Theaterschool Rabarber

What Theaterschool Rabarber does

Theaterschool Rabarber is a non-profit theater school and production house based in Den Haag, Netherlands, operating continuously for approximately 40 years (since ~1985). It serves children, youth, and young adults aged 5-27 through a three-tier curriculum: Speelhuis (5-12), Makershuis (12-17), and BLCKBX (17-27), with additional programming under Productiehuis (production groups), Educatie (school performances and workshops), and Participatie (community/neighborhood programs such as De WijKunstenaars and Voorleespret!). The organization delivers original co-created theater productions in which young participants act as co-makers shaping content around contemporary themes.

The school's physical infrastructure comprises Theater Merlijn (110-seat main venue), Studio 33 (65-seat flexible space), and six studios of approximately 7x7 meters equipped for theater and dance, supported by professional-grade lighting (MA2 onPC, LED and moving-head fixtures), audio (Allen & Heath SQ6, Yamaha 01V96), and show control (QLAB). All operations are conducted from a single headquarters at Bilderdijkstraat 35, Den Haag, which is wheelchair accessible and reachable by public transit.

Revenue is generated through six streams: recurring course fees billed twice annually (September and January via automatic debit), ticket sales for public performances, venue and studio rentals to external organizations, children's birthday party packages (€24/child), tiered annual donations via Stichting Vrienden van Rabarber (€40-€1,000), and a structural operational subsidy from Gemeente Den Haag. Course fees are not publicly disclosed and Ooievaarspas holders may receive full or partial reimbursement, indicating a deliberate accessibility mandate.

Name

Theaterschool Rabarber

Legal name

Theaterschool Rabarber

Website

https://rabarber.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Theaterschool Rabarber is a 40-year-old non-profit theater school in Den Haag, Netherlands, offering theater education, original co-created productions, and talent development for children, youth, and young adults aged 5-27.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Youth theater education
• Performing arts training
• Theater productions
• Venue rental services
• Community arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Theater lessons and courses for children ages 5-27, billed twice annually (September and January) via automatic debit. Fees vary by course type and duration.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from performances in Theater Merlijn and Studio 33, including family shows, school performances, and special productions.
3. Venue Rental: Rental of Theater Merlijn (110 seats), Studio 33 (65 seats), and 6 studio spaces for external events, workshops, and performances. Includes technical staffing for productions.
4. Birthday Party Packages: Theater, dance theater, and creative workshops for children's birthday parties at €24 per child.
5. Donations (Vrienden van Rabarber): Annual membership contributions from supporters: Inspirator (€40), Aanjager (€250), Gangmaker (€500), and Compagnon (€1,000). Supports accessibility and inclusion programs.
6. Municipal Subsidy: Subsidy from the Municipality of The Hague supporting operations as a cultural youth education institution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Theaterschool Rabarber provides theater education, productions, and talent development programs for children, youth, and young adults ages 5-27 in Den Haag, Netherlands. The school operates a tiered curriculum (Speelhuis for ages 5-12, Makershuis for ages 12-17, BLCKBX for ages 17-27), runs production groups, school performances and workshops, and rents its facilities (Theater Merlijn, Studio 33, and six studios) for external events and performances.

Product overview

Theaterschool Rabarber is a theater school for children and youth aged 5 to 27 in Den Haag, Netherlands, operating for 40 years. The organization offers a multi-tiered educational structure consisting of Speelhuis (ages 5-12), Makershuis (ages 12-17), and BLCKBX talent programs (ages 17-27). Beyond regular lessons, it provides production groups, school education programs, community participation initiatives, workshop offerings, and children's birthday party services. The school operates multiple facilities including Theater Merlijn (110 seats), Studio 33 (65 seats), and six rental studios. The Vrienden van Rabarber membership program supports financial accessibility and special projects through tiered annual contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Speelhuis: Theater lessons for children aged 5-12 years
• Makershuis
• BLCKBX
• Productiehuis
• Educatie
• Theater Merlijn
• Studio 33
• Stichting Vrienden van Rabarber
• De WijKunstenaars
• Voorleespret!

Products and services

• Speelhuis

Quantifiable outcome

• Theaterschool serving children and youth ages 5-27 in The Hague for 40 years

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cat Smits CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Coproduction partner for 'Bigger than Life' - a theater project where 18 children ages 9-14 created a full production about fear and resilience under artistic leadership shared between Theaterschool Rabarber and Cat Smits Company. Cat Smits handled puppetry direction for the production.
• Festival De BetoveringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Annual youth theater festival in The Hague, coproducing 'Bigger than Life' with Rabarber and Cat Smits Company. Provides platform for young performers to present work at a professional festival.
• CultuurschakelminorOthersFunding organization supporting cultural education projects in The Hague. Provided funding for 'Bigger than Life' production.
• CultuurfondsminorOthersCultural foundation providing funding for arts and culture projects. Contributed to 'Bigger than Life' production funding along with Jan en Lenie van Winden-Heldermand Fonds.
• Centrale Bibliotheek Den HaagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration bringing 'Voorleespret!' - weekly storytelling sessions for children ages 4+ at the Central Library. Rabarber provides a dance theater teacher to bring stories to life through theatrical activities.
• Bibliotheek BouwlustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood library location for 'De WijKunstenaars' program serving children ages 8-12 in the Bouwlust area.
• Wijkz Den HaagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal neighborhood organization in The Hague, partner in 'De WijKunstenaars' program bringing theater to underserved areas.
• KC BamboeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural center partner for neighborhood theater activities and 'De WijKunstenaars' program.
• DAKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner in neighborhood theater projects for children in The Hague.
• Stichting Vrienden van RabarbercoreOthersFoundation supporting Rabarber's mission through fundraising and donor management. Enables financial accessibility through the lesgeldenfonds (course fee fund) and supports special projects. Seeking new board members and volunteers.
• Gemeente Den HaagcoreOthersMunicipality of The Hague provides operational subsidy supporting Rabarber as a cultural youth education institution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Codarts Rotterdam: Rotterdam university of professional arts education offering pre-college and degree programs in performing arts. Comparable to Rabarber's BLCKBX talent-development track, though at higher-education level in a different city.

Direct peers

• Jeugdtheater Hofplein: Rotterdam youth theater offering structured age-tiered programs from introduction through talent development. Closest direct competitor to Rabarber's Speelhuis-Makershuis-BLCKBX pipeline.
• Theatergroep Kwatta: Nijmegen-based theater company creating original productions for young audiences, with maker-driven co-creation methodology similar to Rabarber's BLCKBX approach.
• Maas Theater en Dans: Rotterdam-based theater and dance company with dedicated youth programming and education trajectories. Directly comparable to Rabarber's combined theater-education-and-productions model.
• Jeugdtheater De Krakeling: Amsterdam's leading youth theater company, producing professional theater for young audiences with extensive education and participation programs. Most direct comparable to Rabarber's Produktiehuis and Educatie divisions, just at greater scale in a different Dutch city.
• Toneelgroep Oostpool: Arnhem-based theater company producing contemporary work with substantial youth and education programs, including talent-development tracks analogous to Rabarber's BLCKBX.

Broad incumbents

• Het Nationale Theater: The Hague's flagship theater institution, offering a wide portfolio including a dedicated youth division (NTjong) and education programs. Operates in the same city as Rabarber, making it both a partner and competitive incumbent.
• Internationaal Theater Amsterdam: Amsterdam-based major theater company with significant youth education and talent-development programs. Comparable to Rabarber's educational mission but at much larger institutional scale.

Others

• Festival De Betovering: The Hague's annual youth theater festival and current co-production partner of Rabarber ('Bigger than Life'). Ecosystem participant that amplifies Rabarber's productions rather than competing for students.
• Stichting Cultuurschakel: The Hague cultural-education funding organization and project-funder of Rabarber. Comparable to Rabarber's funding ecosystem (Vrienden van Rabarber / Gemeente Den Haag) but operates as intermediary rather than educator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JTSRABARBER
• Facebookinstagram.com/theaterschoolrabarber
• Instagraminstagram.com/theaterschoolrabarber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Theaterschool Rabarber