Studio 52nd

What Studio 52nd does

Studio 52nd (legal entity Stichting Studio 52nd, KVK 34304900) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation founded around 2009 and headquartered at Batjanstraat 9, Amsterdam (Postbus 92188, 1090 AD). It develops youth-driven theater and educational projects in which children and young people themselves write the source texts (with schrijfbuddy coaching), which are then performed unchanged by professional actors. The work is organized into three program lines — Kids Editions (primary-school programs including Playmaking and Eén-op-één), Special Editions (youth theater productions on social themes such as poverty, gender, polarization, online safety, colonialism and identity, paired with education packages for VMBO through VWO), and SHORTS (compact single-actor versions of Special Editions sold to professional audiences). Its core methodology is an anti-oppression dialogue framework derived from American professor Leticia Nieto and youth psychiatrist Glenn Helberg, deliberately substituting structured dialogue for debate.

The organization operates as a touring production house across more than 25 Dutch cities, distributing work through partner theaters (De Krakeling, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, CC Amstel, Theater Zuidplein, Badhuistheater, Meervaart, Festival Jonge Harten), schools and B2B channels, with named customer contacts (Ellen at educatie@, Wietske at zakelijk) handling field sales. Revenue mechanics are a hybrid mix typical of Dutch subsidized theater: (i) multi-year structural subsidies (Amsterdamse Kunstenplan since 2020); (ii) project grants from a stack of Dutch cultural funds (Fonds Podiumkunsten, AFK, Fonds 21, VSB Fonds, Fonds Cultuurparticipatie, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Kickstart Cultuurfonds, Kinderpostzegels, BankGiro Loterij Fonds, AMVJ Fonds, Fundatie van den Santheuvel Sobbe, Het RC Maagdenhuis, Provincie Limburg, Stadsdeel Oost, Hexagon, MDT); (iii) unit-priced B2B sales of SHORTS such as (on)schuld at €1,950–€3,550 per package (max 75 employees); (iv) public ticketing via Ticketmatic and the studio's own booking forms; and (v) donations processed through Stichting Geef. Compensation follows CAO Toneel en Dans, and the organization adheres to the Governance Code, Fair Practice Code and Code Diversiteit en Inclusie.

Its customer base spans Dutch secondary and MBO schools, primary schools, youth-care organizations (Ouder- en Kindteams Amsterdam, Levvel, Buurtteams Amersfoort, Collage Almere, Jonge Harten Groningen), municipalities and corporates (Triodos Bank, Gemeente Amsterdam / Stadsdeel Oost, Jeugdbescherming, Veilig Thuis, Combiwel, PACT+/SamSam, @voCampus Nijmeegse scholenkoepel). Marketing is community-led, combining a weekly MailChimp newsletter, owned social (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), the No Cap Cast podcast, festival appearances (Festival Jonge Harten, Keti Koti programming) and earned media in Het Parool, Volkskrant, NRC, Theaterkrant, Winq, ilovetheater.nl and De Limburger. Headcount is approximately 25 team members plus a 3-person board (Marleen Beumer as chair, Bernadette Stokvis as treasurer, Yinske Silva as general member), with operational leadership split between general director Bjorn Uyens and artistic director/founder Fanneke Verhallen.

Name

Studio 52nd

Legal name

Stichting Studio 52nd

Website

https://studio52nd.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studio 52nd is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that produces youth-driven theater in which children and young people write the source texts themselves and professional actors perform them unchanged. It serves Dutch schools (primary through MBO), youth-care organizations, municipalities, and companies via three program lines — Kids Editions, Special Editions, and SHORTS — funded primarily by the Amsterdamse Kunstenplan and Dutch cultural funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Theater / Performing Arts

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD), Charter Arts & Performing Arts Schools (EDAJACAH), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Public Broadcasting Production Units & Studios (In-house/Member) (MPABADAF)

Keywords

• Youth theater productions
• Educational theater programs
• Children's theater workshops
• Socially engaged performing arts
• Dialogical theater methodology

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate and government performances/workshops (SHORTS): Selling compact performances like (on)schuld to companies, municipalities and organizations that want to address sensitive topics (e.g., financial hardship, gender) with their staff. Standard price €1,950, ranging up to €3,550 incl. ervaringsdeskundige, custom workshop and live on location; max 75 employees per package. Revenue stream is one-time project-based professional services income.
2. School and educational programs: Schoolvoorstellingen (school performances) combined with lesson packages (lesbrieven) and in-class lessons delivered to MBO, VMBO, HAVO and VWO. Special schooltarief mentioned. Includes the Kids Editions (Oma verhalen, klein VERZET, Word een Online Held) targeting primary schools in Amsterdam-Oost.
3. Public theater ticket sales: Ticket sales for 'vrije voorstellingen' (public performances) at theaters (Badhuistheater, Theater Zuidplein, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, CC Amstel, De Krakeling, etc.). Tickets distributed via Ticketmatic and direct booking forms on the website.
4. Donations and donor contributions: Donations accepted via Stichting Geef platform (anonymous or named). Includes large gifts, small gifts, one-off gifts, structural gifts, unexpected gifts, and gifts from a legacy (nalatenschap). Processed in accordance with AVG and Dutch fiscal retention obligations.
5. Public subsidies and grants: Multi-year structural funding from the Amsterdamse Kunstenplan (since 2020) plus project grants from Fonds Podiumkunsten, Fonds 21, VSB Fonds, AFK, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Fonds Cultuurparticipatie, BankGiro Loterij Fonds, Kinderpostzegels, Provincie Limburg, Stadsdeel Oost, Fundatie van den Santheuvel Sobbe, AMVJ Fonds, MDT, Hexagon, Kickstart Cultuurfonds and Het RC Maagdenhuis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Studio 52nd is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting Studio 52nd) that develops youth-driven theater and educational projects in which children and young people write the source texts themselves (with schrijfbuddy coaching) and professional actors perform them unchanged. Productions address societal themes such as poverty, gender identity, online safety, colonialism and polarization, and are paired with lesson packages (lesbrieven), in-class lessons, and structured post-show dialogues for schools, companies, municipalities and youth-care organizations across the Netherlands.

Product overview

Studio 52nd operates as a single integrated theater organization with a unified mission ("een podium en een publiek tegen de verharding en de verwijdering") organized into three program lines rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The three programs are: Kids Editions (theater with primary school children, including Playmaking and Eén-op-één), Special Editions (youth theater productions about current social themes with associated education packages for VMBO/HAVO/VWO), and SHORTS (compact, simplified single-actor versions of Special Editions for professionals). Concrete productions sit within these programs: within Kids Editions are productions such as Word een Online Held, Oma verhalen and klein VERZET; within Special Editions are Fok me hokje, Wie is baas?, (W)rap my hijab, PANIC PARADISE and BEEF; and within SHORTS is (on)schuld. Each production is developed through a youth co-creation writing process and paired with educational materials and post-show dialogues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids Editions: Theater program for primary school children, including Playmaking (children write plays) and Eén-op-één (child + professional actor create a piece together); in 2026 it launches Oma Verhalen, an educational program.
• Special Editions
• SHORTS

Products and services

• Kids Editions Studio 52nd's program of theater projects for primary school children, in which children write their own plays (Playmaking) or co-create a one-on-one performance with a professional actor about their dreams (Eén-op-één). Each child becomes a 'member' of Studio 52nd and the program offers a doorgroei (growth) trajectory.
• Special Editions Youth theater productions tackling societal themes such as poverty, gender, sexual orientation, colonialism and online group pressure. Texts are written by young people through workshops, excursions and meetings, then dramatized by professional makers, and each production is paired with an educational package for VMBO, HAVO and VWO audiences.
• SHORTS Compact, simplified version of a Special Edition played by a single actor and intended for professionals at conferences, theme days, and festivals. The first SHORTS production is (on)schuld.
• (on)schuld A monologue written together with youth who grew up in poverty, depicting the human experience of debt. Performed by a single actor for companies, municipalities, schools and youth-care organizations, with optional add-ons of an experiential expert and/or a custom workshop. Standard price €1,950, ranging up to €3,550 with add-ons; max 75 employees per package.
• (W)rap my hijab A musical Special Edition performance with raps and spoken word written by young women about wearing (or not wearing) a hijab and the questions and judgments that come with it. Directed by Khadija Massaoudi and performed by Nora Akachar and Asma el Mouden.
• Fok me hokje An energetic Special Edition performance with texts written by young people about the limiting boxes of gender identity and sexual orientation, growing up, friendship and coming out. Directed by Gable Roelofsen.
• Wie is baas? A 45-minute musical Special Edition theater performance with texts written by VMBO students about the Dutch colonial past and its present-day impact, developed in collaboration with De Black Archives and the Black Heritage Tour. Directed by Gable Roelofsen.
• PANIC PARADISE A Special Edition (15+) co-produced with R3LN4CHT (Didi Kreike) about a world in which people who deviate from the norm are seen as dangerous, mixing science fiction and pop concert aesthetics. Two performers (Dionisio Matias and Didi Kreike).
• BEEF A funny, musical Special Edition theater performance ('een drillemma') that, through the eyes of youth, looks at street culture, social media and the future, providing insight into online group pressure and manipulation for young and old. Directed by Honey Eavis; targeted at ages 10–14.
• Word een Online Held A Kids Edition theater performance in which children together with actors give parents 'online training', covering memes, brainrot videos, AI, and where online boundaries blur. Eight children from Amsterdam-Oost star as 'superheroes' who guide adults through the chaotic online world. Directed by Barry Emond.
• Oma verhalen A primary-school educational program in which children dive into the history of their grandmother or grandmother-figure (which may also be an aunt or neighbor), discovering lesser-known stories and forming their own 'oma-personage' through drawings, letters, raps or poems.
• klein VERZET

Quantifiable outcome

• 17 years operating as Stichting Studio 52nd, with productions consistently included in Amsterdam Kunstenplan since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship co-development partner, core theater partner, major co-production partner, core partner, co-producer, flagship pilot partner, core content partner, core network partner, coproducer, regional network partner, festival partner, core operational vendor, core festival partner, programming partner, media partner and core advisor.

• R3LN4CHT (Didi Kreike)flagship co-development partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly created and produced PANIC PARADISE 15+, presented at CC Amstel, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Theater Zuidplein and many Dutch theaters in 2026. Co-producer credited on production page.
• Relnachtcore theater partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among theater professionals Studio 52nd works with to develop productions. Co-produced PANIC PARADISE together.
• Right about Nowcore theater partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company listed as a co-developing partner on the Studio 52nd homepage.
• Het Geluid Maastrichtmajor co-production partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducent of 'Wie is baas?' (2019) and partner for excursions and theater programming, including Theater voor Keti Koti.
• Urban Mythcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner theater company collaborating on Special Editions productions.
• Wunderbaumcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner theater company collaborating on Special Editions productions.
• VIA ZUIDco-producerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducent of 'Wie is baas?' (2019), supporting artistieke ontwikkeling in Maastricht/Zuid-Nederland.
• Sociaal Cementflagship pilot partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on a pilot around (on)schuld at Orion Amstel; combined Studio 52nd's theater intervention with Sociaal Cement's dialogue methodology for special education students.
• Emancipatorcore content partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJens van Tricht of Emancipator delivered workshops to young writers for FOK ME HOKJE. Emancipator logo shown as partner.
• COC Nederlandcore network partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerListed partner in the FOK ME HOKJE partner block; supports LGBTQ+ youth-focused productions.
• S.P.E.A.K.coproducerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducent of (W)rap my hijab and inhoudelijk advies partner.
• Girls ForwardcoproducerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproducent of (W)rap my hijab.
• Ouder- en Kindteams Amsterdamcore network partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among youth healthcare partners Studio 52nd co-develops programs with; featured on the (on)schuld customer logos.
• Levvel (Amsterdam)core network partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeugdgezondheidszorg partner; hosts BEEF performances and booked special FOK ME HOKJE professional showings.
• Buurtteams Amersfoortregional network partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeugdhulpverlening partner in Amersfoort; logo shown on (on)schuld page.
• Collage (Almere)regional network partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeugdhulpverlening partner in Almere.
• Jonge Harten (Groningen)festival partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater festival partner; FOK ME HOKJE played at Jonge Harten Festival in Veendam. PANIC PARADISE credits Festival Jonge Harten with dank.
• Stichting S.A.N.G.core content partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner acknowledged in BEEF credits; contributed expertise on street culture themes.
• Stichting Geefcore operational vendorTechnology or IntegrationOnline donation platform used by Studio 52nd; processes names, addresses and bank details for donations, with anonymized giving supported.
• MailChimpcore operational vendorTechnology or IntegrationNewsletter and mailing-list processor; uses cookies to track email opens, never repurposes data.
• Microsoft 365core operational vendorTechnology or IntegrationProvider of business email with strict security measures; data may be stored in the US under Standard Contractual Clauses.
• OZCARcore operational vendorTechnology or IntegrationBookkeeping and financial administration vendor; bound by confidentiality, processes names, addresses and invoice details.
• Festival Jonge Hartencore festival partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestival platform that programs Studio 52nd productions; FOK ME HOKJE played at Jonge Harten Festival Veendam, PANIC PARADISE credits Festival Jonge Harten.
• Pakhuis de Zwijgerprogramming partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmsterdam venue that hosted (W)rap my hijab nagesprek and FOK ME HOKJE terugkijken livestream.
• Vrij Nederland (VL)media partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo shown on PANIC PARADISE credits page as media partner.
• Leticia Nietocore advisorOthersAmerican professor whose anti-oppression methodology Studio 52nd uses to structure dialogues around oppression; named inhoudelijk adviseur of FOK ME HOKJE.
• Glenn Helbergcore advisorOthers

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• S.P.E.A.K. Coproducer of (W)rap my hijab and inhoudelijk advies partner; works on identity-themed performances with young people in the Netherlands, mirroring Studio 52nd's Special Editions mission.
• Wunderbaum: Amsterdam-based theater collective named as a core partner on Studio 52nd Special Editions; operates in contemporary Dutch theater with similar touring, social-themes and partner-network distribution.
• R3LN4CHT: Didi Kreike's theater label that co-produced PANIC PARADISE 15+ with Studio 52nd; directly comparable as a Dutch youth-theater maker collaborating on Special Editions with shared methodology and touring infrastructure.
• Het Geluid Maastricht: Maastricht-based theater company that co-produced 'Wie is baas?' with Studio 52nd and partners on excursions and Keti Koti programming; comparable as a regional Dutch theater producer with socially engaged, youth-facing work.
• Urban Myth: Dutch theater company that collaborates with Studio 52nd on Special Editions productions; both work in socially engaged, youth-relevant theater in the Netherlands, making it a directly comparable peer in mission and production style.
• Right about Now: Dutch theater company listed as a co-developing partner on the Studio 52nd homepage; both operate in contemporary Dutch theater that blends pop, music and socially engaged narratives for younger audiences.

Broad incumbents

• MAAS theater en dans: Large Rotterdam-based dance and theater company where Studio 52nd's treasurer served for ten years as business leader; comparable as a broader incumbent Dutch performing-arts institution with similar subsidy, touring and education programming.
• Korzo Den Haag: Established Dutch dance/theater venue and producer; comparable as a larger incumbent in the Dutch cultural sector where Studio 52nd's treasurer previously served as business director, providing a benchmark for scaled Dutch theater operations.
• VIA ZUID: Limburg-based talent development organization that co-produced 'Wie is baas?'; comparable as a regional Dutch arts development body funding and producing socially engaged theater with young makers.

Others

• COC Nederland: Dutch LGBTQ+ advocacy organization listed as a partner on FOK ME HOKJE; thematically aligned with Studio 52nd's youth identity and gender productions, although its core mission is advocacy rather than theater.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/studio52nd
• Facebooknl-nl.facebook.com/studio52nd
• Instagraminstagram.com/studio52nd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio52nd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 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 Studio 52nd