Replay Theatre Company

What Replay Theatre Company does

Replay Theatre Company is a Northern Ireland-registered charity (legal entity: Replay Productions Limited) founded in 1988, headquartered at East Belfast Network Centre, that creates and tours theatre productions for children and young people from birth through age 18. The organization structures its work across four age-segmented programmes: Early Years (newborn to 4), Primary (5-11), Post-Primary (12-18), and Up!, an inclusive theatre programme serving disabled audiences including those with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), complex needs, autism, neurodiversity, and physical disabilities. Replay operates with a small core team of 1-10 employees and maintains an active production portfolio of approximately 20 shows spanning musicals (MIRRORBALL, The Velveteen Rabbit), sensory theatre for disabled audiences (HOLLOW, Between Galaxies, Thaw, Wild Ones, Tribe, Rotviska), and touring school and festival work (Prism, Body Count, The Aurochs are Coming).

The company's core production technology is sensory theatre for PMLD audiences, characterized by small audience sizes enabling meaningful actor-child interaction, immersive environments, and comprehensive accessibility features including embedded audio description, captioning, British Sign Language performances, accessible viewing positions, social stories, and sensory aids. Notable engineering/production partnerships include a collaboration with Firefly by Leckey (makers of the Upsee mobility aid) on Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, and an international co-production channel through the Scen:se project with Swedish partners Estrad Norr and Folkteatern Gävleborg, established in 2024 to co-produce ROTVISKA for cross-border touring in 2026-2027.

Replay's business model is a multi-stream charity funding model: ticket sales from touring productions at arts centres, theatres, schools, and festivals; public donations via a Givealittle online portal; and grant funding from Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The Executive Office, Culture Ireland, and the Arts & Business Blueprint programme. Several productions, including Thaw, are provided free of charge to special school groups and PMLD audiences in Northern Ireland. The organization does not disclose pricing publicly and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Ellen McKenna, with leadership including Chief Executive Brian Mullan and Artistic Director Janice Kernoghan-Reid.

Name

Replay Theatre Company

Legal name

Replay Productions Limited

Website

https://replaytheatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Replay Theatre Company is a Northern Ireland charity founded in 1988 that creates and tours theatre for children and young people aged 0-18, with particular specialization in sensory and inclusive theatre for disabled audiences including PMLD and neurodivergent children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's and Youth Theatre Productions

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Children's theatre productions
• Inclusive sensory theatre
• Youth theatre programmes
• Accessible theatre performances
• School touring theatre

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

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. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre performances at venues including arts centres, theatres, schools, and festivals. Includes ticket sales to family audiences and school groups.
2. Donations and Public Support: Charitable donations from the public through their online donations portal (Givealittle.co). The company relies on public donations to continue delivering world class theatre.
3. Arts Council and Funder Support: Funding support from Arts Council of Northern Ireland and other funders including The Executive Office, which enables the organization to deliver its programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Replay Theatre Company creates and tours original live theatre productions for children and young people from newborn to age 18, with a particular specialization in inclusive sensory theatre for disabled audiences including those with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), autism, neurodiversity, and physical disabilities. The company operates across four age-segmented programmes (Early Years, Primary, Post-Primary, and Up!) and tours productions to schools, arts centres, theatres, and festivals primarily across Northern Ireland, with select international co-productions in Sweden.

Product overview

Replay Theatre Company is a theatre production company that creates world-class theatre for young audiences under 19 in Northern Ireland. Their offering is structured around four age-based programmes (Early Years for newborn-4, Primary for ages 5-11, Post-Primary for ages 12-18, and Up! for inclusive/disabled audiences), within which they produce individual productions. Key productions include HOLLOW and Tribe (autistic/neurodivergent audiences), The Velveteen Rabbit (family musical with Lyric Theatre co-production), MIRRORBALL (musical celebrating creativity), Rotviska (international co-production for complex disabilities), and various other productions across their programme areas. The company is a charity founded in 1988, creating theatre adventures that enrich young lives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UP!: Inclusive theatre programme for disabled audiences including PMLD, complex needs, autism, neurodiversity, and physical disability.

Products and services

• Up! Programme (Inclusive Theatre Programme) Ground-breaking inclusive theatre programme serving disabled audiences including PMLD, complex needs, autism, neurodiversity, and physical disability. Up! shows tour to special schools, arts centres, and festivals across Northern Ireland.
• Post-Primary Programme Theatre programme for teenage audiences aged 12-18, with shows that explore identity, beliefs, and place in the world, starting conversations and stretching horizons.
• Primary Programme Theatre programme for primary school age audiences (5-11) ranging from one-man interactive musicals to outdoor family shows, designed to entertain and open children's eyes to their own imaginations.
• Early Years Programme Sensory theatre programme for pre-school audiences (newborn to 4) and their grown-ups, with small audience numbers enabling meaningful actor-child interaction through music, movement, textures, sights and smells.
• The Elf Inspectors Multi-sensory Christmas theatre experience for family audiences with children ages 2-5 in which audiences help elves bring back the Magic of Christmas.
• The Velveteen Rabbit Original musical adaptation of Margery Williams' children's classic about a boy, his favourite toy, and how love makes us real. Lyric Theatre and Replay Theatre Company co-production with music by Duke Special.
• Body Count A brand-new play by Gary Mitchell examining the aftermath of being a survivor of sexual assault. Suitable for age 15+ with trigger warnings for sexual assault, rape, swearing, and threats of violence.
• Between Galaxies Small-scale interactive and sensory production for PMLD and complex needs young people (ages 5-18) in which audiences become part of the crew on the Starlight Spaceship for an intergalactic adventure.
• HOLLOW Non-speaking sensory theatre adventure created for young autistic and/or neurodivergent audiences (ages 8-18) inspired by subterranean exploration themes, performed one-on-one with immersive setting.
• MIRRORBALL Musical celebrating creativity, authenticity and imagination based on real-life experiences of Matt Cavan and his drag persona Cherrie Ontop. Premiered at Belfast Children's Festival 2023.
• Prism Dimension-hopping accessible sci-fi adventure for family audiences (age 7+) featuring audio description, captioning, BSL performances, and accessible viewing positions.
• Rotviska Sensory theatre adventure set in an ancient tree, created especially for children and young people with complex disabilities (PMLD). A co-production with Estrad Norr and Folkteatern Gävleborg in Sweden.
• HARBOUR Opera for babies aged 0-12 months and their grown-ups, designed for just 4 babies at a time, featuring live classical musicians and a journey through the four elements (earth, water, wind, fire).
• Tribe Sensory theatre for young autistic and/or neurodivergent audiences (ages 8-18) offering an immersive rainforest adventure with carefully designed musical score, live instrumentation and non-verbal interaction.
• Wild Ones Sensory theatre for children and young people with complex needs in which two isolated characters reconnect with life, memories and joy through audience participation, with music inspired by swing dance.
• Thaw Wintry quest for PMLD audiences aged 5-18, free of charge for special school groups and PMLD audiences in Northern Ireland. Follows scientists and adventurers on a voyage to The Great Icefort Territories with climate change pioneer Professor Julia Anjo.

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Estrad NorrcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Estrad Norr and Folkteatern Gävleborg on the Scen:se project in Sweden since 2024 for co-production of ROTVISKA. Estrad Norr provides production support including producer Christina Seldahl Lindgren and assistant producer Tomas Nyqvist.
• Folkteatern GävleborgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-production partner on the Scen:se project in Sweden since 2024 for ROTVISKA. Folkteatern provides artistic director Gro Oskarson Kindstrand, executive director Marcus Hellsten, and production team for touring across Sweden Spring 2026.
• Lyric Theatre BelfastmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-production partnership with Lyric Theatre for The Velveteen Rabbit production. Lyric Theatre is the performance venue for this co-production.
• Arts Council of Northern IrelandcoreOthersPrimary public funder of the arts providing vital funding support for Replay Theatre Company's work.
• The Executive Office (Northern Ireland)coreOthersGovernment body providing funding support for Replay Theatre Company's community arts programmes.
• The MAC BelfastmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelfast arts venue that hosts Replay productions including The Elf Inspectors Christmas 2025 and HOLLOW (in association with The MAC).
• Arts & Business Blueprint ProgrammesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProject investor providing project investment support for ROTVISKA production.
• Culture IrelandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides touring support for international touring of ROTVISKA to Sweden.
• Firefly by LeckeysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Upsee makers Firefly by Leckey for Yes Sir, I Can Boogie production, which uses the revolutionary mobility aid the Upsee.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Little Angel Theatre: London-based children's theatre producing puppetry and original shows for young audiences including under-5s and inclusive schools programming — comparable as a dedicated producing theatre for children with strong early-years and SEND work.
• Unicorn Theatre: London's leading theatre for young audiences (ages 2-21), producing and touring original work nationally and internationally — comparable in operating model (year-round producing house for children) and inclusive programming ethos.
• Theatre Centre: London-based touring company producing theatre for young audiences that plays schools, theatres and festivals across the UK — comparable touring distribution model and target audience of 5-19 year olds.
• Polka Theatre: London's flagship dedicated children's theatre producing original work for ages 0-19 across multiple programmes, including accessible performances — comparable in mission (theatre dedicated to young audiences) and programming breadth.
• Mind the Gap: Bradford-based learning-disabled performance company producing touring theatre and training programmes — peer in the UK inclusive-theatre sector with similar touring, accessibility and partnership models.
• Hijinx Theatre: Cardiff-based inclusive theatre company producing work with and for learning-disabled artists and audiences, including touring sensory productions — directly comparable inclusive-theatre methodology and audience focus.
• Oily Cart: London-based theatre company specializing in multi-sensory and immersive productions for very young audiences and children with profound and multiple learning disabilities — the closest UK analogue to Replay's Up! programme and PMLD-focused productions like HOLLOW, Between Galaxies and Rotviska.
• Cahoots NI: Belfast-based children's theatre company producing work for young audiences, including shows that tour to schools and festivals in Northern Ireland — directly overlapping with Replay's primary territory, programme structure and target age groups.

Broad incumbents

• MAC Belfast: Belfast arts venue and Replay host/co-producer (HOLLOW, The Elf Inspectors) — broader cultural programming but directly comparable as a Belfast venue anchoring family and inclusive theatre seasons.
• Lyric Theatre Belfast: Belfast's principal producing theatre and Replay's frequent co-production partner (e.g. The Velveteen Rabbit, Prism, MIRRORBALL) — broader portfolio but overlapping in children's programming and shared production economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/replaytheatreco
• Facebookfacebook.com/replaytheatreco
• Instagraminstagram.com/replaytheatreco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/replaytheatreco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Replay Theatre Company