comparable on Shakespeare-focused cultural and educational programming, but acts as heritage/education body rather than producing theatre company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/1623theatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/1623theatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1623-theatre-company-limited

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 1623 Theatre Company Limited