Monkey Baa Theatre Company

What Monkey Baa Theatre Company does

Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People Limited is an Australian not-for-profit performing arts company founded in 1997 that produces live theatre for audiences from birth to 16 years. It operates from headquarters in Sydney (Level 4/10 Hickson Road, The Rocks) and a secondary office in Brisbane, with a Board chaired by Professor Judith McLean and leadership comprising Artistic Director Eva Di Cesare (a co-founder) and Executive Director Kevin du Preez. The company is an Australian registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status, and Child Safe certified with NSW Working with Children's Check requirements for artists.

The core product is a repertoire of stage productions adapted from Australian children's literature, including Possum Magic, Diary of a Wombat, Edward the Emu, Pete the Sheep, Yong, Josephine Wants to Dance, The Peasant Prince, Detention, and the 2026 national tour of Where is the Green Sheep?. Productions integrate puppetry, animation, live performance, sound and video design, and visual theatre techniques, with student and Youth Advisory Council members co-creating narration. The company also offers curriculum-aligned Learning Packs, in-classroom Workshops ($15+GST per student, minimum $300, max 30 students), and the Theatre Unlimited social impact initiative providing free tickets and transport for schools with ICSEA below 1000.

Revenue combines ticket sales, workshop fees, corporate sponsorship (principal sponsor ARA Group for over five years), individual donations and bequests (tax-deductible from $2), and government grants (Create NSW, Australia Council). Distribution is primarily national touring across all Australian states and territories via co-productions with QPAC, Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, and The Art House Wyong, supplemented by a Channel/Reseller layer through Your Library (Victoria) and community/healthcare partnerships with Camp Quality and hospital paediatric programs. The company concluded its ARA Darling Quarter Theatre lease in mid-2024 as part of a 3-year strategic shift toward producing-and-touring rather than venue-based presentation.

Name

Monkey Baa Theatre Company

Legal name

Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People Limited

Website

https://monkeybaa.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australian not-for-profit theatre company producing live stage productions, school workshops, and curriculum-aligned learning resources adapted from Australian children's literature, touring nationally to reach young audiences and underserved communities through the Theatre Unlimited access initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts for Young Audiences

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Youth theatre productions
• Children's live theatre
• School workshop programs
• Curriculum-aligned learning
• Community arts access

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations starting from $2 for Australian registered charity. Donor Circles program and bequest giving. Supports Theatre Unlimited initiative.
2. Ticket Sales: Ticket revenue from productions at various venues across Australia. Companion Card available for NSW Companion Card holders.
3. School Workshops: One-hour workshops priced at $15 + GST per student with minimum charge of $300. Curriculum-aligned programs for Early Learning through Stage 6.
4. Sponsorship: Principal sponsorship from ARA Group supporting teaching artists program. Corporate sponsors and partners contributing to productions and social impact programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Monkey Baa Theatre Company creates, produces, and tours live theatrical productions for young audiences aged 1 to 16, primarily adapting Australian children's literature. The company delivers curriculum-aligned school workshops, learning packs, and social impact programs that provide free or subsidised tickets and transport to disadvantaged communities. National touring reaches metropolitan, regional, and remote venues across all Australian states and territories.

Product overview

Monkey Baa Theatre Company is an Australian theatre for young audiences company producing live theatre performances and educational programs. The core offerings include theatrical productions (Where is the Green Sheep?, Yong, Edward the Emu, Diary of a Wombat, Pete the Sheep, Possum Magic, Josephine Wants to Dance, The Peasant Prince, Detention) adapted from beloved Australian children's literature. Supporting offerings include Learning Packs (curriculum-aligned classroom resources), Workshops (in-classroom theatre experiences priced at $15+GST per student), and Theatre Unlimited (social impact initiative providing free tickets and transport). The company tours productions nationally, reaching over 50 communities annually, with a goal of reaching one million young people through its Theatre Unlimited program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Theatre Unlimited: A social impact initiative designed to expand access to live theatre by removing barriers for young audiences, with a goal of reaching one million young people and families over the next decade.

Products and services

• Where is the Green Sheep? Immersive visual theatre experience for young audiences aged 1-6 and families, blending puppetry and animation. Based on the book by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek, following three farmers on a quest to find the elusive green sheep.
• Edward the Emu Theatre production based on the book by Clever Endeavour, suitable for ages 4 and above.
• Diary of a Wombat

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of children felt happy after Possum Magic performance, 42% felt curious, 62% engaged in creative play afterwards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Your Library (Victoria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership creating opportunities for young people and families across Victoria to experience live theatre. Part of Theatre Unlimited initiative removing barriers and increasing access through free tickets and transport.
• Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Out of the Box FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Where is the Green Sheep? production. QPAC's Out of the Box Festival presents the premiere season in Brisbane, June 2025.
• Arts Centre MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Where is the Green Sheep? production. Arts Centre Melbourne will present a season of the production.
• Sydney Opera HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Where is the Green Sheep? production. Sydney Opera House will present a season in December 2025.
• The Art House WyongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Where is the Green Sheep? production. The Art House will present a season in 2026.
• Camp QualitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing tickets for families impacted by cancer to attend Monkey Baa shows, creating moments of positivity and laughter.
• The Green Circle / Arts on Tour / Theatre Green Book AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability initiative supporting Monkey Baa's adoption of greener touring and production practices. Company achieved Theatre Green Book Australia Baseline Standard.
• Northern Sydney Pod SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdapted private dress rehearsal for families whose children face extreme health risks and cannot attend traditional performances. Cast and crew wore respirator masks for safety.
• Queensland Children's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPop-up performances of Possum Magic cast for storytelling, crafting and connection with young patients and families at the hospital.
• Bankstown West Public SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with school's Youth Advisory Council contributing to productions. Students co-created narration for Where is the Green Sheep? and previously contributed to Possum Magic and Edward the Emu.
• Diversity Arts AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Lena Nahlous serves on Monkey Baa Board of Directors. Organisation focuses on racial equity in arts, screen and creative sectors.
• Esperance Civic CentreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional venue hosting Josephine Wants to Dance tour in 2025, enabling access for remote Western Australian community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arena Theatre Company: Melbourne-based national touring theatre company creating work for children and families. Comparable in target audience, touring model, and educational programming.
• Barking Gecko Theatre Company: Perth-based theatre company dedicated to producing work for young audiences, with national touring and international co-productions — directly comparable to Monkey Baa's TYA focus and touring footprint.
• Polyglot Theatre: Melbourne-based company specialising in interactive, child-centred theatre experiences. Comparable in focus on early-years audiences and participatory performance design.
• Windmill Theatre Co. Adelaide-based award-winning theatre company creating work for children and young audiences. Highly comparable in mission, scale, and repertoire-to-touring model.
• Slingsby Theatre Company: Adelaide-based TYA company known for intimate, visually distinctive productions with international touring. Comparable in artistic ambition and audience-development focus for young people.
• CDP Theatre Producers: Sydney-based producer of musical theatre for young audiences including productions based on Australian literature. Highly comparable in repertoire type and family demographic.
• Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP): Sydney-based national theatre company for young people aged 4–25, producing seasons, workshops, and education programs. Closely overlaps with Monkey Baa's school workshop and curriculum-aligned offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Theatre Company: Major Sydney-based theatre company with a wider repertoire but occasional family and young-audience programming. Operates in the same venues and markets as Monkey Baa but is not a TYA specialist.
• Belvoir St Theatre: Sydney-based independent theatre company with a primarily adult repertoire but occasional family programming. Operates in the same Sydney arts ecosystem as Monkey Baa.
• Melbourne Theatre Company: Australia's largest theatre company with a broad adult-focused repertoire. Provides venue and ecosystem context in Melbourne where Monkey Baa co-produces with Arts Centre Melbourne.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monkey-baa-theatre-company

Compliance2 records

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 Monkey Baa Theatre Company