JUTE Theatre Company

What JUTE Theatre Company does

JUTE Theatre Company is a Cairns/Gimuy-based regional theatre company founded in 1992 that develops, produces, and tours new Australian theatre works from Far North Queensland. Operating from the Bulmba-ja Arts Centre with approximately 10-15 core staff, JUTE runs a portfolio of interconnected programs including main stage productions, the Dare to Dream First Nations touring residency program, the DARTS regional sector-development initiative, RASN statewide advisory services, JUTE Actors Studio youth training, online courses (Behind the Curtain, Write Out Loud), Ubuntu Theatre Project for refugee/migrant youth, and Creative Developments script development workshops.

The company's revenue model blends earned income from ticket sales (via Humanitix), program fees for youth training ($275 per term) and online courses ($99 one-time), with substantial reliance on multi-source government funding from Arts Queensland, the Regional Arts Fund, DESBT, and several Queensland state departments, supplemented by foundation grants (Tim Fairfax Foundation, St George Foundation) and corporate sponsorships (Energy Queensland). Customer segments span regional theatre audiences, First Nations communities across Cape York and Torres Strait, young emerging artists aged 9-17, refugee/migrant youth, and regional artists seeking professional development.

In 2024-2025, JUTE expanded its institutional footprint via an MoU with CQUniversity for micro-credentials, secured the RASN statewide advisory contract, and transitioned executive leadership to Chris Kohn following the retirement of co-founder Suellen Maunder after 30+ years. The organization has received Matilda Awards (2023) and longlistings for the Griffin Award and NT Literary Awards (2026), reinforcing its standing as Australia's leading regional theatre company.

Name

JUTE Theatre Company

Legal name

JUTE Theatre Company

Website

https://jute.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JUTE Theatre Company, founded 1992 in Cairns, develops, produces, and tours new Australian theatre works and creative programs. Operating from Bulmba-ja Arts Centre with ~10-15 staff, it serves regional audiences, First Nations communities, young artists, and regional arts workers across Far North Queensland through productions, touring residencies, training, and statewide advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Regional Theatre Production Services

NAICS

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

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), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Regional theatre productions
• Youth theatre training
• First nations performing arts
• Theatre sector development
• Online theatre education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairns

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for main stage productions, touring shows, and public showcases at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre and touring venues across regional Queensland
2. Program Fees: Fees for educational programs including JUTE Actors Studio classes ($275 per term), online courses ($99 for Behind the Curtain technical production course), and workshop programs
3. Government Funding: Operational support from Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, and various state government grants for specific programs
4. Donations and Sponsorship: Tax-deductible donations through Give Now platform, corporate sponsorships, and gifts in wills program

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

JUTE Theatre Company creates, produces and tours new Australian theatrical works from its base at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre in Cairns, Far North Queensland. Its core output is professional main stage productions, complemented by First Nations touring residencies (Dare to Dream), regional sector development programs (DARTS, RASN), youth acting training (JUTE Actors Studio), online technical theatre education (Behind the Curtain, Write Out Loud), and inclusion-focused theatre-making programs for African, refugee, and migrant communities (Ubuntu, Breaking Ground, Harmony Voices).

Product overview

JUTE Theatre Company is a regional performing arts organization based in Cairns/Gimuy, Far North Queensland, that creates, produces, and tours Australian theatre works. Rather than a unified technology product, JUTE offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: Main Stage Productions serve as the core artistic output, while Dare to Dream provides First Nations-focused touring residencies, and DARTS drives regional theatre sector development. JUTE Actors Studio trains young actors, while online courses like Behind the Curtain and Write Out Loud Online extend educational reach. RASN delivers free advisory services to regional artists, Creative Developments supports playwright script development, and Ubuntu Theatre Project provides cultural training for young people of African descent. These programs operate in concert to fulfill JUTE's mission of amplifying regional Queensland voices and building theatre sector capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DARTS: Driving and Activating the Regional Theatre Sector - a regionally-driven, artist-led initiative to develop a thriving regional theatre sector for all Queenslanders.
• RASN
• Dare to Dream
• JUTE Actors Studio

Products and services

• Main Stage Productions Professional theatrical works created, produced and toured by JUTE that amplify regional Queensland voices and stories, presented at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre and on tour across regional communities.
• Dare to Dream First Nations residency and touring program that commissions Indigenous playwrights to create works, tours to remote Far North Queensland communities, and provides workshops for young Indigenous people.
• DARTS (Driving and Activating the Regional Theatre Sector) Regional theatre sector development initiative supporting artists through inter-regional touring, skills development, artist residencies, and professional development programs.
• RASN (Regional Arts Services Network) — Theatre Free advisory service for theatre makers, artists, and arts workers across regional Queensland, providing career development, grant guidance, mentoring, and professional advice.
• JUTE Actors Studio Training program for young actors delivered weekly in term blocks with public showcases, covering two cohorts: Juniors (ages 9-12) and Intermediates (ages 13-17). Priced at $275 per term.
• Behind the Curtain — Technical Production Online Course Self-paced online video course teaching technical theatre production across lighting, sound, video, production management, set/costume design, and stage management for aspiring theatre technicians. Priced at $99.
• Write Out Loud Online Online writing course for aspiring playwrights and storytellers developed and delivered by JUTE Theatre Company.
• Creative Developments Script development program providing playwrights with professional creative teams (directors, dramaturgs and actors) for week-long intensive development processes that culminate in public showcases.
• Ubuntu Theatre Project 40-week theatre training initiative for young people aged 15-26 from African, refugee, and migrant backgrounds, teaching all aspects of theatre-making from acting to technical production.
• Breaking Ground Performing arts training program for refugees and migrants, run in partnership with Centacare FNQ and Cairns African Association, focusing on skills development and confidence building.
• Binalmalmal (Listening and Learning) First Nations Micro-credentials Six free micro-credentials in acting and technical theatre skills, funded by DESBT, delivering accredited First Nations theatre skills training in Far North Queensland.
• Harmony Voices Community creative program that builds English confidence through theatre-making, delivered in partnership with Centacare FNQ for refugee and migrant communities in Far North Queensland.
• Back on Track Road Safety Education Tour Touring road safety education program for regional Queensland communities that travels across regional Queensland to deliver performances and workshops, funded by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dare to Dream program tours to 10+ remote communities annually with week-long residencies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

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

• CQUniversity (CQU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024MoU partnership for development of micro-credentials for the theatre sector, particularly to build capacity of First Nations artists in regions. Also enhancing professional development for CQU staff and students in theatre activities and development of school certificate courses applicable to theatre industry.
• Centacare FNQmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for Ubuntu Theatre Project serving African refugee and migrant youth, and Harmony Voices community creative program building English confidence through theatre-making.
• Cairns African AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ubuntu Theatre Project providing cultural guidance and community connections for the training program serving young people of African descent.
• Cairns Regional CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Binalmalmal (Listening and Learning) micro-credentials program delivering First Nations theatre skills training in Far North Queensland.
• THAT Production Company (Ipswich)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation with Ipswich-based theatre company for co-production of Every Brilliant Thing opening JUTE's 2026 season.
• Belloo Creative (Brisbane)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 4 on the Floor script development program, launching a new script development model with public showcase of new works.
• Overall ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for youth theatre productions including O, Ophelia and Koalazilla, with founder Amber Grossmann leading emerging youth theatre company.
• Australian Festival of Chamber MusicsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Rhapsody chamber music-theatre production inspired by the Dalinger violin journey.
• Arts NexussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Rhapsody production development.
• Pip Miller PRsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCairns-based publicist handling all media and publicity enquiries. Pip Miller has worked with JUTE on and off since 1994, served on the Board for five years, and is a passionate advocate for the organization.
• ArToursupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouring partner for Dare to Dream program delivery.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arena Theatre Company: Melbourne-based theatre company producing work for young people and touring regionally across Australia. Direct peer of JUTE because it shares the regional touring, young-audience focus, and JUTE's new EAD Chris Kohn previously held senior roles there.
• La Boite Theatre: Brisbane-based theatre company producing new Australian work and developing emerging artists. Direct peer because of overlapping Queensland regional mandate, new-work development focus, and Chris Kohn's prior senior leadership role.
• THAT Production Company: Ipswich-based theatre company producing new Australian work. Direct peer through JUTE's co-production partnership on Every Brilliant Thing and shared regional/independent theatre positioning.
• Belloo Creative: Brisbane-based independent theatre company producing new Australian works. Direct peer via JUTE's co-production partnership on the 4 on the Floor script development program and shared new-work development model.

Regional players

• Merrigong Theatre Company: Wollongong/Illawarra-based theatre company producing mainstage seasons and developing new work with a regional focus. Comparable as a regional theatre company with similar production, touring, and artist-development scope.
• Black Swan State Theatre Company: Perth-based state theatre company with a focus on Western Australian stories and regional touring. Comparable as another state-level regional theatre company with new-work development and touring mandates.
• HotHouse Theatre: Wodonga-based regional theatre company producing and touring new Australian work across the Victoria-NSW border region. Comparable as a regional peer producing and touring new Australian works.

Broad incumbents

• Queensland Theatre: State's flagship theatre company based in Brisbane, producing a full mainstage season. Comparable as the broader incumbent in Queensland theatre against which JUTE operates as a regional complement.
• Melbourne Theatre Company: Australia's largest theatre company, producing mainstage seasons and new work. Broader incumbent comparable as the metropolitan benchmark for new Australian theatre development and audience scale.

Others

• Country Arts SA: South Australian regional arts development body delivering touring, programming, and artist services across regional SA. Comparable as a sector-capacity and touring ecosystem peer, though structured as a development agency rather than a producing theatre.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/jutetheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRXoVPSuaQHvSteVd67yZlg
• Facebookfacebook.com/jutetheatrecompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/jute_theatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jute-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 JUTE Theatre Company